The Board will begin the meeting at 9 a.m. at Harold Hamm Diabetes Center on the OU Health Sciences Center campus in Oklahoma City. It will address Rogers State University items first, followed by agenda items submitted by Cameron University and OU.

The OU Regents will consider a recommendation to approve the design development phase plans for the Physics and Astronomy Facilities project, which will provide approximately 54,000 square feet of space for new research facilities to replace obsolete laboratories and laboratory support spaces in Nielsen Hall. The new building will be located on the current site of Gittinger Hall just south of Nielsen Hall.

The project will include 12 state-of-the-art research labs, associated support spaces, offices space for principal investigators and their staff, and research support. Part of the building roof will be used for astronomical research and teaching and will include a 14-inch telescope and a number of smaller telescopes for student use.

In support of current and future research efforts, the building is being designed to

National Institute of Standards and Technology research lab standards. The project also may include spaces for science display and classrooms. Exterior materials and designs have been selected to harmoniously blend with Nielsen Hall as well as other structures on Van Vleet Oval.

The next meeting of the OU Board of Regents is scheduled for May 12 and 13 in Norman.