In one of the largest economic development incentives in state history, Illinois lawmakers in 2018 designated $500 million to create an innovation network led by the University of Illinois.
NIU was the first non-U of I public institution to be announced as a formal partner in that project, which includes $15 million in state money for the Northern Illinois Center for Community Sustainability (NICCS) on NIU’s far west campus. Building on NIU’s broad-based faculty expertise in biological, plant and environmental sciences, the $23 million facility will focus on food systems innovation, water resources management and climate change adaptation.
NICCS will be constructed on a 20-acre parcel of land just north of the Convocation Center. It will include classrooms, laboratories, exhibit space and collaboration areas totaling 30,000 square feet. The building itself will occupy three acres, while the remaining land will be used for greenhouses and research plots. Originally scheduled to open in fall 2021, COVID-related delays have pushed that date forward.
NICCS will provide state-of-the-art equipment and facilities for NIU faculty, students and partners working and learning in a broad range of programs related to community sustainability. It will also bring students and faculty from other institutions to the DeKalb campus, while NIU experts and learners will collaborate in projects on other member campuses.
At an October 10, 2018 news conference that included then-Gov. Bruce Rauner and UI System President Timothy Killeen, NIU President Lisa Freeman said the collaborative efforts of multiple state universities will go far in helping Illinois create a sustainable future.
“Our willingness to collaborate is a strength that positions us for future success,” she said. “No single institution has the capacity to solve global-scale problems such as how to ensure healthy supplies of food and water, and resilient environments for communities in Illinois and around the world, but together we will make a difference.”
Click on photos to enlarge.
