Environmental Technology building named for Senator Gregg

Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) was honored by the UNH community Friday at the dedication ceremony for the renaming of the former Environmental Technology Building to Gregg Hall. Within his two terms as a U.S. senator, Gregg has provided $266 million of federal funds for UNH-based environmental and judicial research and development projects.

The building, located at 35 Colovos Road, was constructed in 2001 after Gregg secured funds for a research facility that would allow undergraduates, graduate students and faculty to conduct research alongside organizations in the private sector to improve the ecosystem and communities in New Hampshire.

The four-floor facility is now home to such programs as the Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET), The Hubbard Genome Center, the NASA/NOAA Technology Commercialization and the Recycled Materials Resource Center.

Since 1972, Gregg has been involved in New Hampshire politics. He has served two years as a U.S. senator, two terms as the governor of New Hampshire and four terms as U.S. representative for New Hampshire's Second Congressional District.

He also served one term as executive councilor for New Hampshire's District 5 from 1979 to 1981. Gregg continues to dedicate himself to environmental and social issues. He was involved in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and aided in the Mount Washington Observatory Weather Discovery Center and the UNH Aquaculture program in researching and preserving some of New Hampshire's natural resources.

During the dedication ceremony, President Hart said that through the hard work and dedication of the staff and students, UNH has become one of the top research universities in the nation.

"Senator Gregg has given UNH the opportunity to become a national leader in areas such as atmospheric investigation and marine science," Hart said. "We are deeply appreciative of his support."

John Aber, UNH vice president for research and public service, spoke of the Atmospheric Investigation, Regional Modeling, Analysis and Prediction program, or AIRMAP, which is an international study of the physics and chemical makeup of the atmosphere and the factors that result in changes in air quality.

In July, New Hampshire will be the location for an international conference of scientists that will use the AIRMAP technology. Aber attributes Gregg's financial support to the honor and recognition UNH has received for its advances in research and technology.

"This building alone has housed more than $11 million in externally funded research, creating more than 60 quality jobs," Aber said. "For all of this we say thank you to Senator Gregg."

Wendy Lull, president of the Seacoast Science Center, located in Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, N.H., thanked Gregg for his support of the center. As the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee, Gregg oversaw the donation of $1 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for renovations. "Together we have been able to reach over a million people and [have] ignited imaginations and engaged them into becoming students of the sea," Lull said.

Gregg responded to all of his praise by saying that the dedication was an "immense honor." His wife, Kathleen MacLellan Gregg, and his mother, Cay Gregg, were present in the audience.

"When I see Gregg Hall I will think of my father," said Gregg, who was visibly touched. "It is amazing that I get to share this with my wife and my mother."

Gregg continued by saying how pleasantly surprised he was of the strides the faculty, staff and students at UNH have made since the opening of the Environmental Technology Building in 2001.

"It is remarkable that in only three short years that prediction has certainly come true," Gregg said. "The impact of the research being done here extends far beyond the building itself, the UNH campus and even our region. That is a testament to the tireless work being done by the faculty, staff and students at UNH.

Their cutting-edge work has brought accolades to the University but, more importantly, has resulted in programs that will ultimately lead to cleaner air, healthier oceans and safer communities for New Hampshire residents and New Hampshire law enforcement personnel."

UNH hockey team co-captain Patrick Foley presented Gregg with a gift from President Hart and the University. Inside was a UNH hockey jersey with Gregg's last name printed on the back along with the number one.

"Does this mean I can actually get tickets to the game?" quipped Gregg.

The ceremony was followed by a catered reception and tours of the facility.