The first phase of a planned overhaul to the University of Alabama Huntsville’s College of Engineering has been approved by the UA Systems Board of Trustees.

With initial approval granted, UAH will formally proceed with planning the construction of a new facility for its College of Engineering. The new building will be an 80,000 square foot academic and research facility.

“These plans to expand and enhance our engineering facilities can transform engineering education and research at UAH by enabling us to recruit the very best students, elevate our work in a collaborative environment, and contribute to the rapidly growing engineering workforce needs in our region,” said Dr. Shankar Mahalingam, dean of UAH’s College of Engineering. “Modernized, world-class research facilities will also enable us to recruit and retain the most talented faculty conducting research that directly impacts our region.”

UAH is a nationally-leading research hub. The Carnegie Classification of Institutes of Higher Education recently upgraded UAH to the rank of “R1-Very High Research Activity.”

Furthermore, six of UAH’s research programs rank among the top 25 federally funded programs in the U.S., according to the National Science Foundation (NSF) Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey.

The $59.3 million budget for the project’s first phase is funded by a variety of sources. These include gifts, reserve funds, and state appropriated funds. The state legislature voted to appropriate $18 million of supplemental funds towards the construction of a new engineering building at UAH.

The existing building, the Wernher von Braun Research Center, was built in 1964. A new building will facilitate the swift innovation in bleeding-edge technical programs currently underway at UAH, including hypersonic ballistics, drone technology, and advanced artificial intelligence.

Government officials are well-aware of the importance of Huntsville’s highly-trained, technical workforce.

“As the preferred site for the U.S. Space Command and the home to Redstone Arsenal and Cummings Research Park, Huntsville is a STEM powerhouse with a critical need for talented professionals in the science, cyber and engineering fields,” said Sen. Tom Butler. “The continued growth of this knowledge-based economy requires a significant increase in STEM graduates. With the vast majority of UAH graduates staying in our state, expanding and enhancing the university’s engineering facility will directly fill our community’s workforce pipeline.”

Senator Butler is correct in his assessment of state retention rates for UAH alumni. Around 72% of UAH graduates reside in-state. The university, with its 17 research centers and institutes, forms one-third of a tripartite self-reinforcing feedback loop with Redstone Arsenal and the Cummings Research Park.

Investment in the university makes Huntsville an attractive prospect for national programs in aeronautics and defense. High-tech firms incorporate in, or relocate to, Huntsville in order to quickly and easily service those government needs, drawing upon the pool of technical expertise found in engineers trained at the university. Finally, the prospect of well-paying jobs, working on the most advanced programs, lure would-be students to the university.

As a result, Huntsville grows, both in population and in revenue. That growth builds momentum, as Huntsville becomes a more prosperous city.

“Building on the remarkable momentum in Huntsville, it is critical for UAH to continue fulfilling the region’s educational, workforce and research needs,” said UAH interim president Dr. Chuck Karr. “A new engineering building will help us drive impactful research efforts and recruit and graduate exceptional students that meet the area’s growing high-tech workforce needs. I am grateful for and excited about the opportunity to provide this remarkable facility for our outstanding students, faculty, and staff.”