<p>A number of people have posted threads asking for info about UA’s Science and Engineering Programs. On a recent trip to the University of Alabama I saw that the second of four planned Science and Engineering buildings is almost completed. It is a beautiful structure and is almost as large as the first of those four buildings, Shelby Hall. I also read in the following press release from Sen. Shelby that the University of Alabama has received $30 million in Federal Earmarks to construct the third building. It should be completed by 2011. The four Science and Engineering buildings will surround a new grass quadrangle. </p>
<p>"…Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Teaching and Research Corridor - $30 Million</p>
<p>The University of Alabama will use this funding to complete a Science and Engineering Corridor. One of the four buildings planned has already been constructed. Construction on the second building, which will house portions of the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chemistry and Computer Science, has already begun. Two additional interdisciplinary science and engineering buildings will also be constructed to complete the corridor."</p>
<p>We must attract young students to math, science and engineering to effectively compete in the global economy, said Shelby. To remain at the cutting edge of innovation, we need to act now to reach the untapped potential within our own borders in the ever-increasingly important fields of math, science, and engineering. If we do not make the right investments now, it will later cost us much more later, both fiscally and strategically.</p>
<p>The whole Shelby Science and Engineering Complex is simply amazing. It doesn’t surprise me that it’s won a national award. Not only is it beautiful, but so state-of-the-art. </p>
<p>I’m also glad that my kids are getting to use that building. DS2 has classes in the complex 3 days a week.</p>
<p>I’m very grateful to Sen. Shelby for working so hard to get the money for this complex. While I’m not a big fan of federal earmarks, I don’t mind when they pay for college improvements across the country - especially an improvement that involves high-tech education which is so needed in this country and is truly an investment (at least this earmark is not for some weird museum for spotted owls or “bridges to nowhere” or other such nonsense)</p>
<p>Mom, </p>
<p>And just wait till the third and fourth buildings are constructed. These buildings are amazing structures in person. The new landscaping is great too.</p>
<p>I’m looking for some artist renderings of phases 3 & 4…</p>
<p>I hope I’m understanding this right…Phase 1 was Shelby Hall (the beautiful building shaped like the Pentagon, but still keeping with the 1800’s architectural style of the university.) I’m not sure what each name of the other phases are…but I think the entire project is called “Science and Engineering Complex” because it will consist of 4 major structures, including Shelby Hall. Is this right???</p>
<p>For those who are interested…</p>
<p>here are some pics of the newest phase (Phase II) that opened last month… [Home</a> | TuscaloosaNews.com | Tuscaloosa News](<a href=“http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=TL&Date=20090720&Category=FRONTPAGE&ArtNo=720009998&Ref=PH&Profile=1007&Params=Itemnr=1]Home”>http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=TL&Date=20090720&Category=FRONTPAGE&ArtNo=720009998&Ref=PH&Profile=1007&Params=Itemnr=1)</p>
<p>here are some pics of Shelby Hall. And, if you click on “virtual tour,” you’ll see more pics.
[Shelby</a> Hall](<a href=“http://www.bama.ua.edu/~chem/facilities/buildings/shelby.html]Shelby”>http://www.bama.ua.edu/~chem/facilities/buildings/shelby.html)</p>
<p>Words from Sen. Shelby… “TUSCALOOSA | U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby said Friday he hopes to have steered $1 billion in federal money to the University of Alabama by the time his congressional career ends. ‘Ive already got well over $500 million for our state university…’”</p>
<p>Yes, Shelby Hall is part of the overall Science and Engineering Complex. My guess is that once the entire complex is completed, it will be entirely named after Shelby. Already, the rooms in Shelby were renumbered over the summer to match up with overall numbering scheme for the entire complex. This will be a similar setup to that of the Stevenson Center science and engineering complex at Vanderbilt (an example that I am familiar with off the top of my head)</p>
<p>Yes, I can imagine that the entire complex will likely be named…Shelby Science and Engineering Complex since he was so instrumental to getting the project funded…</p>
<p>[News</a> from the College | College of Arts and Sciences](<a href=“http://web.as.ua.edu/home/news/2009/mailnews/october/webmail.php]News”>http://web.as.ua.edu/home/news/2009/mailnews/october/webmail.php) for an aerial view of the new Science and Engineering Building and Shelby Hall. This view gives one an idea of how much additional classroom and research space is now available at UA.</p>
<p>Wow…thanks for the link. I had no idea that this second phase was that big. From the aerial view, phase 2 looks to be about the same size (in square footage) as Shelby Hall. </p>
<p>I still would like to know what phases 3 & 4 will include…and what they will look like…and exactly where they will be built in relationsip to phase 2…</p>
<p>I agree about the renderings. For some reason, UA’s website is not showing the renderings for these new science buildings. One would imagine that they could really aid in recruiting top notch science and engineering students still in high school. I would at least expect the Engineering program at UA to highlight its future better.</p>
<p>I am wondering who (if anyone) could be contacted to request that UA add renderings of Phases 3 and 4.</p>
<p>I saw site plans for phase III and IV during a meeting I was sitting in last year. Phase III is ready to go - site work starts this fall. Phase IV is still being finalized I think. Renderings haven’t shown up probably because they haven’t been created yet. I seriously doubt they would sit on them for the reasons you have already given.</p>
<p>Certainly renderings have been created by the architects for the university…those are done before the prelim approvals - they are part of the approval process. UA wants to know what something is going to look like before they give approvals. Since phase 3 is beginning construction now, certainly those renderings have been done for months, if not before.</p>
<p>I know that the artist renderings of Ridgecrest North Res Hall and Shelby Hall were done long before construction began.</p>
<p>Im just surprised that the rendering for the Phase 3 Building is not on UA’s website. The entire Shelby Complex, including all phases, received an award by some architectural association, so one would expect the University to use them for recruitment. </p>
<p>So Feeno, does the third building look much like Shelby Hall? Im looking forward to seeing the new Quad on that side of campus once all of the phases are completed. Should be really beautiful.</p>
<p>Maybe they’re buried somewhere here:</p>
<p>[Facilities</a> - The University of Alabama](<a href=“http://www.uafacilities.ua.edu/default.htm]Facilities”>http://www.uafacilities.ua.edu/default.htm)</p>
<p>Mary Wymer, the College’s director of public relations, at 205/348-6444 or <a href=“mailto:mwymer@eng.ua.edu”>mwymer@eng.ua.edu</a>. </p>
<p>She might be the one to ask. Mom, thanks for being such a good ambassador for UA!</p>
<p>Thanks! I’ll contact her!</p>
<p>Bump…I need to contact the number above…I forgot. :(</p>
<p>The BoT gave the go-ahead on construction for the third phase of the Science and Engineering complex at their fall meeting yesterday. Have you found any renderings of the project?</p>