The building, which will in many cases replace the outdated Brooks Hall, has been given an estimated opening date of fall 2017, with groundbreaking for the project happening in fall 2014.

The approval comes after years of discussion and planning from the university. The project was presented to the state by CMU representatives as the top project in 2008, but approval was pushed back at February's board meeting.

"Obviously, we are excited to be moving forward," Dean of the College of Science and Technology Ian Davison said. "We still have the final design phases to go through, and we hope to get them done by the end of the fall. It's going to be a long process, even though there are people ready for the building right now."

Funding for the building will come from the state, loans and fundraising. The state has already pledged $30 million to the project, and the university hopes to raise $5 million from fundraising, which leaves $60 million to be accounted for through university reserves and loans.

University President George Ross echoed Davidson and considers the approval of the building a significant change for the university.

"This has been an issue since 2002, and it has been the No. 1 state priority since 2008, so iy feels great," he said. "It's great for our faculty and students. When you double the biology enrollment in less than three years and increase tenured faculty by 71 percent, progress like this a significant change for the university as we move forward in the biological sciences."

Brooks has caused many issues for faculty and students in recent years, including multiple floods, inadequate lab space and outdated technology.

“Brooks is a Sputnik-era building whose builders never could have imagined the type of growth we are experiencing,” Biology Department Chairman Steve Roberts said during February's Board of Trustees meeting. “One out of every 15 majors at CMU is signed in biology. In a matter of years, we have gone from 450 biology majors to 1,000. Based on my experiences at two other universities where medical schools have been founded, it is expected that the amount of biology majors will rise.”

With the approval and addition of the new building, Davison said student recruitment will be affected.

"In the short-term, it won't do a whole lot. Students who arrive this fall will have a chance of having classes in the building their senior year. In a few years, it is going to be a massive recruiting tool for students and for faculty," he said. "We will finally be able to give them the kinds of facilities and infrastructure they need to be successful in their research and teaching practices."

The Washington Street Apartments, which are located on the future site of the biosciences building, are expected to be torn down during summer 2014 to make room for the project.

"The goal is to take down the apartments in the summer of 2014. Once the 2013-14 school year is over and people have moved out of the apartments, demolition will start in early summer, with groundbreaking starting in the fall," Board of Trustees Chairperson Brian Fannon said.