Plant and Animal Biotechnology Laboratory / Madigan Laboratory

The groundbreaking for the Plant and Animal Biotechnology Laboratory occurred on September 17, 1988, [1] with construction beginning on October 6, 1988, [2] erecting a seed of hope for "the future of agriculture through new molecular technologies". [3]

By 1988, the University's biotechnology facilities were not able to meet the demands of a fast growing field and the departments in them were "literally turning down grants". With the new facility, there were to be "teams of experts working on gene identification, gene expression, tissue culture - such as growing a whole plant from the leaf of a plant - and photosynthesis". PABL was to allow scientists "to engineer an array of plants and animals having improved nutritional, physical and chemical characteristics, increased productivity and greater tolerance to disease and many other physiological, biological, and environmental stressors". The 170,000-square-foot four-story building was to house more than 100 University and U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers. [4]

Designed by Smith, Hinchman & Grylis and originally dedicated in 1991, the building was rededicated on June 2, 1995 in honor of Edward R. Madigan. Edward Madigan was the primary force responsible for the new building, continuing a long tradition of support for the University of Illinois and agriculture during his time in the U.S. House of Representatives and as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. [5]