The University of Alabama Board’s Physical Properties Committee approved a broad set of construction, renovation and real estate transactions for the UA campuses at its Sept. 11, 2025 meeting, authorizing 16 UA items including campus safety infrastructure, academic and athletic facility upgrades, property acquisitions and sales.

Why it matters: The approvals allocate funds and authorize contracts for projects that affect campus safety, instruction, student services and revenue-generating opportunities. The projects are paid from a mix of federal grant funds, university reserves, gifts, state appropriations and foundation funds.

Notable construction and renovation items approved
- Facilities Administration Community Safe Room (Stage 4): Revised total project budget presented as $3,810,980, low bidder WAR Construction. Funding: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant ($2,800,000) with the remainder from university central reserves; designed to shelter approximately 325 occupants and built to FEMA 361 and ICC 500 requirements.
- Ryze Center Playscape renovations and enhancements: Total project budget $3,000,000 to renovate infant, toddler and preschool yards to be fully accessible; funding from gifts and Office of Academic Affairs reserve funds ($2,225,000 in future gifts; $600,000 in OAA reserves; $175,000 gifts realized through Sept. 2025).
- Psychiatry residency program renovation and addition at University Medical Center: Renovation of ~5,200 sq ft within Betty Shirley Clinic and a 2,700 sq ft addition to support a newly accredited four‑year psychiatry residency that will train six residents per year; total project budget $5,575,738 funded with College of Community Health Sciences reserve funds. Dr. Ricky Friend commented on expanded training capacity.
- ROTC facility and Student Veterans Center (revised site): Project remains budgeted at $12,750,000 and will relocate to 130 Fourth Street (south of Parker Hahn). Funding: State of Alabama ETF supplemental appropriation funds. Revised site chosen because of anticipated infrastructure projects on McFarland Boulevard and hydrology/site cost concerns at the previously proposed site.
- Bidgood Hall Welcome Center renovation: Authorization to proceed with planning and owner–architect agreement for approximately 3,600 sq ft renovation; total project budget $1,575,000 funded by Culverhouse College of Business reserves.
- Central Bryce parking lot and roundabout: A project to add ~251 spaces (bringing total to ~420 for the area) and a new roundabout to improve traffic flow near the Smith Family Performing Arts Center; total project budget $4,631,365 funded with transportation reserves and university central reserves.
- Hauser Hall testing services renovation (~9,800 sq ft): Project budget $1,769,525 funded by OTAD renewal and replacement funds to expand testing capacity for students and credentialing.
- Bryant‑Denny Stadium premium upgrades (2025): Creation of four corner suites and three suites in the press box to add approximately 130–138 premium ticket opportunities. Total project budget $5,000,000 funded by Crimson Tide Foundation funds; trustee remarks indicated the suites will generate substantial future revenue.
- Wade Hall biomechanics laboratory renovation (~4,200 sq ft): Budget $1,666,111 funded with Office of Academic Affairs renewal and replacement funds.
- Farrah Hall renovation (Stage 1): Authorization to proceed with planning for a full interior renovation of ~63,000 sq ft, ADA improvements and a new elevator; total project budget $40,518,500 funded with future revenue bonds and central reserves.

Real estate acquisitions, dispositions and land management
- Capstone Health Services Foundation lease assignments and amendments at 100 Reisman Road Loop were authorized to support expansion of community clinical and teaching opportunities tied to the College of Community Health Sciences.
- Acquisition: 1410 University Boulevard — negotiated purchase price $4,350,000 for a 7,000 sq ft multi-tenant commercial building and surface parking on just over a half acre; funding from 2025 Advancement & Technology appropriation funds. Year‑1 lease revenue estimated at about $105,600 and potentially growing after a no-cost lease term for the seller.
- Acquisition: 426 Reed Street — proposed purchase price $1,550,000 for a ~7,400 sq ft lot immediately north of 1410 University Boulevard; funded with 2025 Advancement & Technology appropriations.
- Disposition: Manus Track, Chilton County — committee authorized sale to 2 Creeks Farm LLC for $1,000,000. The meeting noted an appraisal value of $342,000 and discussion recorded that the buyer is a significant adjacent landowner with hunting/high‑fence operations; trustees asked why negotiated price exceeds appraisal, and staff said the buyer had longstanding interest and adjacency creates value.
- Recreational use licenses: The committee authorized awarding recreational/hunting licenses for 17 tracts (~3,700 acres) to highest bidders; 97 bids were received in the May–June 2025 offering and estimated income was $568,256 over the 10‑year license term.
- Annual Timber Management Plan FY25–26: Approved the plan covering proposed harvests on 14 tracts totaling approximately 1,288 acres in Bibb, Coosa, Fayette, Jefferson, Walker and Winston counties; an updated report included timber sales after the June meeting.

Discussion and votes: The presenter, Mike Rogers, briefed trustees on project locations, budgets and funding sources. Trustees inspected several sites during a campus tour and asked questions about site selection and revenue implications (for athletic premium seating) and noted family outreach for the Betty Shirley Clinic renovation. All UA items were considered collectively and approved by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were provided in the transcript.

Implementation and next steps: Each approved project will proceed through the planning, design and contract phases as authorized; funding sources identified in the package will be used for contracts and procurement. Real estate closings and timber sales proceed under the terms approved in each resolution.

Ending: The committee completed consideration of UA construction and real estate items and moved to vote; trustees approved the 16 UA resolutions and adjourned the committee.