The University of Alabama at Birmingham continues implementing its strategic plan and Campus Master Plan by building new facilities. On Sept. 20, UAB hosted a ribbon-cutting for its Student Assembly Building –– a new home for UAB’s registered student organizations.
The single-story building, operated by Student Affairs, directly aligns with institutional goals of student success and advanced co-curricular opportunities outlined in UAB’s strategic plan, Forging Ahead. It will be located at the northwest corner of 14th Street South and 11th Avenue South.
“This facility reflects the continued growth of both our physical campus and our vibrant student experience that supports our enrollment and retention efforts,” UAB President Ray L. Watts said. “Here in this exciting new hub of campus life, our student organizations can engage their membership in important meetings and events, recruit new members, and collaborate on new and effective ways to serve our community.”
To garner a sense of community among students, the new Student Assembly Building provides shared space for student organizations, fraternities and sororities to host meetings, special events and recruitment activities.
The collaborative space encompasses 12,790 gross square feet of assembly areas, storage space, office and administrative space, and a catering kitchen. It features one large assembly room, which can accommodate up to 280 students at a time and can be subdivided into three smaller assembly rooms.
The building also houses four individual assembly rooms with a capacity of 12 to 32 students each, as well as a hoteling office and administrative space, to be used by student organization leaders.
“The new space for student leaders to congregate and create impactful initiatives echoes our commitment to our students’ success not just as learners, but also as leaders,” said John R. Jones III, Ph.D., vice president of Student Affairs at UAB. “The student-centered, designated and easily accessible space embodies our vision for enhanced involvement and community service efforts.”
The speakers at the ribbon-cutting were Watts; Jones; Ayona Roychowdhury, president of the Undergraduate Student Government; and Logan Cook, president of Sigma Chi.
UAB broke ground on the facility in March 2023; it is already operational, allowing student organizations to collaborate with each other.
The project was built by Shelby Company LLC, and architecture was by Architecture Works, LLC.
Video by: Chris Carmicheal