New College Of Education Building Grand Opening — Auburn leaders cut the ribbon to officially mark the grand opening of the new College of Education building at Auburn University on August 12. Pictured from left: Provost Vini Nathan, Board of Trustees President Pro Tempore Jimmy Sanford, Dean Jeffrey Fairbrother and President Christopher B. Roberts. (Auburn University)

As Auburn University’s College of Education celebrates its 110th anniversary, the school officially ushered in a new era of learning with a state-of-the-art instructional and research facility.

The ribbon cutting event took place Tuesday. Some fast facts about what’s inside the new building:

167,000 square feet
Three stories
Modern, collaborative classrooms and instructional laboratories
Spaces for faculty and staff offices
A two-story atrium with skylights and clerestory windows

(Bonus fact: The building has 318 windows, 2,093 light fixtures and 450 doors!)

The Dean of the College of EDucation, Jeffrey T. Fairbrother, welcomed attendees to the exciting grand-opening:

“I am thrilled to be with you today to celebrate this significant milestone in the history of our college and our university. Today, we officially mark the grand opening of the College of Education’s new building — a vibrant hub of collaboration and innovation where we will be opening doors to opportunity for generations to come.”

The college had humble beginnings in 1915 as just a department of education that offered a single degree in agriculture education. Today, there are 60 degree options in four different academic units:

Department of Curriculum and Teaching
Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation, and Counseling
Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology
School of Kinesiology (this unit will remain in its current home on Wire Road)

New College Of Education Building — The exterior of the new Auburn University College of Education building is depicted at the corner of Samford Avenue and Duncan Drive. (Auburn University)

“With this facility — which allows the bulk of the College of Education to reside solely in one building — we are setting a cohesive and firm foundation for the future, furthering our great university’s land grant mission and providing our students a heightened academic experience second to none.”
Auburn University Board of Trustees President Pro Tempore Jimmy Sanford

The building is located at the corner of Samford Avenue and Duncan Drive. Although the building celebrated its opening just this week, students have already been hard at work during summer semesters starting in May. The beginning of the fall semester is Aug. 19.

Connect with us by tagging The Bama Buzz on Instagram, X, Facebook + LinkedIn.