On Jun. 5, 2015, the University of Missouri-Kansas City began a $21.5 million modernization of its primary biology and chemistry teaching laboratories, facilities that had not been upgraded since the 1980s.

Gov. Jay Nixon signed a package of bills that included about $160 million in bond funds for use on college and university projects around the state. The legislation included $18.3 million for the laboratory renovations at UMKC’s Spencer Chemistry Building and Biological Sciences Building. The total project cost was $21.5 million.