Construction of the 95,000-square-foot Academic Building on the northwest corner of the Campus Green is running right on schedule, as are most other new and renovation projects on campus, says Brooks Baker, UAB associate vice president of facilities.
The most visible of the current projects under construction is the Academic Building, which is located on University Boulevard at 14th Street.
“We’re pleased to say the Academic Building is definitely going as we had hoped,” Baker says. “It’s on schedule and will be a beautiful building.”
The building, which should be completed by October, promises to have inviting curved glass features at the entries and an outdoor patio space facing the Campus Green. It will house large lecture rooms, math labs and faculty and student offices. The concrete slab construction is complete for floors two through five, says Jim Goodwin, executive director of capital construction.
“The construction crew anticipates topping off the building in March, which is quite a milestone for the workers,” Goodwin says.
HOAR Construction and KPS are the contractor and architect for the project, which is managed by UAB Project Manager James Guyton. The Academic Building is expected to be ready for occupancy by December.
Development continues
Other projects currently under way include the Campus Green, completion of the Shelby Building, construction of the Southeastern Bio Safety Lab (SEBLAB) and the renovation to the entrance of the School of Nursing building.
Crews are readying to embark on the next major step in completing the Campus Green by taking up the remaining pavement on 15th Street South from Ninth to 10th avenues. All of the asphalt removed will be replaced with grass, and sidewalks and lighting also will be installed. (Susan Zumbado is the UAB project manager for the Campus Green.)
“It’s important to point out that as this process is under way the area will be well lit at night so it will be safe for the students, faculty and staff,” Baker says.
Inside the Shelby Building, construction is complete with the exception of four floors and “we’re in the process of finishing them,” says Goodwin. Floors six and 11 should be completed by March. Floors seven and 12 will be finished by the end of the year.
“When seven and 12 are complete at the end of the year that will totally finish out the Shelby building,” Goodwin says.
Brasfield and Gorrie is the contractor on the SEBLAB, which is being overseen by UAB Project Manager Jerry Corvin. The SEBLAB is located at the corner of 19th Street South and Ninth Avenue and is scheduled for completion in February 2008. Construction is currently centered on the concrete roof decks and placing concrete on the ground floor slab.
The new entrance to the School of Nursing building, overseen by UAB Project Manager Bill Camp, is due to be completed by the end of the February.
“That was one of the last areas along University Boulevard that had not been fixed up in recent years,” Baker says. “It’s going to look really nice.”