Auburn University Starts Construction on College of Education Building

Auburn University in Auburn, Ala., recently announced that construction has begun on a new facility for the College of Education, a university news release reports. The new building will cost an estimated $77 million and has an estimated completion date of spring 2025.

The 167,000-square-foot facility was designed with modern teaching methods and practices in mind and was deliberately created to serve as a student-centered facility. It will feature amenities like collaborative classrooms, instruction labs, upgraded technology, and administrative space for staff and faculty.

“The new facility will enable the college to consolidate its departments into one building that is located at a prominent campus location,” said Simon Yendle, the university’s assistant vice president for Planning, Design, and Construction at Facilities Management. “It will feature large, bright classrooms and lecture halls like those in the Mell Classroom Building and the Academic Classroom and Laboratory Complex.”

The building was designed with energy efficiency and environmental consciousness in mind, with the aim of achieving a LEED silver certification.

“Our new building will be a hub of activity to bring students together and give them easy access to their classrooms and laboratories,” said Auburn College of Education Dean Jeffrey T. Fairbrother. “It will also provide a one-stop location for support services such as advising and those provided by our Learning Resources Center. Ultimately, our new facility will promote student collaboration in study and meeting spaces and, importantly, facilitate interaction with our faculty and staff. We are thrilled to have this opportunity to better serve our students.”

The university partnered with Architect of Record Stacy Norman Architects LLC and Design Architect SmithGroup, Inc., on the project, according to the university website.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • StarRez Releases 2025 State of Student Housing Report

    Student housing software solutions provider StarRez recently released its second State of the Student Housing Industry Report, according to a news release. The report is based on the results of survey data from more than 400 higher education institutions around the world, both StarRez clients and not.

  • AP Construction Breaks Ground on Two Projects for Austin ISD

    Adolfson & Peterson Construction (AP) recently announced that it has broken ground on two renovation projects for the Austin Independent School District, according to a news release. The work at McCallum and Anderson High Schools totals 97,350 square feet and is scheduled for completion in January 2027.

  • New Kent State Academic Building Earns LEED Silver Certification

    Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, recently announced that its newest academic building, Crawford Hall, has earned a LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, according to a news release. The facility was recognized for its innovative design, water conservation technologies, energy-efficient systems, and sustainable construction materials, among other features.

  • Anderson Brulé Architects Rebrands as ABA Studios

    Anderson Brulé Architects, based in San Jose, Calif., recently announced that it is celebrating 40 years of service by rebranding under a new name, according to a news release. The architectural, interior design, and planning firm will now be known as ABA Studios to refresh its identity underneath a new generation of leadership.

Digital Edition