Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

University of Alabama at Birmingham Breaks Ground on New Engineering School

  • By Matt Jones
  • 08/10/23

The University of Alabama at Birmingham recently announced that it celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony for the new home for its School of Engineering, according to a university news release. Frances and Miller Gorrie Hall will be part of the Science and Engineering Complex and cover almost 116,000 square feet. The university partnered with architecture and engineering firm Goodwyn Mills Cawood, general contractor Brasfield & Gorrie, and research and lab spaces consultant Lord Aeck Sargent (LAS). The construction has an estimated completion date of summer 2025.

“Gorrie Hall, the new, state-of-the-art-home for our School of Engineering, will bring greater collaboration, innovation, and competitiveness in attracting top students and faculty, as well as increased grant funding for leading-edge research,” said UAB President Ray L. Watts. “We are grateful to the Gorrie family and to our other partners community- and statewide for helping us build on the excellence of UAB Engineering.”


Image courtesy of Goodwyn Mills Cawood

The facility will include amenities like labs with advanced technology, research suites, and common areas to help blend hands-on learning with practical industry experience. In particular, the Student Success Center will feature a Peer Tutoring Lab, Mentorship Programs, and an Internship and Career Center to connect students with real-world professionals.

The materials testing lab will cover 2,000 square feet and include the necessary equipment for compression, bending, tensile, and impact testing for materials like concrete, steel, and gels, the news release reports. K–12 students in the community will be invited to the lab to introduce them to more advanced engineering concepts. The building will also feature research and teaching labs, a design and rapid prototyping lab, a research suite for transportation and smart cities, an outdoor patio, and a common study area.

“Design of science and engineering buildings has changed so much in the last 30-plus years,” said UAB School of Engineering Dean Jeffrey W. Holmes, M.D., Ph.D. “This building will allow us to bring the majority of our academic and research efforts together under one roof for the first time. Students, staff, and faculty from all our departments will be constantly interacting in the hallways and the offices.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • University of Rochester to Break Ground on New Student Life Center

    The University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., recently began construction on a new Student Life building, according to a news release. The first floor will contain campus-wide gathering, program, and rehearsal space; the second floor will play home to the Greenbaum Center for Jewish Life.

  • University of Washington Opens New Broadcast Studio

    The University of Washington in Seattle, Wash., recently announced the opening of Sundodger Studios, a new broadcast, production, and content facility, according to a news release. The university partnered with Anthony James Partners for the design and development of the studio, which will host about 100 live broadcasts and 120 live videoboard shows per year.

  • 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.

  • UT-San Antonio Begins Residence Hall Renovations

    The University of Texas at San Antonio recently began a $6-million renovation project to one of its residence halls, according to a news release. Originally completed in 1986, Chisolm Hall measures in at 120,860 square feet and is the oldest and largest residence hall on campus.