On Tuesday, Auburn University launched an educational complex in Gulf Shores with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a tour of the new facility.
The Auburn University Educational Complex is a 24,000-square-foot facility that will offer veterinary care, aviation instruction, research administration and Alabama Extension support for that region. The most important asset to the facility will be the Veterinary Specialists-Gulf Shores veterinary referral center, which is set to begin operation later this year.
“At Auburn, we seize every opportunity to fulfill our land-grant mission,” said Auburn University President Steven Leath, per a news release. “This outstanding facility affords more Alabamians access to Auburn’s world-renowned faculty, innovations and discoveries, and it expands our capacity for transformational instruction, research and outreach.”
The new facility will be implemental in coordinating research among faculty and researchers on the Gulf Coast.
“Establishing the Auburn University Educational Complex is a giant step in the right direction for the future of education in our community and we couldn’t be prouder or more excited to welcome the Auburn Family to Gulf Shores,” said Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft.
The 1,000-square-foot veterinary center will “provide specialty veterinary care in surgery and internal medicine on a referral basis and will allow senior-level veterinary students to participate in two weeks of clinical rotation under the supervision of clinical faculty.”
The newly announced veterinary center will offer six exam rooms, two operating rooms, intensive and critical care areas, a treatment suit and endoscopy room, a clinical laboratory, a pharmaceutical dispensing area, comprehensive imaging capabilities (MRI, CT, ultrasound and radiography), an infectious diseases isolation area, pet nutrition kitchen and separate housing capabilities for dogs and cats.
Also a part of the new complex is the Auburn University Aviation Center.
The Aviation Center is designed to “provide aviation learning opportunities for K-12 students as well as host Unmanned Aircraft Systems courses to prepare students, entrepreneurs and professionals for such industries as mapping and surveying, precision agriculture and public safety.”
Among many other things offered at the facility, a plant diagnostic lab will be offered by the Alabama Cooperative Extension to help nursery operators, farmers and homeowners diagnose and manage plant disease and insect problems.
Meeting and office space will be available for collaboration among business and industry leaders and Auburn officials.
Kyle Morris also contributes daily to Breitbart News and can be followed on Twitter @RealKyleMorris.
