Auburn University to start construction on $83m academic complex

Auburn University in Alabama, United States, is investing in their academic space and spending US$83 million on a brand-new classroom and laboratory complex, with construction expected to start this spring.

As well as the 151,000 sq foot academic classroom and laboratory complex, or ACLC, the project will also include a 48,000 sq foot, three-story central dining hall. Both of which will be located where Parker Hall and Allison Laboratory currently stand.

Once complete, the ACLC will include 2,000 student seating capacity, six Engaged Active Student Learning, or EASL, classrooms and laboratories, five lecture halls ranging from 100 to 300 seats, and 20 adaptable classrooms and laboratories.

It will be built on the brownfield site of the Allison Laboratory which is due to be demolished before construction begins.

“The day this project is completed, it will contain the second largest amount of instructional classrooms and laboratories on campus, second only to the Haley Centre,” Associate Vice President for Facilities Management, Dan King, said in a statement.

“In planning this important facility, the thought was that it needed to be centrally located, particularly near the transit hub and the Student Centre. Given the deteriorated state of Parker and Allison, we knew those facilities had to be replaced, so siting the ACLC on that location met all the key criteria.”

A three-story, 800-seat central dining facility will accompany the new ACLC. It will include six food stations, two commercial dining venues, and four flexible spaces where faculty and staff can meet with students.

“The intent of the central dining hall is to provide additional dining capacity similar to the Wellness Centre and Student Centre,” said Auburn University Director of Campus Dining, Glenn Loughridge.

“This facility’s location will provide students, faculty and staff with access to a variety of fresh and healthy dining options. The facility is designed to enhance the quality of life on campus, while also providing additional space for meetings with faculty and staff, which is designed to increase student success.”

Construction is expected to be completed in Summer 2021.