New UAH Engineering Facility Reaches Topping-Out, Paving Way for 2026 Opening

HPM announced on Monday that the Raymond B. Jones Engineering Building at the University of Alabama in Huntsville has reached its topping-out milestone, marking the point at which construction has risen to its full height. The facility broke ground in April 2023, with work commencing in October 2024. Completion is anticipated for June 2026 in time for the fall 2026 semester. HPM is currently serving as the program manager and owner’s representative on the project, which is set to provide modern education and research space for UAH’s engineering school.

The Raymond B. Jones Engineering Building will span 70,000 square feet, featuring three levels of state-of-the-art research labs, collaborative teaching spaces and flexible classrooms, designed to promote innovation and experiential learning. With updated equipment and advanced technology, the building will offer students real-world, hands-on experience and will provide resources to support the university’s flagship engineering program, which is the largest college at UAH with more than 2,850 students. The new building will enhance UAH’s ability to prepare students for careers in fast-growing technical areas such as unmanned aerial systems, big data, hypersonics and artificial intelligence. The facility replaces a decades-old facility and is named in memory of Raymond B. Jones, long-time businessman, community leader and the past chairman of the UAH Foundation.

“Our team is leveraging decades of experience in higher education initiatives to keep this project on track to open for the next school year,” said Tony Smith, Senior Project Manager at HPM. “We value this opportunity to collaborate with UAH in leading the Design and Construction effort for this important Project, and we look forward to growing our relationship with the University. The Raymond B. Jones Engineering Building is designed with experiential learning and exploration at its core, and we are proud to help bring the school’s vision to life with a state-of-the-art development that will benefit generations of engineering students.”

HPM first partnered with UAH during the design and construction phase in August 2023 and is continuing to offer program management services through completion. HPM’s team continues to work with University officials, as well as the design and construction team, to manage project budget, schedule and construction activities and to coordinate with the University’s academic and campus calendar, prioritizing the safety of students, faculty and staff during construction.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see the vision of the Jones Engineering Building come to life. We are committed to driving forward the frontiers of engineering through cutting-edge research, exceptional education and industry collaboration,” said Christian Reed, Chief Facilities Officer and Campus Architect at UAH. “This project has been years in the making, and the visible progress affirms the university’s commitment to advancing education, research and workforce development.”

The Raymond B. Jones Engineering Building is the first partnership between HPM and UAH.