“Members of the greater UMass Lowell community are invited to see where ingenuity meets industry at a June 8 kick off of construction of the new Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center featuring Gov. Deval Patrick and others who supported funding for the $70 million project.

“All are invited to the groundbreaking celebration, which begins at 11 a.m. at the corner of VFW Highway and University Avenue on North Campus. RSVP to Audrey_Veiga@uml.edu.

“When completed, the 84,000-square-foot facility’s dramatic façade will welcome those traveling north on a newly constructed University Avenue bridge, serving as a gateway to North Campus. Inside, the building will bring together, among others, experts in plastics engineering, nanotechnology, electro-optics and biomedicine. In part because UMass Lowell is recognized as a world-class leader in advanced manufacturing, the facility is expected to draw researchers from near and far to collaborate with existing faculty and work hand-in-hand with industry.

“State officials who helped secure $35 million for the building project will join in the celebration. As chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Sen. Steven Panagiotakos played a critical role and Lowell Representatives Thomas Golden, Kevin Murphy and David Nangle secured passage of funding in the House. The project has been a top priority for Gov. Patrick’s administration.

“Federal government funding, backed by U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas and Sen. John Kerry, includes $5 million to help equip the building. Additional research and development funds are expected.

“Already, the area surrounding the construction site has changed. Standish Street – and the two parking lots behind it – have been closed and preparations for demolition of Smith Hall are under way. The project is slated for completion for the 2012-13 academic year. Construction updates are available at the new ETIC website.

“Turner Construction Co. is running the project, which is managed by Joslin, Lesser + Associates, Inc. on behalf of the UMass Building Authority. It is estimated that the project will support 130 new jobs during the construction phase and will generate additional work for supply companies.”