In
order to facilitate research and education efforts
on the ARDC, a 23,000 square foot building was constructed
in the southwest corner of the ARDC. The August
N. Christenson Research and Education Building is
the hub for interaction with crop and livestock
producers, as well as urban and rural audiences
interested in turf, gardens, trees and natural environments.
The August N. Christenson Research and Education
Building is designed to take advantage of the earth
and sun to help heat, cool and light the interior.
The facility is a partial earth-contact building
positioned with a slight southeast orientation to
take advantage of the insulative properties of the
earth and the warmth and light from the sun. Heat
pumps use the earth as a heating source in the winter
and cooling source in the summer. Materials used
in the construction of this building were chosen
to minimize the impact of the structure on the environment.
The August N. Christenson Research and Education
Building is strategically located in an area with
many diverse environments including wet lands, forests,
a stream, sub-irrigated meadows, agricultural research
and production areas. This diversity of environments
will stimulate the research and educational opportunities
facilitated by the building.
Click
here to take a PowerPoint tour of the interior of
the building.
August N.
Christenson
Research & Education Building
The Research
and Education Building is named in honor of August
N. Christenson for his outstanding loyalty and commitment
to the students, faculty and programs of the University
of Nebraska-Lincoln.
August
“Augie” Christenson grew up on his family’s
farm near Colon, Nebraska, in Saunders County. He
graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
College of Business Administration in 1945 and was
member of Delta Upsilon fraternity.
He dedicated
his career to the Standard Chemical Manufacturing
Company, a livestock feed and supply firm in Omaha,
and retired as the senior vice president and treasurer.
A member
of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor’s
Club with Distinction and the University of Nebraska
President’s Club, Augie is a loyal supporter
of the university who has given annually since the
1950s.
On
August 25, 2004, he committed a substantial planned
gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation to
provide perpetual support for the College of Business
Administration, the Institute of Agriculture and
Natural Resources, and the Agricultural Research
and Development Center in Mead.
