Site Dedication Ceremony Planned for Shelby Hall, UA’s $50 Million Interdisciplinary Science Building

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and his wife, Dr. Annette N. Shelby, will be special guests at a site dedication ceremony for the $50 million Shelby Hall, an interdisciplinary science building, to be built at The University of Alabama. The ceremony will be held Monday, June 26, at 10 a.m. at the corner of Campus Drive and Hackberry Lane on the UA campus.

The Shelbys will speak publicly at the ceremony. The public is invited to attend the event that will also feature displays related to UA’s research programs.

Encompassing more than 200,000 square feet, Shelby Hall will be one of the largest academic buildings on the UA campus and one of the most modern academic science facilities in the nation. It will provide specially designed research and teaching facilities for UA research coalitions and centers in transportation, geosciences, energy, biosciences, chemical sciences, and material sciences and will house the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Chemistry.

“This magnificent science facility will make a dramatic difference in the University’s science programs. The age of the individual scientist working solitarily in his or her lab has long passed. Today, scientific research brings together experts from many fields to investigate complex questions,” said UA President Andrew Sorensen.

“Such interdisciplinary research requires sophisticated facilities that support exploration and innovation. The University’s research funding has more than doubled in the past three years. This visionary, state-of- the-art building, which incorporates both teaching and research wings, will provide the foundation for further acceleration and expansion of our research programs. We have this marvelous facility thanks to the unwavering interest of Senator Richard Shelby who was instrumental in supporting our funding efforts. We are pleased to recognize Senator and Dr. Annette Shelby’s longstanding friendship and support of this institution by dedicating this complex Shelby Hall.”

Located at the corner of Campus Drive and Hackberry Lane, Shelby Hall is designed as the academic anchor of UA’s north campus.
“The University of Alabama is a great learning institution and a great asset for Alabama and the nation,” said Richard Shelby. “I am honored to play a role in helping The University of Alabama to maintain its cutting edge in math and science.”

Richard Shelby, Alabama’s senior senator, is a graduate of The University of Alabama’s undergraduate and law programs. He came to the Senate in 1987 and as chairman of both the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Transportation Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He also serves on multiple other committees and subcommittees.

Annette Shelby is a member of UA’s President’s Cabinet and the UA National Advisory Board. She is a graduate of The University of Alabama and a former professor of The University of Alabama and Georgetown University.

The architectural firm for this project is Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum Inc. Construction of Shelby Hall is expected to be completed in 2002.

Contact

Rebecca Florence, 205/348-8663 Chris Bryant, 205/348-8323, UA Office of Media Relations