Renovated Dorm to Serve STEM High Schoolers

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 07/23/21

A college in Huntsville, Ala., has just undergone a $6 million renovation. The first guests in the 100-room facility at Oakwood University will be high schoolers attending Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering (ASCTE), which draws students seeking advanced engineering and cyber technology studies.

Oakwood is a private, historically black institution owned and operated by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. It has an enrollment of about 1,600 students. ASCTE is a public, state-magnet residential school specifically for students in Alabama with 150 students during the 2021-2022 school year, in grades 9-11. According to local reporting, the latest work was a collaboration between the two schools.

Peterson Hall at Oakwood University
Source: Oakwood University Photography

The structure was built in 1955. With completion of the renovation, the building now features 52 private rooms, four suites, meeting rooms, an auditorium, a business center, a laundry and vending areas and a sauna and exercise room.

About 60 ASCTE students are expected to move in next month. The room and board are free and will accommodate those STEM students who live outside of the area.

The expectation is that next year, the high school students will move to a different building currently under construction elsewhere in the city. Peterson Hall will then become a residence hall for university students.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • ECM Technologies Wins ‘Most Innovative Business of the Year’ Award

    HVAC preventative maintenance and efficiency solutions provider ECM Technologies was recently named the “Most Innovative Business of the Year” at the 2025 Champions of Change Awards, according to a news release. The program recognizes Arizona business leaders and organizations taking steps to make a positive impact on the state through innovative thinking and philanthropy.

  • Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine has been recognized with an EDS 2025 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • University of West Florida Opens New Laboratory Facility

    The University of West Florida recently announced that renovation work is complete on a new lab building for its campus in Pensacola, Fla., according to university news. Building 80 will serve as the home to the university’s civil engineering program and the Tyler Chase Norwood Construction Management Program.

  • Designing Learning Spaces that Support Student Mental Health and Wellness

    In today’s education landscape, schools are more than just centers for learning; they are integral to the holistic development and well-being of students. The global pandemic underscored the importance of addressing mental health in schools, as productivity dropped, stress levels rose and students faced challenges managing emotions.

Digital Edition