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Milestones in Motion
The Research and Demonstrations Complex Journey Toward Transformation
Research and Demonstration Complex photo taken December 2025. By: Crystal Duckett, Communication and Media Specialist
Central State University’s Research and Demonstration Complex (RDC) is steadily transforming from blueprint to reality. Featured in the spring 2025 issue of Central Ag Focus, the RDC is more than a construction project. It represents a bold vision for agricultural innovation, workforce development, and entrepreneurship. The RDC is designed as a multi-phase, large-scale project that embodies CSU’s Land-Grant mission while serving as the cornerstone of its public-private partnership ecosystem. “The RDC is not just about buildings,” said Dr. Morakinyo A.O. Kuti, CSU’s 10th president and longtime advocate for research and economic development. “It is about creating opportunities for students, faculty and communities to engage in cutting-edge research and technology transfer. Our Land-Grant mission demands that we serve, and this complex ensures we do so with impact.”
“The RDC is where research meets applications and translates into economic opportunities,” Toledo said. “We are building the much-needed physical infrastructure that will allow us to train the next generation of agricultural professionals, while also fostering entrepreneurship and workforce readiness.” The current facility being built at the RDC is the Agricultural Research Building. Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, associate director of Agricultural Research, is coordinating the establishment of state-of-the-art laboratories, including soil and water; food science and nutrition; smart agricultural technologies; a core shared instrumentation lab; and other expertise associated with plant biotechnology and genomics. This is how CSU contributes to Ohio’s economic future.
Mark Taylor, director of Facilities and Construction at CSU, highlighted the steady progress and the importance of staying on schedule despite challenges. “Construction is always a long game,” Taylor said. “We’ve hit key milestones from pouring foundations to installing the monument sign, and each step brings us closer to opening doors for students and researchers. Despite some challenges, our teams remain focused on delivering a facility that will stand the test of time.” Recent months have brought visible progress. In September, crews poured concrete foundation walls and roughed-in plumbing lines for the Farm Equipment Storage Facility. In addition to providing storage and shop area for equipment repairs, this structure will provide covered, dry space for Extension and Research field days activities when Ohio’s unpredictable weather threatens outdoor activities. At the Research Facility, parking lot lighting was installed, and final site grading and seeding were completed. In October, a new illuminated monument sign was added to identify the RDC. The exterior and a 10,000-square-foot interior build-out remain on track for completion in December. Both facility projects are still on schedule.
The RDC also provides space for demonstration plots and projects to provide Ohio farmers with opportunities to learn more about new and emerging technologies for their farms.
Dr. Jose Toledo, vice president for Research and Economic Development and director of 1890 Land-Grant Programs, emphasized the RDC’s role in bridging research and public service.
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