The golden shovels were out on Thursday as politicians and dignitaries turned the first sod on what is promised to be cutting-edge green construction.

The new state-of-the-art science and environment complex will cost almost $60 million dollars and increase the size of the Campus at the University of Winnipeg by 15 percent.

The Richardson College for the Environment and Science Complex will be a total of 155,000 square feet and be home to 19 instructional labs. The building will be built with total energy efficiency in mind.

The name comes courtesy of a $3 million donation from the Richardson Firm, family and Foundation.

"The Richardson College for the Environment and Science is a prime example of effective partnerships with government and the private sector that benefit students, our community and province as a whole," said U of W President Lloyd Axworthy.

The first phase of construction will begin within days, and is slated for completion late in 2010.

The project will employ about 560 people during the next two years