Alabama universities’ largest construction projects cost $1.5 billion: See what’s being built

Universities across Alabama are expanding and renovating their spaces for students, faculty, staff and visitors. AL.com used university construction websites, university news sources, and university administrators to gather the largest building projects from 11 of the 14 four-year public colleges. The projects’ total cost is approximately $1.5 billion and includes football stadium construction and renovation, science buildings, and student centers. The list is in order from the smallest estimated budget to the largest estimated budget.Alabama State University's Beverly Hall(Contributed)Alabama State University: Beverly HallBudget: $6.5 millionEstimated completion date: TBDThe three-story, 24,480-square-foot student health center will include lecture rooms, classrooms and offices for faculty. Rendering of UWA's Student Union(Contributed)University of West Alabama: Student UnionBudget: $23.4 million Estimated completion date: spring 2027.The two-story 54,000-square-foot student building will include a 12,000-square-foot gym, a Barnes and Noble, meeting and lecture rooms and a 3,800-square-foot food court.Athens State University's - Carter Hall(Contributed)Athens State University: Carter Hall Student Center Budget: $30 millionEstimated completion date: spring 2028The 27,700-square-foot student center includes a renovated gym space for 1,100 people and a 700-seat multipurpose space.Rendering of University of North Alabama's Bank Independent Stadium(Contributed)University of North Alabama: Bank Independent Stadium Budget: $53 millionEstimated completion date: September 2026The 60,000-square-foot football stadium will have a capacity of more than 10,000 people. The stadium includes a weight room, outdoor gathering areas, a multipurpose stadium club, and 13 suites.Rendering of Alabama A&M University's science center.(Contributed)Alabama A&M University: STEM Center Budget: $84 millionEstimated completion date: 2027.The 125,000-square-foot science building will include labs and research spaces for physics, biology and chemistry departments.Photo of interior of West Village at Jacksonville State University(Contributed)Jacksonville State University: West Village residence hallBudget: $87 millionOpened: July 2026The 717-bed facility for upperclassmen has 206 apartment-style and suite-style units. The four-story building is 256,545 square feet and opened July 15. Rendering of Smith Family Center for Performing Arts at the University of Alabama.(Contributed)University of Alabama: Smith Family Center for the Performing ArtsBudget: $177,002,282 Estimated completion date: April 2027The Smith Center will house the Department of Theatre and Dance. The 130,088-square-foot building will have a 350-seat drama theater, a 450-seat dance theater and a 250-seat studio theater. Rendering of University of Alabama at Birmingham's Biomedical Research Facility(Contributed)University of Alabama at Birmingham: Biomedical Research and Psychology BuildingBudget: $188 millionEstimated completion date: early 2027The 228,735-square-foot, eight-story building will include wet and dry research laboratories and support spaces.Planned for the former Executive Plaza area on Sparkman Drive in Cummings Research Park, UAH plans to transform the 58-acre parcel to a mixed-use district that creates a college town environment.UAHUniversity of Alabama at Huntsville: Exploration PlazaBudget: $247.7 millionEstimated completion date: early 2027The new Exploration Plaza will include a 400-bed housing unit for upperclassmen, a 100,000-square-foot research facility and 135,000 square feet of office and retail space. The plaza will later be expanded to include a hotel and conference center. Rendering of University of South Alabama - Whiddon College of Medicine(Contributed)University of South Alabama - Whiddon College of MedicineBudget: $280 millionEstimated completion date: December 2026The new 295,000 square-foot building includes classroom, office, laboratory and research spaces, 4,400 square-foot storm shelter and a 32,000 square-foot vivarium, an enclosed space to observe and research plants and animalsOfficial renderings for Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium north endzone projectAuburn Board of TrusteesAuburn University: Jordan-Hare Stadium UpgradesBudget: $323 millionEstimated completion date: spring 2029Auburn is adding 3,000 premium and club seats to Jordan-Hare and building Shug’s Food Hall, which will serve as both an on-campus dining option and a game-day concessions area. Upgrades also include retail and event spaces, as well as meeting rooms.Auburn University at Montgomery, Troy University and the University of Montevallo currently don’t have any projects, according to university administrators.