ORU’s Historic Expansion Continues with New Biological Sciences Center
Nature-Inspired 27,000-Square-Foot Facility Will Feature a Green House Observatory
and Support Farm-to-Table Produce
Pictured (left to right): College of Science and Engineering Dean Dr. Kenneth Weed,
ORU Board of Trustees Treasurer Brad Thomas, ORU Board of Trustees Secretary LaDonna
Osborn, ORU President Dr. William M. Wilson, ORU First Lady Mrs. Lisa Wilson, ORU
Provost Dr. Kathaleen Reid-Martinez, Deputy Mayor Ms. Cassia Carr, ORU Alumna Ms.
Natalia Ramirez, Professor Rachel Budavich, and Biology Professor Dr. William Ranahan
Tulsa, OK, January 19, 2024 – Oral Roberts University (ORU) continues its commitment to academic excellence with the grand opening of the new Biological Sciences Center. Following the recent opening of the J. D. McKean Library, ORU unveiled the nature-inspired research facility, heralding a new era for the Biology and Chemistry Department that will foster groundbreaking innovations and scholarly collaboration. The Center is located at 8408 S Delaware Ave and will have ORU shuttles available to students for transportation.
ORU’s President, Dr. William M. Wilson stated, “The opening of the Biological Sciences Center is another historic milestone in ORU’s commitment to academic excellence. This re-engineered space enhances our faculty and student interaction, further strengthening professor-student engagement and providing our students with valuable mentoring along with a world-class education. Great things will be developed at this Center that will improve the life of Tulsans and people around the world.”
"Great things will be developed at this Center that will improve the life of Tulsans and people around the world.”
The Biological Sciences Center represents ORU's dedication to creating innovative spaces that empower students on their academic journey. The newly renovated 27,000-square-foot facility contains five open-concept laboratories with open access between labs for research, collaboration, equipment, and reagent sharing. It will also house:
- A two-story atrium designed to facilitate study and group work,
- a cadaver dissection lab,
- a lecture hall, and
- faculty research labs.
As a nature-inspired facility, the Center will have environmentally sustainable sunlit spaces, indoor-outdoor classrooms, a greenhouse observatory, a green roof entry canopy, and a kitchen space where students can grow farm-to-table produce on-site.
“The Center will not only serve as an educational environment but an opportunity for students to apply theory to real-world research, interconnecting the Holy Spirit’s empowerment and practical experience through nature, inspiration, and learning,” said Dr. Kenneth Weed, Dean of the College of Science and Engineering. “The biology and chemistry faculty envision the Biological Sciences Center as a declaration of the Creator's revelation through design. We pray that our teaching and learning showcase God's design in nature and our response to His voice.”
“The Center will not only serve as an educational environment but an opportunity for students to apply theory to real-world research, interconnecting the Holy Spirit’s empowerment and practical experience through nature, inspiration, and learning,”
This new addition to campus continues ORU’s historic expansion. Along with the new Biological Sciences Center, ORU has added several new buildings to campus, including the J. D. McKean Library, the ORU Welcome Center, and the Mike Carter Athletic Center. Currently under construction, the 78,000-square-foot Peggy V. Helmerich Media Arts Center is projected to open this spring.
As ORU moves forward with its debt-free campus expansion, the Biological Sciences Center stands as a testament to the University's unwavering commitment to providing students with the resources and environment needed for success in both academic and spiritual pursuits.
For more information about ORU's commitment to academic excellence and campus expansion, please visit the Whole Leaders for the Whole World campaign.
UNIVERSITY BRIEF
ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 15 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor’s level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 151 nations (from 2019 to 2023) to be whole leaders for the whole world.
The Wall Street Journal ranked ORU as the #8 university in the nation for student experience and one of America's Best Colleges (2024). This new category rates the best colleges in the U.S. to have a great experience while attending. This ranking is powered by one of the largest ever independent surveys of verified college students and recent graduates in the United States. Niche recognizes ORU as one of the top 25 most diverse colleges in America, # 1 best Christian college in Oklahoma, and # 1 in Oklahoma for diversity. Princeton Review ranked ORU as the best regional college, and College Raptor ranked ORU as a Hidden Gem in the Southwest.
ORU has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as:
- #1 in Undergraduate Teaching
- #2 in Most International Students
- #3 in Best Value
- #6 in Best College for Veterans
- #7 in Best Regional Colleges in the West
For more information, visit www.oru.edu.