This story was originally published on MSU Today.

The Michigan State University Board of Trustees today voted to authorize the planning of a major expansion to the MSU School of Packaging. The $25 million investment will double the size of the building and significantly increase research capacity, creating space for more faculty and graduate students.  

“Positioning Spartans for continued innovation and leadership, this new expansion to the nation’s preeminent School of Packaging is another milestone for this storied program,” said MSU Interim President Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D. “This addition signifies our commitment to research excellence and also underscores our dedication to staying at the forefront of industry trends and demands.” 

Housed within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the MSU School of Packaging consistently earns top rankings in its field. It was established in 1952 and was the first school of packaging in the United States. Today, it is the largest packaging program in the country, with over 600 undergraduate and graduate students and 10,000 alumni worldwide. The school graduates 40% of all the packaging professionals in the U.S. alone, creating a basis for industry influence that outstrips any other packaging program.

“This expansion will create world-renowned sustainability research spaces so that we can expand our faculty in this critical area,” said Matthew Daum, MSU School of Packaging director and CANR assistant dean of corporate relations and strategy. “We are the only U.S. school that offers a Ph.D. program in packaging, so we’re particularly excited this addition will allow us to bring in more graduate students to meet industry demand.” 

The School of Packaging completed a comprehensive renovation in April 2023, which created technology-first classrooms, collaboration spaces where industry partners can engage with students and new office space for graduate students and faculty. The renovations were supported by contributions from alumni and donors totaling over $10 million, including lead gifts from Amcor, Charles and Jackie Frasier and Ring Container Technologies. 

The planned expansion is expected to break ground in 2025.