{"id":25261,"date":"2022-05-04T16:15:46","date_gmt":"2022-05-04T16:15:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/agsci.source.colostate.edu\/?p=4144"},"modified":"2022-05-04T16:15:46","modified_gmt":"2022-05-04T16:15:46","slug":"new-nutrien-building-shows-the-future-of-agriculture-lives-here","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/agsci.colostate.edu\/divi-ccae\/2022\/05\/04\/new-nutrien-building-shows-the-future-of-agriculture-lives-here\/","title":{"rendered":"New Nutrien building shows the future of agriculture lives here"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Nutrien<\/div>
One of the many highlights of the new Nutrien Agricultural Sciences Building is the Bernard Rollin Knowledge Well. Dean James Pritchett shows attendees of the building’s grand opening how the in-the-round classroom provides for better student engagement. Photos by Joe Mendoza\/CSU Photography.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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For more than 150 years, the future of agriculture has been cultivated at Colorado State University. With the opening of the <\/span>Nutrien Agricultural Sciences Building<\/span><\/a>, that future now has more space and resources to grow and thrive.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After nearly <\/span>three years of construction<\/span><\/a>, the new home for state-of-the-art research, learning, innovation and collaboration opened to the public May 3, with tours for students, faculty and members of Colorado\u2019s agricultural community.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though the building just opened its doors, environmental and natural resource economics major Sam Moccia said between the \u201cStar Trek vibes\u201d of its 360-degree classroom and the inclusive and welcoming nature of the facilities, the Nutrien building already feels like home.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis college is one of the most unique and representative spaces on campus for people across all backgrounds and walks of life,\u201d Moccia said. \u201cHaving a place on campus that is as representative of that uniqueness and of that brilliance is so exciting.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

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Honoring the past with an investment in the future<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n
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The construction of the College of Agricultural Sciences\u2019 original Shepardson Building was completed in 1938 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, which employed young men from urban areas to perform conservation work throughout the country following the Great Depression. At 43,000-square-feet, it was an impressive facility for its time. The building was named in honor of Charles N. Shepardson and his contributions to agriculture and what was then known as Colorado Agricultural College.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The $43.5 million renovation of the facility shows CSU\u2019s deep commitment to its agricultural program, one that formed the backbone of the University during those early days.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are so excited to officially open the Nutrien Agricultural Science Building,\u201d said CSU President Joyce McConnell. \u201cThis facility represents Colorado State University\u2019s investment in modern agriculture and meeting the challenges of food safety and food security, as well as our investment in the students who will be Colorado\u2019s next agricultural leaders. I want to thank Colorado\u2019s Capital Development Committee for the state\u2019s support in making this project a reality, and Nutrien for their invaluable support of the College of Agricultural Sciences and its students.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

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\"Nutrien<\/div>
Cutting the ribbon at the Nutrien grand opening are CAS Dean James Pritchett, CSU President Joyce McConnell, Board of Governors Chair Kim Jordan, CSU student Sam Moccia and Nutrien Vice President of Marketing and Innovation Brent Smith.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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In 2020, Nutrien \u2013 the world\u2019s largest provider of crop nutrients, inputs and services \u2013 announced it would provide CSU\u2019s College of Agricultural Sciences <\/span>$1 million each year over the next 10 years<\/span><\/a>. The largest donation the college had ever received at the time, the gift funds state-of-the-art research and teaching initiatives on campus, along with scholarship support to students, elevating CSU into a position of leadership in developing a diverse, highly skilled agricultural workforce.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As agriculture faces a critical moment amid global supply chain, food insecurity and geopolitical issues, CSU plays a vital role in the industry, said Brent Smith, Nutrien vice president of marketing and innovation, adding that the corporation employs more than 600 CSU alumni.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe need bold thinking to grow healthy crops and to feed a growing world in a sustainable way,\u201d Smith said. \u201cWe need places where the next generation of agricultural advocates can grow and thrive, personally and professionally. We need a workforce with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. The Nutrien Agricultural Sciences Building is a place where we can do that, and we can also have the important conversations and build positive momentum around sustainable agriculture, innovation, diversity, equity and inclusion. And that can all happen here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

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Agriculture lives here<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n
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\"Nutrien
Many of the finishes on the building relate back to the Nutrien building’s agricultural theme.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The physical embodiment of CSU\u2019s land-grant mission, the Nutrien building supports the college’s focus on intentional discovery, inclusive learning and collaborative engagement, while working to meet global challenges in food safety, food security, wellness and economic prosperity through the sustainable use of natural resources.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to centering the College of Agricultural Sciences in the heart of CSU\u2019s campus, the building provides a critical home for agricultural research found nowhere else in the state. That connection to the land can be seen in everything from the giant map highlighting the extensive research footprint of the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station to the more subtle ceiling tiles, which mimic geometric crop patterns as seen from the sky.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now 80,000 square feet \u2013 twice the size of the original Shepardson Building \u2013 the expanded footprint on campus allows the college to make an even bigger impact on agriculture in Colorado, while enhancing the student experience in ways that weren\u2019t possible in the previous building.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

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Research in real time<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n
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\"Nutrien
Students show how the Trading and Simulation Room will be used to study real-world problems in real time. Photo by Stacy Nick\/CSU<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The state-of-the-art facilities allow students to use the latest technology to study real-world problems in real time, said James Pritchett, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur students will be studying everything from how to grow the perfect Colorado peach to how to stimulate the microorganisms in the soil so that they can fight disease to how to understand the ways consumer preferences are changing so that we make sure not only that we feed the world, but we give them things that are nutritious, affordable and accessible,\u201d Pritchett said. \u201cAll of those big questions, we’re going to get to answer them in these spaces.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Spaces like the Trading and Simulation Room where students use real-time market data and trading analysis to learn about commodities, economic returns and risk management. The classroom provides a vital site where they can perform economic simulations, experiments and data visualizations \u2013 everything from optimizing production and marketing decisions to valuing non-market natural resources to analyzing supply chains for agricultural and food products.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

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360 degrees of learning<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n
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Taking a page from the theater world, the Bernard Rollin Knowledge Well features a classroom-in-the-round setting. The concept is lauded for putting the audience \u2013 or the students, in this case \u2013 closer to the action. In fact, despite the room\u2019s 160 student capacity, here no student is more than five rows from the instructor.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to providing better vantage points as well as acoustics, the design is also less restrictive for student learning, said Matt Camper, assistant dean for teaching practice and academic programs for the college.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Camper cited studies from Oregon State University \u2014 where its 360-degree classrooms were the inspiration for the Knowledge Well \u2014 that show in a traditional classroom 70% of students always sit in the same spot. In a round classroom that number is 20%.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo, the other 80% are constantly moving, meeting new colleagues, thinking about the information in different ways,\u201d he said, adding that simply changing up the seating arrangement is <\/span>shown to establish a more connected and collaborative rapport between professors and students and results in more engaged learning<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis room is built around student success,\u201d added Camper, who will get the chance to try it out this summer when he teaches his insects, science and society class. \u201cIt will be great to see what it’s really capable of.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

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