Florida A&M University recently broke ground for a $40.5 million Pharmacy Phase II building and also held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its $16 million remodeled and renovated Tucker Hall.

The Pharmacy Phase II of the New Pharmacy Building will be located on the main campus in Tallahassee at the corner of Bronough and Pershing streets.  It involves the designing and constructing of a state-of-the-art 45,000 square feet research, graduate and professional study instructional space.

Gov. Charlie Crist, state Sen. Alfred Lawson Jr. and Frank T. Brogan, chancellor of the State University System of Florida, were among guests at  the ceremony.

“I am indeed proud to have this opportunity to be here today,” Crist said.  “This is not only for what it can do for medicine but also what it can do for jobs.”

Henry Lewis III, dean of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, said the new pharmacy complex will allow for filling five endowed chairs in biomedical research.

New animal research facilities, research libraries and cutting-edge research equipment will allow the college to continue to be a leader in pharmaceutical research, Lewis said.

More than 30 new research laboratories will allow expansion of the college’s graduate enrollment by more than 50 new students, he added.

Before the ground breaking ceremony, FAMU hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for Tucker Hall. The newly renovated building is home of the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Graduate Studies and Research and the Charles Winter Wood Theatre.

As William “Bill” Jennings, chairman of the FAMU Board of Trustees,  Brogan and FAMU President James H. Ammons cut the ribbon, the gathering of more than 100 cheered.

“This building is a showcase,” said Ammons.  “We are proud of the work that has been done to complete this project.”