This article originally appeared on Opelika-Auburn News.
Construction crews have begun building Auburn University’s new STEM and Agriculture Sciences Complex, Hoar Construction announced on Tuesday.
Hoar Construction broke ground on AU’s new 285,000-square-foot building, as the general contractor for the $184 million project. The complex will sit along PO Davis Drive where Auburn University’s Hill Residence Halls was located before it was demolished this year.
“We are honored to have been chosen to oversee construction of this state-of-the-art development, which is one of the highest dollar-value projects in Auburn’s history,” said Joel Brown, Hoar Construction’s project manager.
Hoar has also worked on the construction projects for the 36,000-square-foot West Campus Dining Facility, Tiger Zone, and the 193,000-square-foot Auburn Engineering Center. Hoar also served as general contractor for Toyota Field in Madison.
The project will be adjacent to the College of Education building, which is currently under construction, and it will border Boyd Residence Hall. According to the release, Hoar will communicate with university officials throughout the project to keep construction on schedule while “keeping student safety as the highest priority.”
The project, which will include three separate buildings connected by pedestrian bridges and a shared basement, is expected to be completed by summer 2026 according to a news release.
The three buildings will feature high-tech teaching labs, research laboratories, a teaching garden and communal student areas. The labs and basement space will have the capabilities for holding aquatic animals and insects for study and care.
The complex will bring several departments from the College of Sciences and Mathematics and College of Agriculture to one centralized location, including biological sciences, geosciences, mathematics and statistics, crop, soils & environmental sciences, horticulture and entomology & plant pathology.
“This complex is set to greatly enhance the learning experience and capabilities for Auburn’s students and will pave the way for our next generation of leaders within science, technology and agriculture. We look forward to working alongside our invaluable project partners to deliver this project on time and without any disruptions to student life,” Brown said.
The news release said that once the complex is complete it will be aiming for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Status, an environmental performance rating system that is used as an industry standard in the U.S.
Hoar will be joined on the project by JE Dunn, which is serving as the construction manager, and Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) and Lord Aeck Sargent, the designers of record for the project.
