Auburn University Breaks Ground in Orange Beach
By Rick McCann
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
July 26, 2025
ORANGE BEACH, AL. Auburn University announced earlier in the year that they would be building a new research center in beach community and now, the Auburn Engineering Department has broken ground on their Orange Beach facility.
Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering has broken ground on the Auburn University Gulf Coast Engineering Research Station, a partnership with the city of Orange Beach earlier this week.
The 21,000-square-foot facility is located on Walker Avenue next to Orange Beach’s Coastal Resources Office. The two-story building overlooks Terry Cove and is set to open in fall 2026. It will have direct access to coastal waters, which is expected to help researchers study the area’s environment.
The facility will include labs, offices, large meeting rooms and outdoor gathering areas on both levels. It will be a permanent hub for studying Gulf Coast environments and communities.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be part of this community and this region of our state,” said Auburn President Chris Roberts. “I look forward to the partnerships, the discoveries and the impact to come.”
The Gulf Coast Engineering Research Station will have three primary research areas: protecting and restoring water quality and quantity, conserving habitat and living resources, and enhancing the sustainability and resilience of coastal communities.
Copyright 2025 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
