OSU breaks ground on Boone Pickens Human Performance Innovation Complex
Monday, October 13, 2025
Media Contact: Jennifer Kinnard | OSU Foundation | 405-334-1022 | jkinnard@OSUgiving.com
Complex will house the Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute
Oklahoma State University celebrated the official groundbreaking of the Boone Pickens Human Performance Innovation Complex on Saturday morning.
Located in OSU’s athletic village and just north of Sherman E. Smith Training Center,
the facility will integrate cutting-edge research to redefine the science of human
performance and health innovation in Oklahoma and beyond.
“This facility is more than bricks and mortar,” OSU President Jim Hess said. “It’s a bold testament to the land-grant mission that defines who we are at Oklahoma State University. The Boone Pickens Human Performance Innovation Complex will position OSU at the national forefront of performance science, and more importantly, it will improve the health, resilience and well-being of Oklahomans for generations to come.
“That’s what we’re here to do — to serve, to educate, and to make life better for the people of this state. And I believe this facility is a giant step forward on that journey together.”
The BPHPIC provides specialized facilities for the Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute to engage with athletics and other high-performance user groups, covering the full spectrum of performance science — from sport to occupations, youth, and lifelong health.
“Just as Boone’s giving changed the trajectory of Oklahoma State athletics, his foundation’s
support of HPNRI aims to change the trajectory of improved health outcomes that will
impact generations of Oklahomans through cutting-edge research. Boone was fond of
saying, ‘I don’t want to grow old and feel bad, and I don’t want others to, either.’
His legacy ensures that sentiment lives on."
It brings together OSU’s academic colleges, Extension, sports medicine and athletics to develop evidence-based strategies that address chronic disease, optimize physical and cognitive performance, and deliver statewide impact. Through strategic partnerships with industry leaders and collaboration across all 77 counties, HPNRI is focused on translating research into accessible, real-world solutions that improve the lives of everyday Oklahomans.
“The Boone Pickens Human Performance Innovation Complex will be a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration — where researchers, practitioners, athletes and students work side by side to unlock human potential,” said Lance Walker, Rick and Gail Muncrief HPNRI executive director. “I’m proud to lead a team committed to turning research into real-world solutions that elevate the health and performance of our communities.”
Eight Benefactor-level donors made BPHPIC possible through their generous support:
- T. Boone Pickens Foundation
- Chickasaw Nation
- Loren and Elaine Cook
- David Lindsey
- Rick and Gail Muncrief
- Bob and Elizabeth Nickles
- George and Janice Thompson
- Anonymous
In 2024, it was announced that the complex would be named after Pickens, who made a $25 million legacy gift to support the project. An OSU icon and philanthropist, Pickens was a lifelong advocate for health and fitness.
“Just as Boone’s giving changed the trajectory of Oklahoma State athletics, his foundation’s support of HPNRI aims to change the trajectory of improved health outcomes that will impact generations of Oklahomans through cutting-edge research,” said Jay Rosser, director of the T. Boone Pickens Foundation. “Boone was fond of saying, ‘I don’t want to grow old and feel bad, and I don’t want others to, either.’ His legacy ensures that sentiment lives on."
Boone Pickens Human Performance Innovation ComplexOSU celebrates facility groundbreaking
