VentureTECH focuses on expanding economic development opportunities in Illinois, as well as investing in Illinois' future through education and research opportunities. The new facility will be named The Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center of Northwestern University in honor of the late husband of Ann Lurie. The center will include space for research laboratories and offices in the fields of genetics, cancer, biomedical engineering, cardiovascular disease, neurosciences and aging. The 12-story building will have more than 200,000 net square feet of research space and will include nine floors of dedicated laboratory space.
Plans also call for two auditoriums, three classrooms and a dining facility.
Northwestern University President Henry S. Bienen called the governor's commitment a key element in the funding for the new building. This state support provides an important impetus to help Northwestern raise additional private funds for construction and endowment of the research facility. VentureTECH will also provide funding to support emerging technologies. Ryan said VentureTECH will nurture and expand Illinois' role in the economy of the 21st century. VentureTECH is a commitment to research and development, biotechnology, health sciences, advanced physics and information technology.