The Energy Research Complex, a facility just off of the Gulf Freeway and formerly known as University Business Park, has maintained its effort in leading energy research to help UH towards flagship status.
Built in 1953 and comprising 580,552 sq. feet of warehouse and office space on 68 acres of land, the complex was once home to Schlumberger, an oilfield service provider that recently opened its first multinational research and geo-engineering center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
“(The acquisition of the property) represents one of the most important physical expansions in UH history and is an integral part of our goal to become the world’s foremost energy university, and a nationally competitive flagship research university,” UH President Renu Khator said in a fall 2009 news release.
Three buildings in the ERP complex now house research facilities with programs ranging from the exploration of alternative fuel sources to the efficient storage, transportation and delivery of wind-generated electricity.
The campus is home to third-party research groups, including the Wind Alliance and the Power Technology Institute, that have partnered with UH to further technological development.
ERP is also home to a new undergraduate program in petroleum engineering.
“(It) combines the fundamentals of petroleum engineering and geosciences with economics, energy law and business,” said Carl Carlucci, executive vice chancellor and vice president of administration and finances, in a June 2010 presentation on the facility’s development.
The new petroleum-engineering program was the first to be given space in ERP, with more than 20,000 square feet of laboratory, classroom and office space on two floors in building 9A. The building is to be completed and fully functional by Fall 2011.
Additionally, ERP offers space in buildings 5A and 14 that may be used for light manufacturing or assembly. UH is planning to rent the space out to small and start-up businesses that would otherwise lack the room to grow, allowing it to serve as incubator space.
Most of the ERP is currently undergoing renovations to modernize and improve the properties to accommodate new tenants, including the installation of a fiber optic backbone by Contra Electric Link, which began over the summer to support communication needs.
This is part of a $2 million refurbishment effort that also includes improvements to roads and aesthetic upgrades to buildings.
“(The acquisition of the property) represents one of the most important physical expansions in UH history and is an integral part of our goal to become the world’s foremost energy university, and a nationally competitive flagship research university,” UH President Renu Khator said in a fall 2009 news release."
It is clear that Dr Khator and Dr Carlucci do not understand what it takes to become "the world’s foremost energy university"…. Have they visited research parks created by institutions around the world?
This so-called Energy Research Park is an EMBARRASSMENT! The place is falling apart and requires millions and millions of $s for renovation. If they think the $2M refurbishment will do the job, they need to wake up and face reality…
You're ridiculous. The buildings need some maintenance of course, but what's important is that UH has expanded to the area, and has the ability to build more there. Do you think this is a rural area or something? We're in the middle of one of the most dense areas of Houston. Do you think adjoining pieces of land just come about every day? I think YOU'RE the one that needs to wake up. I thought the ones who expect UH to be a community college have already been weeded out. I guess I'm wrong.
"The buildings need some maintenance of course": It is not SOME maintenance, it is MAJOR maintenance to the point that putting up brand new buildings is more cost effective than making these buildings habitable. The notion of buying some land just for the sake of expansion is preposterous; you need to consider economic and strategic implications of these decisions.
The possibility of acquiring that land is nothing new; in fact it was offered to UH in the past for $1.
There is still a lot of space on our current campus to build. The economic question is whether it is most effective to build here or there. Have you considered the issues with the access? There are train tracks and the connection with the current campus is highly problematic.
The quality of that space, the quality of the buildings and facilities there are unfit for any serious academic institution. It is a BAD economic and strategic decision. It is not clear why you interpreted my comments as coming from someone "who expect(s) UH to be a community college". To the contrary, these comments were made to emphasize what it takes to make UH a Tier One institution. Please go visit research facilities at major Tier One institutions so that you can understand better the difference between a community college, a university, and a major Tier One level research university.
I am an employee of Texas A&M University. I understand what a tier one research university looks like. I also think you're crazy in saying that we have a lot of space on our current campus to build. Take a look around, we're bordered by private businesses and major public landmarks. We can't just expand that easily, I mean where are you actually going to build new buildings on campus without tearing down? We are removing parking lots at the moment to do that, and that can only be done so much.