Doors are officially open at North Dakota State University’s Bolley Agricultural Laboratory, a transformative new research facility designed to advance agricultural discovery, education, and industry collaboration. Located adjacent to active research fields on NDSU’s Fargo campus, the 160,000-square-foot laboratory creates a unique “field-to-furrow” connection, allowing researchers to move seamlessly between fieldwork and laboratory analysis while supporting studies in plant sciences, plant pathology, horticulture, soil science, and potato research.
As NDSU’s largest capital construction project to date, the facility replaces several aging, dispersed research spaces with a centralized environment designed to foster collaboration and innovation. Advanced laboratories, specialized research areas, growth chambers, and environmentally controlled storage spaces provide researchers and students with the tools needed to address emerging challenges facing agriculture while expanding opportunities for hands-on learning and interdisciplinary research.
Named after Henry L. Bolley, a pioneering plant pathologist and influential early faculty member at North Dakota Agricultural College, the laboratory honors a legacy of agricultural advancement while positioning NDSU for the future. The facility is expected to serve as a hub for discovery to develop solutions that improve crop health, strengthen agricultural resilience, and support producers across North Dakota and beyond.
JLG Architects is grateful for the opportunity to partner with North Dakota State University and the project teams to bring this vision to life. Purposefully designed to support collaboration, innovation, and real-world application, the Bolley Agricultural Laboratory reflects a shared commitment to creating environments where research can thrive and where the next generation of agricultural leaders can learn, explore, and make an impact.
