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Trustees approve construction and real-estate slate including Farah Hall savings and Cooper Green purchase option
Summary
The physical properties committee approved multiple UA and UAB construction and real-estate resolutions: Farah Hall renovation budget reduced to $28.6M, Moundville restoration, EHS demolition, Capstone College of Nursing addition ($80.75M), multiple leases, and exercise of the option to acquire the Cooper Green site with a net purchase price not to exceed $7.8M after demolition credit.
Trustees on the physical properties committee approved a package of construction and real-estate items affecting University of Alabama campuses and UAB.
Mike Rogers presented the UA construction items. He said the Farah Hall renovation (School of Leadership and Policy) received three bids and the total project budget fell from $40.5 million to $28.6 million after low bids and updated estimates; he characterized the roughly $12 million reduction as a positive outcome of the bid process. "Your total project budget reduces significantly from $40.5 million down to $28.6 million," Rogers said.
Other UA items approved included a Moundville Archaeological Park site-restoration project (near $10 million, 90% FEMA grant-funded), demolition of the EHS building (about $500,000), and the Capstone College of Nursing addition and renovation (total budget $80,750,000 largely funded with future general revenue bonds). Trustees also approved several real-estate items: purchase authorization to negotiate acquisition of 501 Queen City Avenue (proposed price $6,750,000), a lease at Innovation Depot in Birmingham for research and business-engagement programs, a gallery lease for the Paul R. Jones Art Gallery, and quitclaim deeds conveying two parcels along US Highway 82 to ALDOT for right-of-way.
On UAB items, trustees approved construction budgets and planning actions including a reduced budget for residence-hall envelope renewal ($25.9 million), an expanded-scope renovation for Mervin H. Stern Library (budget up to ~$21 million), and planning authorization for the Hoen Engineering building renovation. The committee also approved the 2025 campus master-plan update.
A notable real-estate decision authorized staff to exercise the option to purchase the eastern half of Superblock 4 (the Cooper Green site). The appraised value shown in materials was $10,750,000 and a gross sale price listed at $10,718,392; after a demolition credit the net purchase price would not exceed $7.8 million. Trustees discussed timing (the option extends to 2030), parking needs for upcoming biomedical and psychology facilities, site degradation and security, and confirmed that asbestos inspection and abatement costs were included in demolition estimates.
All presented UA and UAB items were approved by voice vote (the transcript records the chair declaring the motions approved but does not provide roll-call tallies).
What happens next: Staff will execute construction contracts and lease agreements, proceed with environmental/abatement steps where required, and return to the board with contract awards and progress reporting.
