FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.—The University of Arkansas hopes big things will come from the study of something incredibly small.

School trustees have approved a $28 million plan for a building devoted to the study of nanotechnology—substances so small they exist on a nearly atomic level. The field has potential applications in everything from improved health care to military weapons to more efficient batteries, said Greg Salamo, a physics professor.

“The future is just going to explode in this area,” Salamo said. “Nanotech is really changing a lot of landscapes.”

The building was initially estimated to cost $20 million. The additional $8 million will “shell out” additional space, with exact uses to be determined in coming years as the field expands, Chancellor David Gearhart said.

“To be very honest, we thought about asking for $16 million more,” Gearhart told the trustees before their vote Friday.

The original $20 million price tag would have been covered by $16 million in bonds and $4 million in economic development money dedicated to the project earlier this year by Gov. Mike Beebe. Additional money for the project will be raised through a combination of state and federal grants and private fundraising, university officials said.

The center will be built on a parking lot along Dickson Street, just east of the KUAF-FM radio station. Groundbreaking could take place as early as this spring, with completion by late 2010 or early 2011.