Groundbreaking of the Wine Science Center Thursday at Washington State University Tri-Cities marked the start of the $23 million project designed to attract world-class researchers and students who will focus their efforts on the challenges and opportunities faced by Pacific Northwest grape growers and winemakers.
“We believe in wine and we believe in science. We are marrying those two things today,” Governor Jay Inslee said at the groundbreaking. “The Wine Science Center symbolizes the power of partnerships.”
The Center will be built on Port of Benton land, with administrative support from the City of Richland, using funds raised by WSU. When construction is complete, the land and the building will be handed over to WSU.
Included in the Center will be a research and teaching winery, state-of-the art research laboratories, classrooms, conference rooms and a 3,500-bottle wine library. A dramatic central lobby will provide views of the research winery floor and outdoors toward the Columbia River and the WSU Tri-Cities campus.
Since its start 30 years ago, Washington’s grape and wine industry has experienced explosive growth to the $8.6 billion economic impact it has today in Washington state, said Steve Warner, President of the Washington State Wine Commission.
“If we’re this good in 30 years, how great can we be in the future?” Warner said. “The Wine Science Center will take us to new heights.”
You can read more on the groundbreaking by the WSU News Center here.