University of Alabama at Birmingham Opens Gorrie Hall of Engineering

The University of Alabama at Birmingham celebrated the opening of Frances and Miller Gorrie Hall in June of 2025. Designed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood, the $77 million facility advances the School of Engineering’s mission to attract leading faculty and train the next generation of modern engineers. The 116,000-sf structure enables a progressive pedagogy that blends academic instruction with hands-on learning and industry experience.

Flexible teaching and research labs are accompanied by specialized environments such as the 2,000-sf Vulcan Materials Testing Lab, which houses advanced equipment for conducting compression, bending, tensile, and impact testing on a wide range of materials. Featuring a technology-rich lab for design and rapid prototyping, the project also includes collaborative research venues for programs in material engineering, neuroengineering, and transportation and smart cities. Exposed systems and infrastructure are showcased throughout the building to serve as a teaching tool.

Providing nearly 200 offices and workstations for faculty, graduate students, and staff, Gorrie Hall accommodates the Alabama Power Student Success Suite, which offers tutoring, advising, and career services. The Brasfield & Gorrie Employees Student Study Commons offers a variety of settings conducive to individual work, group interaction, or informal exchange, complemented by an expansive outdoor patio.

Lord Aeck Sargent was the laboratory design consultant for the development and Brasfield & Gorrie was the general contractor. Ground was broken in July of 2023 on the facility, which represents the second phase of UAB’s Science and Engineering Complex.