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

  • Washington State University Debuts New Engineering Hall

    Washington State University recently celebrated a dedication ceremony for the new Schweitzer Engineering Hall on its Pullman campus in Pullman, Wash., according to university news. The facility measures 66,288 square feet, and its completion marks the first milestone in a larger university effort to modernize the engineering and design district.

  • UNH Marks Construction Milestone on Oceanic Exploration Facility

    The University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H., recently celebrated a major construction milestone with a beam-signing ceremony for the new Center of Excellence for Operational Ocean and Great Lakes Mapping, according to a news release. The facility’s ultimate goal is to support research, training and technical assistance in ocean mapping.

  • Missouri Child Development Center Completes $2.3M Expansion

    The Urban Sprouts Child Development Center in St. Louis, Mo., recently announced the completion of a $2.3-million expansion and adaptive reuse project, according to a news release. The new space includes a retail café, outdoor learning space, and a support office building.

  • Montclair State University Starts Construction on $120M STEM Building

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $120-million Interdisciplinary Science Building, according to university news. The university partnered with HoK Architects for the project’s design, and it’s scheduled to open in time for the 2028–29 academic year.