Thanks to some major planning and a lot of help, Iowa State’s College of Engineering is welcoming a $61 million addition. A new engineering building is currently under construction on the west side of campus near Beyer Hall.

The 3M Foundation donated money for the Engineering Teaching and Resource Complex (ETRC), which has been under construction since June 1997.

According to a press release, the 3M Foundation, a focused college relations team, is a branch of the 3M Corporation which is one of the world’s leading manufacturers, located in St. Paul, Minn.

Last April, the 3M Foundation awarded the College of Engineering $100,000 to begin a six-month fundraising campaign for the new complex. This was just a portion of the foundation’s $860,000 gift.

“We are very pleased and excited with this gift,” said Chris Curran, development officer for the College of Engineering. “We have a great ongoing relationship with 3M and its employees.”

Jim Melsa, dean of the College of Engineering, said the college greatly appreciates financial help from 3M Corporation.

“We are pleased to have the 3M Corporation as a strategic industrial partner,” he said. “This check is one more example of that partnership.”

Curran said the new ETRC complex will be a “keystone” building, allowing more space and increased technology. It also will house the Department of Aerospace Engineering.

He said construction will continue through two phases, the first of which should be finished by December 1999. The second phase will begin after the first is completed, and the project should wrap up in 2002, Curran said.

The 3M Foundation and its employees have had a strong relationship with ISU for many years and are involved in projects throughout the college, such as faculty research and recruiting new graduates.

“Our relationship with Iowa State does not only begin and end with ETRC,” said Mette Lundsgaard, 3M engineering manager. “Together with the 3M plant in Ames and Knoxville, we have developed a strong relationship.”

According to the press release, the 3M Foundation lent a helping hand when employees learned of ISU’s fund-raising campaign. Through ISU alumni presently employed by the plant, workers were able to raise $280,000.

The foundation responded by encouraging its 360 ISU engineering alumni to join the company and by contributing nearly a half-million dollars to the project.

“ISU is important to 3M, and its alumni have made significant contributions to the company. We all benefit from this exchange, which results in new ideas for 3M and new ideas and concepts for ISU academics,” said Charles E. Kiester, senior vice president of 3M Engineering Quality and Manufacturing Services, in a press release.

“3M has been tremendously supportive both as a company and with the alumni employees,” Curran said. “They have [gone] far and beyond what was expected, and that is encouraging.”