UAB opens new engineering school building

After two years of construction, the University of Alabama at Birmingham has a new home for its engineering school. Staff cut the ribbon for the Frances and Miller Gorrie Hall Tuesday morning. 

“This is a once in a 40-year event for us,” UAB School of Engineering Dean Jeffrey Holmes said, pointing out that his school’s previous building opened in 1983. “Actually, that’s 42 years, if you want to be an engineer about it.” 

The new building comes with advanced labs, research suites and peer tutoring labs. Some of the walls are lined with 3D printers. He said high schoolers attending a summer camp will use those 3D printers for creating and flying drones. College students will begin using the building this fall.

“This is a physical manifestation of the engineering school that we aspire to be,” Holmes said. 

The 110,000 square foot building, named in honor of Miller Gorrie, the Birmingham-native behind the construction firm Brasfield & Gorrie, and his wife Frances, cost $77 million. Holmes said it will boost the Birmingham economy. School partners will guarantee internships to every engineering student. 

“We need more engineers in this country,” Holmes said. “I think this is critical work.” 

Brassfield & Gorrie broke ground on the facility in 2023 and Miller Gorrie attended the ribbon cutting ceremony. 

“I’ve always tried to help UAB because my heart is in Birmingham,” Gorrie said. “And anything that helps Birmingham, I want to support.”

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