Entrepreneurship and Innovation Have a New Home in Birmingham

August 27, 2018

BIRMINGHAM, AL—The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) bridges collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship with the opening of the $37.5 million state-of-the-art facility that will house the Collat School of Business and Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

“This beautiful new building changes everything,” said Collat School of Business Dean Eric P. Jack. “This addition to UAB’s campus heralds a new era of leadership in business education that will help drive innovation at UAB and in Birmingham for many years to come.”

The grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony took place Friday, Aug. 24. Students began classes for the fall semester Monday, Aug. 27.

The 108,000 sq ft building was designed with input from students and community business leaders so that every detail enhances the learning experience while preparing students to work in modern business environments. The facility features breakout rooms, an innovation lab, classrooms designed for team-based learning, a high-tech finance lab, sales role-playing rooms, a three-story atrium, an auditorium, a career center and quiet study spaces.

Williams Blackstock Architects of Birmingham and Robert A.M. Stern Architects of New York City served as the architects of record on this project. Brasfield & Gorrie served as general contractor and self-performed all concrete work, including foundations, foundation walls and site hardscapes.

Learn more in a press release from UAB.