COOKEVILLE, TENN. — Tennessee Tech University unveiled its new Poultry Science Research Center in a grand opening on Dec. 2 and officially named the Aviagen Poultry Science Laboratory inside.

The over $2 million facility is approximately 8,000 square feet. It includes poultry houses of 40 by 80 feet with areas for research processing, offices, bathrooms and the laboratory that was named after Aviagen.

Students in the College of Agriculture and Human Ecology program will have access to the center’s innovative technology and receive hands-on experience in the poultry industry.

“This is without a doubt the best research center in the state of Tennessee,” said Darron Smith, dean of the College of Agriculture and Human Ecology. “Having these relationships builds a pipeline for our students to get employment and internships. We have placed a lot of students in the poultry industry across the area. This lab will help train them even more to be able to move into the poultry industry.”

Poultry breeder Aviagen supported the Tennessee Tech project along with support from sources like the Drive to 55 Project Capacity Fund Grant, Tennessee Poultry Association and the Tennessee Board of Regents.

“I think this is a great testament to the power of partnerships,” said Phil Oldham, president of Tennessee Tech. “We believe strongly in partnerships at Tennessee Tech because we believe we are all better together. The students are going to have an opportunity to enjoy this facility and then go off into their jobs and make a big difference — that’s what this is all about.”

Tennessee Tech expects students will begin using the new facility in the spring 2023 semester.

This story was updated from a previous version published on meatpoultry.com on Dec. 13.