By Collin Burwinkel
Numerous renovation and building projects are underway across The University of Alabama campus, and more will be starting soon. These projects will improve existing buildings and provide more classroom space, lecture halls, band halls and a storm shelter among other things for our growing University.
North Lawn Hall
Scheduled to open for Fall Semester 2016, North Lawn Hall on Hackberry Lane will include 12 classrooms plus one auditorium for a total of 1,919 seats in the building.
The new 83,000-square-foot building will feature spacious corridors with seating, including an outdoor balcony with seating, to support the circulation of the high volume of students. The auditorium will include table-top seats with convenient plug-ins and theatre-style house doors that will open and close automatically at class change times to facilitate the transfer of students.
An ICC 500-compliant concrete tornado storm shelter designed to house 2,124 people is also integrated into the design.
University Boulevard Renovation
University Boulevard from Hackberry Lane to Arby’s will be closed from May 9 to Aug. 4 to allow for new paving, medians and landscaping. Campus locations will still be accessible via clearly marked alternate routes and detours.
The new road will include medians, a transit lane and a bike lane. During this time, the city of Tuscaloosa will also close University Boulevard at Pinehurst to repair a storm drain.
This project is part of a broader initiative between ALDOT, the City of Tuscaloosa and the University to renovate University Boulevard from the Alberta bridge to downtown. Phase II will begin in Spring 2017, and will impact from the west end of the Alberta bridge to McFarland Boulevard. University Boulevard will not be closed for this phase, lanes will alternate.
To learn about alternate routes during the roadwork, visit wayfinding.ua.edu. Contact Jennifer Sumners at jfsumners@fa.ua.edu for additional information.
Moody Music Addition
Also scheduled to open in Fall Semester 2016, Moody Music Building will add on to its existing space with two new band halls.
A larger band hall with approximately 280 seats and a smaller hall with approximately 80 seats will be added on to accommodate growth in the music program.
The School of Music will use the 25,000-square-foot facility for office, rehearsal and curricular programming space. The addition will also provide new locker room space, sectional practice rooms and support space for the Million Dollar Band. The rehearsal space will provide for both sectional and full instrumental rehearsal in an acoustically appropriate space.
Peter Bryce Boulevard and North Campus Way
Construction of Peter Bryce Boulevard and North Campus Way continues with the first phase from Jack Warner Parkway to Hackberry Lane scheduled to open early May. The road will be open in its entirety prior to student return in August.
This project will provide access to the Peter Bryce campus and provide additional access to campus via Jack Warner Parkway. Crimson Ride (crimsonride.ua.edu/maps/) will provide transit service along the new road.
The project also includes new sidewalks, bike lanes, lighting and landscaping.
Relocations
The Office of Disability Services has relocated from Martha Parham East to a permanent new home in 1000 Houser Hall.
The School of Social Work has temporarily moved to the second floor of Capital Hall on Bryce Lawn Drive while Little Hall undergoes renovations through August 2017. Email addresses and phone numbers for faculty and staff remain the same.