Construction of the Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts is near completion, and soon the angular, two-story, zinc, glass and brick building will become home for Department of Art and Art History galleries, classrooms and faculty.
View looking south-west Curious visitors and students who have walked by the building in progress, on the corner of 13th Street and 10th Avenue South, will be able to explore the 26,000-square-foot building in early 2014, when classes are expected to begin there, and an opening exhibit will be on show. Art history, time-based media and graphic design classes, along with administrative offices, will be housed within the building.
The facility is named for lead donors Hal and Judy Abroms, as well as Ruth and the late Marvin Engel. The building was designed by Los Angeles-based architect Randall Stout, who worked with senior associate Frank Gehry for seven years. Hoar Construction oversaw the construction of the building. The completion of the AEIVA will create dynamic indoor and outdoor public spaces that physically and visually connect with the Alys Stephens Center across the street, said UAB President Ray L. Watts.
“We are excited to take this major stride in creating a vibrant nexus of arts and culture for UAB and our entire community,” Watts said. “With its striking architecture and state-of-the-art capacity to house important visual art works and educate students of art and art history, the Abroms-Engel IVA will be an invaluable addition to UAB’s cultural corridor, complementing the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, the William Hansell and Susan Mabry Hulsey Center for Arts and Humanities and the National Alumni Society House. This campus and community can look forward to enjoying world-class exhibitions and cultural events in this marvelous new facility for years to come.”Read more about the Institute and what its presence will mean to UAB.
