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The Wine Science Center at WSU Tri-Cities is well on its way to
becoming a reality, thanks to our many public and private partners.
This newsletter provides an update on all aspects of the project and its
vision to create a world-class research and teaching facility to meet the
needs of the Pacific Northwest wine industry.
Construction Update
- Under the leadership of the City of Richland, the Wine Science Center Development Authority (WSCDA) has been established to provide oversight for construction and financing of the Wine Science Center.
- A seven-member WSCDA Board of Directors was appointed to oversee facility design, construction and financing.
- Environmental and cultural studies on the site are currently underway and will be completed this fall. Donated by the Port of Benton, this site is at the entrance to WSU Tri-Cities and the Tri-Cities Research District, a state-designated Innovation Partnership Zone. Once the Wine Science Center is built, title for the land and the building will transfer to WSU.
- FLAD Architects was awarded the contract for preliminary engineering to determine project phasing options and costs. Planning consultants include FLAD representatives Stevens Williams and Andrew Cunningham; Rik Giberson of Meier Engineering; and Roger Boulton of UC Davis. This work is to be completed by November 2012.
- Hill International was awarded the contract for project management, with an initial scope of securing approval for “design-build” by the State’s Capital Projects Advisory Review Board in November 2012.
- Based upon public and private funds available, a phasing option will be selected, followed by a public bid process in early 2013 for selection of the project’s architect and construction team.
- Groundbreaking is slated for Fall 2013.
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Wine Science Center
Site Dedication
10 a.m. ⋅ Friday, October 19, 2012
Corner of George Washington Way
and University Drive
WSU Tri-Cities in Richland
— Special Guests —
WSU President Elson S. Floyd
Governor Christine Gregoire
Ted Baseler, WSU Regent & Wine Campaign Chair
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Funding Update
More than $14.1 million has been raised toward the project’s funding goal of $23.25 million. Key gifts and grants include:
- Washington Wine Commission ($7.4 million)*
- State of Washington ($5 million)
- Anonymous Donor
- Port of Benton
- Northwest Farm Credit Services
- Ted & JoAnne Baseler
- Tom & Anne Marie Hedges
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- Mercer Canyons
- Hawkins & Middleton Company
- Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund
- John & Dorothy Anderson
- Lowden Schoolhouse Corp
- Norm & Virginia McKibben
- Jeff & Vicki Gordon
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- Reed & Lisa McKinlay
- Rob & Susie McKinney
- Washington Trust Bank
- Patrick & Lani Dineen
- Jim Holmes, Ciel du Cheval Vineyards
- Bob & Meri Lee Tippett
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*As of August 31, 2012, the Washington State Wine Commission has collected $694,000 in assessments toward the industry’s commitment of $7.4 million for the project.
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Read more about the Wine Science Center at:
• Seattle Times: “New Lab Will Boost Washington Wine Industry...”
http://seattlebusinessmag.com/article/new-lab-will-boost-
washington-wine-industry
• www.winecampaign.org
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People Making It Happen
Wine Science Center Development Authority
Board of Directors
- Rob McKinney, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (Chair)
- David Forsyth, Zirkle Fruit Company (Vice-Chair)
- Bob Tippett, Tippett Companies (Treasurer)
- Bruce Schwan, SCM Engineering
- Tim Kennedy, Don Carlo Vineyards
- Pat Dineen, Dineen Vineyards
- Coke Roth, Coke Roth Law
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WSU Wine Campaign Committee
- Ted Baseler, President & CEO, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates
- Steve Burns, O’Donnell Lane
- Marty Clubb, Owner, L’Ecole No. 41
- Michael Corliss, Proprietor, Corliss Estates
- Dennis DeYoung, Partner, Grand Slam Licensing Inc.
- Jeff Gordon, Owner, Gordon Wines
- Stacie Hamilton, Hamilton Cellars
- Matt Haskins, Senior Vice President of Wine, Southern Wine and Spirits
- Tom Hedges, CEO, American Wine Trade Inc.
- Lane Hoss, Vice President of Marketing, Mad Anthony’s Inc.
- Janet LeDuc, Founding Director, Washington Wine Country Consortium
- Greg Lill, President, DeLille Cellars
- Stacy Lill, CEO, Cashmere Corp.
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- Jesse Lyon, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
- Norm McKibben, Managing Partner, Pepper Bridge Winery
- Reed McKinlay, Wyckoff Farms
- Rob Mercer, Mercer Estates Winery
- Rick Middleton, President, Anderson and Middleton Co.
- Carol Munro, Director of Community Relations, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates
- Chris Sarles, Executive Vice President of Wine, Young’s Columbia
- Lyn Tangen, Senior Director of Corporate Communications, Vulcan Inc.
- Don Transeth, Chief Development Officer, School of the Legends
- Eileen Votteler, Director of Guest Services, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates
- Don & Lori Watts, Owners, Swiftwater Cellars
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PROGRAM UPDATE – WSU Viticulture & Enology
- WSU has more than 30 faculty members who focus on wine-related research. They are at WSU research and extension centers throughout the state – making WSU’s program one of the largest in the world.
- WSU is the only four-year university in Washington offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in viticulture and enology.
- The program currently has 50 undergraduate students enrolled in viticulture and enology, 25 students in wine business management, and 26 graduate students. An additional 133 students are enrolled in WSU’s Certificate Program in Viticulture and Enology, for which there is a waiting list.
- The majority of WSU undergraduate students in viticulture and enology are transfers from Pacific Northwest and West Coast community colleges. Graduate students come from universities around the country and the globe.
- More than $54,000 in scholarships was awarded to students enrolled in WSU’s wine science program for the 2012–2013 academic year.
- A $1 million gift from Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and its parent company, Altria Group, will support scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students, program growth, plus contribute to start-up funding for equipment for a wine chemist position and other faculty support. A portion of these funds will establish a branding and marketing plan for WSU’s wine science program, under the guidance of marketing consultant Mary Gresch.
- WSU was proud to be added as a beneficiary of The Auction of Washington Wines, along with Seattle Children’s Hospital. The 25th annual event held in August 2012 was again a huge success, raising more than $2.1 million thanks to industry partners, donors from throughout the state and more than 2,200 Washington wine-lovers from across the nation. Proceeds from this year’s event will be applied toward the Endowed Chair for Dr. Thomas Henick-Kling, Director of WSU’s Viticulture and Enology program.
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For more information on the Wine Science Center project,
contact Sharon Holden, Director of Advancement and Regional Development
at WSU Tri-Cities, 509-372-7264 or sbholden@tricity.wsu.edu.
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