Even better renderings of the Third Phase of the Science and Engineering Complex

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Alabama
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<p>[Portfolio</a> - Whitaker & Rawson, Inc.](<a href=“http://www.whitakerandrawson.com/gallery.php?p_id=136&pt_id=2&p_ref=1]Portfolio”>http://www.whitakerandrawson.com/gallery.php?p_id=136&pt_id=2&p_ref=1)</p>

<p>Two very clear renderings of the third phase, different from the one in the other thread, that show the future building from two different angles. There is also an old rendering of the SEC Phase Two. </p>

<p>Wonder why UA, and specifically, its College of Engineering, doesn’t have these on the website? You would think the renderings would be prominently displayed to appeal to future students, especially given the size, function, and beauty of these various phases.</p>

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<p>[Portfolio</a> - Whitaker & Rawson, Inc.](<a href=“http://www.whitakerandrawson.com/portfolio.php?id=2]Portfolio”>http://www.whitakerandrawson.com/portfolio.php?id=2) </p>

<p>check out the Universities section of the site for other renderings of new and future buildings at UA, such as the Nursing Building. There are renderings of some new buildings at Auburn as well.</p>

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<p>[Science</a> & Engineering Complex Phase II - Davis Architects](<a href=“http://www.dadot.com/project/under_construction_0/science_and_engineering_complex.aspx]Science”>http://www.dadot.com/project/under_construction_0/science_and_engineering_complex.aspx)</p>

<p>great aerial shots and pictures of the completed first two phases of the SEC</p>

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<p>bumpin it up!</p>

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<p>What impressed me was the scale of the buildings. Only pic #4 shows a person to give it some perspective. Heck, the portrait of Mr. & Mrs. Shelby in the rotunda is gigantic. </p>

<p>Does anyone know the total cost of the project? And where the $ are coming from? (Fed, State, donations, etc?)</p>

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<p>Senator Shelby is pretty high up as far as senators go and gets Federal funds/earmarks for various university projects in the state of Alabama. His goal is to get $1 billion in federal money for Alabama Universities before he retires from the senate. Some consider the money to be pork, especially when Shelby has stalled some things in the senate to [unofficial reason] to get said earmarks.</p>

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<p>Phase 2 cost $ 70 billion, as does Phase 3, and Phase 4 The Federal Government is paying for roughly half of each phase, via various grants and stimulus funding. It is pork for sure, but will go to a good cause. While I dont like pork in principle, it does help to balance out the years of unequal federal support given to universities around the nation. The U of A has not, until recently, benefited from federal largesse. I think Shelby is being a typical politician, but at the same time, I think he cares deeply about advancing Alabama and he does seem to have a vision for how to help the state progress. Just wish the citizens of Alabama were as willing to invest in academic excellence as they are willing to invest in football excellence.</p>

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<p>I don’t consider money for science buildings at any university to be pork spending. Unlike other pork spending, spending on science and engineering buildings is an investment in America’s future. </p>

<p>It’s not like the money is being used to build a museum to the spotted owl or the deer mouse.</p>

<p>I don’t think the 70 billion per phase is right… I think it’s $70 million per phase.</p>

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<p>The Science and Engineering Complex joins the Biology and East Engineering building with descriptive names. However, the complex, the second of four planned cross-discipline buildings, will soon have a sibling, now designated the Science and Engineering Building Phase III.</p>

<p>What will that building be called?</p>

<p>“We haven’t gotten that far yet,” Benson said.</p>

<p>Whatever it’s called, the $70 million building, with accompanying $10 million prep work, is open for business with professors and staff beginning to move ahead of the fall semester that begins in a month.</p>

<p>“It gives us state-of-the-art space to conduct research, and allows faculty members to move from buildings built back in the ’60s to really a state-of-the-art facility,” Benson said.</p>

<p>At about 212,000 square feet, the complex is only smaller than Shelby Hall, which encompasses 254,000 square feet.</p>

<p>Shelby Hall, built in 2004 for $54 million, was billed after its construction as the first of four buildings that will comprise a science and engineering quad on campus. In June, trustees approved the third building of the quad. Costing about $70 million, the third phase will be across from Shelby where the East Engineering building and the Houser Hall Annex now sit. Both of those buildings will be razed in December.</p>

<p>The third phase is tentatively set to open in fall 2011, so, for two years, the second phase will be the newest jewel on UA’s campus.</p>

<p>Begun two years ago, construction on the Science and Engineering Complex went smoothly, said Tim Leopard, assistant vice president of facilities.</p>

<p>The building connects to Shelby on the northeast corner, although only the first floor provides access between the buildings. A second and third floor connection would have raised costs and taken out lab space in Shelby.</p>

<p>Built in a “U” shape, the Science and Engineering Complex matches Shelby in its exterior look nearly brick for brick. Without a separate name, it could be considered a wing of Shelby Hall.</p>

<p>Inside, UA will continue its habit of combining the sciences into one building, rather than separating them.</p>

<p>“Interdisciplinary collaboration are sort of the hallmarks of modern science and engineering,” Benson said. “We’re trying to build facilities that allow us to maximize our efforts in those areas.”</p>

<p>[Engineering</a> building open for business | | TuscaloosaNews.com](<a href=“http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20090720/NEWS/907199973?p=1&tc=pg]Engineering”>http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20090720/NEWS/907199973?p=1&tc=pg)</p>

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<p>oooooops that was a big mistake, sorry bout that, lol, I meant million, not billion!</p>

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<p>Hey…you’re just used to listening to Congress talk in TRILLIONS! LOL</p>

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<p>I wish it was $ 70 billion going to UA. But yeah, you’re right. What is a billion with trillions being tossed around, usually to the Big Banks, and the Military/Deindustrialization Complex?</p>

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<p>bumpin this up for those who havent seen this post yet</p>

<p>Not sure why these drawings are not on UA’s site, or on UA Engineering’s site. These are the kind of facilities that will make UA an even more attractive draw for some of the nations best students in the next few years.</p>

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<p>^^^</p>

<p>I agree…the College of Nursing has their construction pics on their webpages…</p>

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<p>Have you taken your concerns up with the engineering dean’s office?</p>