Ground broken for Transportation Technology Center



U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, who has been instrumental in making highway safety a priority, was among the many key individuals present at the April 25 groundbreaking ceremony for Phase I of the $108 million Transportation Technology Center at Auburn University.

Slated for completion in November 2007, the $54 million Phase I will house state-of-the-art research laboratories, classrooms, lecture halls, engineering administration, and administrative and faculty offices for the departments of Computer Science and Software Engineering and Industrial and Systems Engineering.

The second phase will house the Department of Mechanical Engineering and general and specialized laboratories designed to support and grow a wide range of innovative technologies, including those that meet the needs of Alabama’s growing transportation sector.

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and chairman of the Transportation Subcommittee, Shelby has made highway safety a priority, working to ensure that the nation’s highway system receives appropriate levels of funding to maintain and enhance safe travel conditions. Thanks to his efforts, $65 million in federal funds have been secured for Phases I and II of the center.

“We are extremely indebted to Sen. Shelby for the pivotal role he has played in securing funding for both phases of this project,” said Larry Benefield, dean of AU's Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. “In looking to the breadth and scope of his contributions to education, I can truly say without qualification that he has assumed a leadership role in recognizing and funding the kinds of facilities and programs that will bring us to the broad highway of Alabama’s promise, and the future that our students will realize through the engineering community’s role.”

While still evoking the traditional architecture of the Auburn campus, the design of the Transportation Technology Center provides for the programmatic functions of a 21st century research and teaching facility. Phase I of the project includes a central pavilion flanked by two L-shaped wings. Phase II adds a building to the end of each wing. Arched passageways line the ground floors, leading to open-air courtyards with stairs descending into a spacious green, intended as a gathering place for students and faculty.

“We have a vision to move the college to the next level of excellence,” said Benefield. “Much must be done if we are to join the ranks of the nation’s best engineering schools. One of our greatest needs is the availability of state-of-the-art facilities for students and faculty. With the construction of the Transportation Technology Center, we are taking a giant step in satisfying that need.”