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The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees approved budgets and contracts for two major projects on the UAH campus last week. The trustees approved the revised scope and budget of $47.7 million for the renovation of the Bevill Center for the new Center for Cybersecurity Research, Education & Advanced Training. It also approved the facility’s proposed architectural design by McMillan Pazdan Smith, Architecture. The board also approved the revised project budget for the track and field complex and granted authorization for UAH to award a construction contract in the amount of $5.1 million to Dunlap Contracting Inc. of Lacey’s Spring for track and infield construction and lighting. Total budget for the project is $15.5 million. “These projects represent significant investments in UAH’s future and reaffirm our commitment to advancing both academic excellence and the student experience,” said UAH Chief Administrative Officer Dr. Kristy Lee in a news release. “The new Center for Cybersecurity will strengthen UAH’s position as a national leader in cyber research, while the Track and Field Complex will enrich campus life and elevate our athletics program.” Bevill Center The expanded scope for the Bevill Center project will allow UAH to complete a full renovation of the building in a single phase. Constructed as a hotel and conference center at 550 Sparkman Drive in 1988, the building contains 93,600 square feet of space on three floors. The renovation project will transform the building into a research and academic facility aimed at attracting and retaining top students, researchers, faculty and staff as well as research client and partner relationships, the university said. The facility will house the Center for Cybersecurity Research & Education (CCRE), the Department of Computer Science, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Office of Research and Economic Development. It will meet the academic needs of a wide variety of cybersecurity-related disciplines, including the following: Cybersecurity engineering Secure software development Cybersecurity test and evaluation Offensive security Systems architecture Reverse engineering Emerging cybersecurity problem-solving UAH track and field complex The new facility will be near UAH’s existing outdoor athletic fields, expanding Charger Park to the west side of John Wright Drive. The project will give UAH its first on-campus track, which will feature an NCAA-compliant, 400-meter, 8-lane running track with jumping, vaulting and throwing event venues. The complex will also include these amenities: Entry plaza Parking area for visiting teams and officials Press box 500-seat main section of bleachers Home and visiting team locker rooms Concessions Field house with equipment storage When the complex opens, it will allow UAH to host on-campus sporting events, including Gulf South Conference and Division II championship events. University officials believe the new complex will help UAH sports programs to recruit students and faculty and improve academic performance.
