Bond approval fortifies UC-Davis expansion

DAVIS, CALIF. — Voters approved a $10.4-billion bond on Nov. 7 to update and refurbish education buildings in California including the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine (UC-Davis).

While the narrowly passed initiative gives the University of California system roughly $890 million over two years, $7.85 million will be allocated to the institution's veterinary program. The money permits the school to move forward with the second phase of a $354-million long-range renovation and expansion plan.

It also lays the groundwork for the next education bond issue set to go before voters in 2008, says Dr. Bennie Osburn, veterinary school dean. The additional taxes pay for renovation and expansion in kindergarten classrooms through higher education statewide.

"Essentially we're building a whole new veterinary campus, adding seats and increasing our residency program," he says. "The UC- Davis campus has grown considerably; we now have 31,000 students. The state is growing by 500,000 residents each year."

Construction in phases

The veterinary school's expansion and renovation plans are broken down in phases, starting with a $145-million project scheduled for completion this spring.

Phase 1, paid for via fundraising and state bond money, includes construction or major renovation of large and small animal surgery facilities, an equine athletic performance laboratory, a 35,000-square-foot teaching hospital addition as well as a lecture and instructional facility. Wet laboratories, a necropsy area and 30 office laboratories are included in the project, which has increased class size from 122 to 131.

Phase 2, kicked off by the latest bond allocation, is budgeted at $93 million and includes construction of new research laboratories and office spaces for roughly 58 faculty, staff and graduate students. The project is scheduled for completion by 2011 and eventually is expected to boost class size to 160 seats and add 60 new residency slots.