Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

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].

Featured

  • 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.

  • Q&A: How to Prevent Kitchen Grease Fires in Commercial Kitchens

    School cafeterias and university dining halls serve thousands of meals daily, relying on high-heat equipment like fryers, grills, and ovens. While these operations keep students fed, they also generate significant grease-laden vapors. Without proper controls, this grease becomes a silent fire threat. As a certified exhaust cleaning specialist and business coach who has helped hundreds of institutional facilities achieve NFPA 96 compliance, I emphasize that proactive grease management isn’t optional; it’s a core fire/life safety practice.

  • Nashville Elementary School Receives LEED Gold Certification

    Goodlettsville Elementary School, part of Metro Nashville Public Schools in Nashville, Tenn., recently achieved LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), according to a news release. The 81,750-square-foot school opened in 2023 and was designed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC).

  • Sam Houston State University Completes Athletic Stadium Renovations

    Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, recently announced the reopening of Elliott T. Bowers Stadium after an extensive renovation project, according to a news release. The university partnered with Stantec and DLR Group for the project’s design.