Construction begins for new buildings

Officials broke ground Nov. 18 and 19 for two new buildings on the Troy Campus — the Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sciences and a new home for the College of Health and Human Services

Present at the events were Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor; Gibson Vance, President Pro Tempore of the Troy University Board of Trustees; Stephanie Baker, Director of Market Development for KW Plastics and a member of the Troy City Council; Dr. Steven Taylor, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Dr. John Garner, Dean of the College of Health and Human Services; and many other TROY officials, faculty, staff and guests.

The center is located at the site of the former McCartha Hall. Funded in part by a $3.2-million grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, it will serve as an integrated, multi-disciplinary research facility and enable the University to build partnerships with the region’s polymer and plastics industry to increase their competitiveness in the global marketplace.

The center will also prepare the next generation of the workforce for the industry as students trained there will be engaged in real-life/real-time industry projects. The building is estimated to be completed in 18-24 months.

During the groundbreaking ceremony for the College of Health and Human Services building, at the former site of Gardner and Hamil halls, the name was revealed to be Jones Hall in honor of Billy Jones, a TROY alum and founder and CEO of Crowne Health. Jones and his wife, Frances, were on hand for the reveal.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” Jones said. “The good Lord has been good to me, and I’ve been successful enough to be able to give back in this way. I am so honored that they are naming the building after me. There is a shortage of nurses in the industry, not only in Alabama but all over the nation. This is something that I believe will help in reducing that shortage.”

The possibilities for growth for students and faculty alike are endless with state-of-the-art hospital simulation labs for hands-on training, exercise science labs and open spaces to encourage growth and collaboration.

The 60,000-square-foot, three-story building designed by Seay, Seay & Litchfield includes a 150-seat auditorium and laboratories for teaching and research, expanding educational opportunities and experiences for the students in the School of Nursing and the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion.

It is set for completion in 2024, marking the 30th anniversary of the college.