At the start of this academic year, historically Black Norfolk State University in Virginia announced an ambitious campaign to raise $90 million in funding by the end of 2025 in honor of the university’s 90th anniversary. According to a recent article from Virginia Business, part of this campaign will fund a new $118 million science building, scheduled to open in fall 2027.
The new facility will significantly advance the HBCU’s research capacity. The four-story, 131,000-square-foot building will feature a planetarium, a greenhouse, an electrical shop, a computer lab, classrooms, study rooms, and faculty offices.
Additionally, the space will become the new home for the university’s Dozoretz National Institute for Mathematics and Applied Sciences, an educational center aimed at addressing the country’s shortage of scientists from underrepresented backgrounds. The institute provides bachelor’s degrees in biology, chemistry, computer science, electronics engineering, mathematics, optical engineering, and physics.
In addition to advancing scientific research, the campaign aims to create new scholarship opportunities, strengthen a wide range of academic programs, elevate athletics, and increase the university’s capital.
