The University of Alabama at Birmingham's Collat School of Business has scheduled a ground breaking ceremony in December for a new $37.5 million educational building.
The facility, which will encompass about 109,000 square feet, will become the western gateway to the UAB campus, university officials say.
The location is readily accessible to both campus and downtown Birmingham and will create opportunities for the school to interact with local businesses.
"From the moment students enter the building they will be enveloped in a special learning community," the university says. "From the large central atrium, to student organization areas, classrooms, offices, and lounges, every space is designed specifically to foster interaction between students, faculty, staff, alumni, and businesses."
Site construction is expected to last 18 months. The facility is expected to hold its first classes in fall 2018.
The building will house centers for advanced learning that will enable students to create relationships with local leaders that extend beyond the classroom.
- The Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship will serve as the entry point for businesses seeking to collaborate with UAB, encouraging innovation and entrepreneurial educational on campus.
- The UAB Healthcare Leadership Academy is a collaboration between the Collat School of Business and UAB School of Medicine to prepare faculty, physicians, and healthcare executives to be successful leaders.
- The Nielsen Innovation Lab will provide students the opportunity to interact with innovative thinkers and entrepreneurs and to help incubate ideas from concept to start-up.
Video from the University of Alabama at Birmingham: