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Upcoming University of Alabama Performing Arts Center Hits Construction Milestone

  • By Matt Jones
  • 10/30/25

The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., recently celebrated the topping out of its new Smith Family Center for Performing Arts, according to a news release. The university is partnering with HPM for program and project management on the facility, which broke ground in 2023 and is scheduled for completion in November 2026. Other partners were TurnerBaston Architects as project architect and M.J. Harris Construction Services, LLC, as the general contractor.

The Smith Family Center for Performing Arts will measure in at 130,088 square feet and bring all of the Department of Theatre and Dance’s academic and performance needs within a single area on campus, the news release reports. Amenities will include a 450-seat dance theater, a 350-seat drama theater, a 250-seat studio theater, a scenery shop, rehearsal space, and control rooms.

“We are proud to celebrate this important milestone alongside UA and our project partners,” said HPM Senior Project Manager Austin Fisher. “The Smith Family Center for Performing Arts will be a centerpiece for creativity and learning on campus, and reaching the topping out is a testament to our teams’ expertise and dedication to getting the job done on time. We look forward to bringing the vision for this facility to life and delivering a space that will inspire generations of students, faculty members and audiences.”

The facility will connect via a new lobby to the Peter Bryce Main building, which—following construction—will house the department’s faculty offices and academic spaces.

The university and HPM have previously partnered on campus venues like Julia Tutwiler Hall, Bryant Denny Stadium, Rhoades Softball Stadium, Coleman Coliseum, and the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility, the news release reports.

About the Author

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

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