THURSDAY, March 8, 2007
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DECATUR, AL. Construction on Austin High School's $5.73 million science/social studies building is a "few weeks ahead of schedule," the project's architect said this week.

Architect Frank Nola Jr. of SKT Architects estimated contractor Pearce Construction has about 40 percent of the building complete. He said the walls up to the second floor should be complete in about two weeks and then workers will begin on the roof.

The science/social studies building replaces the demolished S-building on the south end of the Austin campus. Built in 1962, S-building was the oldest structure on this college-style high school campus.

The plan calls for 14 classrooms and a computer lab on the first floor for the social studies department.

The second floor will feature nine classrooms with three labs and offices and preparation areas.

Meanwhile, students are attending science and social studies classes in 14 portable classrooms on the school's front lawn.

The construction schedule calls for completion in November.

Full text from the Decatur Daily
By Bayne Hughes
DAILY Education Writer
hughes@decaturdaily.com · 340-2432

FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2006
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DECATUR, AL. Austin High School is getting a new building, and it will be larger and more expensive than originally discussed. The Decatur school board gave SKT Architects approval Thursday to design a two-story science and social studies building that will replace the S-building on the south end of the campus. The school board originally went into the process looking at constructing a science building for about $4.5 million. The change adds an estimated $1 million to the project, including demolition of the school's oldest building.

Nola, of SKT Architects, said his concept will put 13 classrooms and a computer lab on the first floor for the social studies department. The second floor will feature nine classrooms with three labs and offices, storage and preparation areas. Principal Don Snow said he wants social studies on the first floor so he can use four classrooms in the band building for social studies and keep them in the same general area of the campus.

Snow was obviously thrilled with the prospect of a new building. He said his science teachers have been pushing for a building for years and most thought it might not ever happen.

"The proposal I see reflects the wants of the school system and the science department staff," Snow said. "It maximizes use with the funds we have while opening up the possibilities for our school."

Full text from the Decatur Daily
By Bayne Hughes
DAILY Education Writer
hughes@decaturdaily.com · 340-2432

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2005
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HUNTSVILLE, AL. Equipped with shiny shovels and a mound of fresh dirt, university officials, students, and community leaders will ceremonially break ground on a $5 million Fraternity and Sorority Housing Row on The University of Alabama in Huntsville campus.

Delois Smith, UAH's Vice President for Student Affairs, said the UAH Fraternity/Sorority Row will be a welcome and exciting addition to university housing. "This groundbreaking marks the realization of a long-time dream of fraternity and sorority alumni and current members."

Site preparation is under way and fraternities and sororities anticipate the building process will take about a year. Move-in is scheduled for fall 2006, just in time for new member recruitment.

Fraternity and Sorority Row will give these organizations a more prominent presence on the UAH campus and provides a communal gathering place for members, according to Cathi Curtis, UAH's Director of Student Activities.

"The presence of the fraternity and sorority houses will have a significant impact to our campus community," she said. "Our students are very excited about this pinnacle in Greek life becoming a reality."

Derald Morgan, UAH's Vice President for University Advancement, said the campus plan has locations for two more houses immediately. He said those homes will get started as soon as additional fund raising activities are successful. "We have already started the process on fund raising for additional homes," he said.

Sorority and Fraternity Row has been under design for a year. University officials and SKT Architects PC worked with these organizations to come up with the final designs for the houses. Consolidated Construction Co. will build the houses. The houses will be located between Southeast Campus Housing and the University Fitness Center with parking behind the houses.

The streetscape will consist of three different facades selected by the respective organizations. Each house will be identified by their National Greek member letters.

Each house will contain 5,200 square feet, including a common living area and chapter room. Curtis said each organization is responsible for the final touches which will personalize their house such as carpet and furnishings.

Full text from UAH News
For more information:
Ray Garner, (256)UAH-NEWS