Summer construction projects changing the university landscape

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As Auburn University students and faculty return to campus from summer break, they will notice the university is fulfilling its commitment to provide innovative learning environments that encourage scholarship, enrichment and community.

"During the summer months we made significant progress on several of our capital projects and completed all of our summer critical projects," said Dan King, associate vice president for Facilities Management.

A few of the capital construction projects that made significant progress include: 

  • The 69,000 square-foot Mell Classroom Building where a majority of the structural steel frame is now in place. The building is on track to open for the fall 2017 semester. 
  • Structural steel frames are nearly complete for the two new facilities within the university's Health Science Sector located off South Donahue Drive. The facilities include the 89,000 square-foot School of Nursing Building, scheduled to open fall 2017, and the 37,000 square-foot Harrison School of Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Research Building on track to open late spring 2017. 
  • The new Auburn Memorial project, located at the corner of Mell Street and Samford Avenue, is moving forward with the completion of the pond enhancements. Construction of the memorial wall is in progress and sidewalks are being installed. 
  • Two of three new buildings at the Poultry Research Farm Unit relocation site on the North Auburn campus are near completion. 

Facilities Management also completed several capital construction projects including: 

  • Phase II of the Cater Hall Repair and Renovation project which included altering some existing sections of the building to improve space utilization, replacing heating and air conditioning systems and replacing interior architectural finishes of this 100-year-old iconic Auburn University building, which served as the first President's Home from 1915-1939. 
  • Construction of support facilities for the Auburn University women's volleyball team, which allowed the team to relocate from Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum to Auburn Arena. Construction included a new locker room, training room, coaches' offices and general support facilities. 
  • Construction of four T-hangars at the Auburn University Regional Airport
  • The Jordan-Hare Stadium infrastructure project which included replacement of the existing storm drain and sewer line under the stadium and also replaced a 6-by-8 foot storm drain underneath the north end zone. 
  • Completion of a new 54-suite residence hall, which added 208 student beds, at the Auburn University Montgomery campus. 

Each year Facilities Management analyzes all of its projects to determine which must be completed during the summer break.

"A goal with all of our projects is to meet our clients' construction, renovation and repair needs while minimizing the impact on Auburn University students, faculty and staff," said Scott Fuller, executive director of Design and Construction at Facilities Management. "Our summer critical projects allow us to meet this goal while many students and faculty are away from campus."

A few of this summer's projects included: 

  • Relocating the College of Sciences and Mathematics Department of Geosciences to space on the second level of the coliseum. 
  • Installation of new brick pavers on the walkways located behind Cater Hall. 
  • Installation of new below-grade utilities in the Lower Quad. 
  • Installation of improved lighting and crosswalks at the intersection of Wire Road and West Magnolia Avenue to allow students to use the newly purchased North Parking Garage. 
  • Lighting and walkway improvements at the intersection of Lem Morrison Drive and South Donahue Drive were completed as part of the Health Science Sector infrastructure project. 
  • Installation of a new videoboard at the Auburn University Soccer Complex. 
  • Classroom renovations inside Lowder Hall, Dudley Hall and Spidle Hall. 

The university will continue to expand its research and classroom space this fall when construction begins on the following capital projects: 

  • A $19 million, 50,000 square-foot addition to the Leach Science Center will consolidate and relocate the Department of Physics and faculty from Parker Hall and Allison Laboratory. The addition will consist of instructional and research laboratories, student success and collaborative study spaces and departmental offices. 
  • The $16 million Gavin Engineering Research Laboratory renovation will comprehensively renovate the existing building to provide state-of-the-art laboratory space and relocate research labs from the Engineering Shops and L-Building which are scheduled to be demolished this fall. 
  • The $5 million Broun Hall renovation to the existing building will include a two-story main entrance addition and revised lighting and finishes. It will also include updated information technology, mechanical and electrical systems. 

Visit the Facilities Management Major Construction Projects page to view photos, webcam feeds and descriptions of current and upcoming capital projects.

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Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact.