It appeared the groundbreaking for Hach Hall, Iowa State's newest chemistry building, was going to take place during a cloudy and foggy Saturday morning on Sept. 6.
Minutes before the program was to begin, the sun emerged, brightening the already bright mood of the audience, estimated in excess of 250 people.
Several persons spoke at the ceremonial groundbreaking - construction on the $74.5 million project has been under way near Gilman Hall for a few weeks now. But the star was Kathryn (Kitty) Hach Darrow. The Iowa State alumna and Mukilteo, Wash., resident, was the lead donor to the project with a $10 million commitment.
Hach Hall is named in honor of Hach Darrow's late husband and ISU alumnus, Clifford Hach, and the extended Hach family. Clifford and Kathryn were longtime supporters of Iowa State dating back to the 1940s when they met on campus.
"I am thrilled to be part of this transformational opportunity for Iowa State to inspire tomorrow's scientists, teachers, researchers and entrepreneurs," said Hach Darrow. "My husband was a perfect example of someone who saw the potential of science and applied it to improve people's lives. He would be very proud of Iowa State today."
Holder of 34 patents
Clifford graduated in 1947 and went on to be a trailblazer and innovator in the chemistry field, and holder of 34 patents. The couple started the Hach Chemical Company in 1947 (the name changed to Hach Company in 1980) in Ames and experienced their first major success through the development of a simplified titration method for measuring hardness in drinking water. Clifford Hach died in 1990. In 1999, the Hach Company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation.
"Clifford and Kitty never forgot the role that Iowa State University played in their meeting and in the success of the business," said ISU President Gregory L. Geoffroy at the ceremony. "And they have been extremely generous to Iowa State for many years, especially in their support of the chemistry department and scholarships for chemistry students."
Bruce Hach, Clifford and Kathryn's son, told the audience his parents were successful in their business because Clifford, the scientist, worked in the lab while Kathryn handled the business operations.
The three-story Hach Hall will be a $74.5 million, 135,000-square-foot facility. The first floor will be dedicated to the undergraduate teaching laboratories and student interaction space. The second and third floors will be dedicated to research space for faculty, staff and graduate assistants, with some labs remaining open to recruit new faculty to Iowa State.
The project has an estimated completion date of 2010.
Storied history at ISU
"Chemistry has a long and storied history at Iowa State as one of the university's most important and prominent programs," College of Liberal Arts and Sciences dean Michael Whiteford said at the ceremony. "World-class faculty, distinguished graduates and outstanding students are hallmarks of our chemistry program.
"Now we will have a facility that fits the breadth and depth of the quality of our people."
Jake Petrich, chair of the Department of Chemistry, told the Hach family the department is already benefiting from Hach Darrow's gift.
"We are enjoying the impact of your gift even before the building has been completed," Petrich said. "Thanks to you, we have been able to keep our best faculty at Iowa State, we have been able to attract new faculty and we will have the facilities to continue the best possible research."
Another significant commitment to the project came last year from the Roy J. Carver Trust, based in Muscatine, Iowa, with a commitment of $4.5 million to the facility.
Safe, modern facilities
"The Carver Trust has endorsed this project as a basis for promoting its central interest in biomedically relevant scientific research," added Troy Ross, executive administrator of the trust. "We recognize the need for providing safe, modern facilities, both for enhancing the existing strengths of the department and as a vehicle for recruiting promising, young investigators to be the chemistry faculty of the future."
The Iowa Legislature has approved $58.9 million for the project with an additional $15.6 million anticipated through private support. Additional private funds raised beyond the $15.6 goal will be used for laboratory equipment and classroom enhancements not included in current construction costs.
The commitments from Hach Darrow and the Carver Trust are part of Campaign Iowa State: With Pride and Purpose, the university's $800 million fundraising effort that was publicly launched in October 2007.
Kathryn Hach Darrow.
Bruce Hach and President Gregory Geoffroy
Chemistry Department Chair Jacob Petrich
Hach Family and ISU administrators
Groundbreaking ceremonies
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