Architect's rendering of the Diagnostic Instrumentation and Analysis Laboratory's new building.

DIAL building scheduled to open in fall 1996

The Diagnostic Instrumentation and Analysis Laboratory, established in the College of Engineering in 1980, should move into its new $8 million, 58,000-square-foot facility in fall 1996. The new building will be located in the Mississippi Research and Technology Park, near the Engineering Research Center for Computational Field Simulation.

"The new facility will be state-of-the-art in every aspect and will allow us to expand even further our research capabilities and expertise," said Steve Shepard, DIAL director.

The new DIAL facility will be located across the lake from the park's Multi-Tenant building. Tennessee Valley Authority will build a 36,000-square-foot district office in the park.

Currently, DIAL's 60-plus personnel—including faculty, staff, and students—occupy some 26,000 square feet in four College of Engineering buildings on the main campus.

The new complex will house 41 faculty offices, two classrooms, a 100-seat auditorium, a machine shop, a high-bay area, 16 laboratories, and graduate student offices.

Future additions to the building can be accommodated, said Shepard.

DIAL purchased the land from the Oktibbeha County Economic Development Authority. In return, the city of Starkville will provide for utilities and complete the road to the new facility.

Shepard says plans for the building originally began in 1987 when he requested federal funding through the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill.

"With the help of Senator Thad Cochran, we were able to secure $4 million for the building in 1991," he said. "U.S. Congressman Jamie Whitten also was important. Without him we wouldn't have received the money, even though he doesn't represent our district.

Matching funds came from the Mississippi Legislature this spring.

Last fall, DIAL received a five-year, $24 million grant from the Department of Energy, the largest research grant ever received by the university. The grant is part of a major national effort to develop new techniques for waste management and environmental restoration.