Minneapolis-based Cargill Foundation donated a gift of $10 million toward the project. It is the largest single donation in Cargill's history. A matching $10 million was appropriated by the state of Minnesota.

 Building Process

• The building was designed by Architectural Alliance of Minneapolis and was dedicated in May 2003, though most residents didn't move in until September 2003 because the autoclave steam pipes weren’t installed until that time.

• There was an enormous amount of input from faculty and staff in the design of the 64,000 square foot building.

• The 2^nd  floor is dedicated to microbial genomics and the 3^rd  floor to plant genomics. On the 1^st  floor are the high throughput lab, computer workshop/tutorial area, plant growth chambers, administrative area and a large seminar room.

• The exterior design is unique, yet consistent with the architecture of the campus.

o         The oval portion of the building (a.k.a. “the Pod”) was designed for computational biology activity and separates the high end computers from the chemicals used in the molecular biology labs. It has somewhat the appearance of a “silo”, and blends harmoniously with the historic barn in the next block.

o         The expanse of windows in the rectangular portion of the building allows passersby to clearly view University scientists hard at work in high tech labs…day and night.

o         The atrium has a warm, earth-colored slate floor that draws much interest. In fact, it has provided the background for several University publicity pieces.

o         The seminar room has translucent blinds which allow everyone to see outside while blocking 90% of the light. This kind of detail is unique and provides another hint of the innovative thinking that went into the design of the building.