Auburn University Board of Trustees approves 77-acre Research Park expansion to accommodate future program growth

At its June meetings, the Auburn University Board of Trustees approved a 77-acre expansion of The Park, a hub of the university’s collaborative entrepreneurial ecosystem. This expansion will help facilitate the development of additional technology innovation infrastructure, including the recently announced Advanced Manufacturing Research District within The Park. The approved growth brings The Park’s total size to just over 240 acres.

The new district will allow acceleration of Auburn research programs in advanced manufacturing and create opportunities for private-sector partners to co-locate facilities side-by-side with Auburn research facilities, fostering collaboration in technology development. Additionally, the expansion provides flexibility for possible future broadening of engineering, science and health-related programs within The Park.

“The expansion of the Park lays the groundwork for Auburn’s continued leadership in technological innovation,” said Steve Taylor, senior vice president for research and economic development. “The Park is centered within a vibrant community, and this expansion will help us build the Advanced Manufacturing Research District and increase partnerships with industry, leveraging Auburn expertise to benefit the region and enhance economic growth and workforce development.”

Auburn’s expanded Radio Frequency Identification Lab is the first facility within the Advanced Manufacturing Research District. The 100,000‑square‑foot, $22 million lab is under construction and slated for completion in summer 2027.

In addition to advanced manufacturing, there is a broad range of research activity in The Park, including the Mcrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security; the Auburn University Neuroimaging Center—home to a world-class Siemens Terra.X 7T MRI scanner for clinical and research use; the Auburn University Forest Products Lab, as well as the USDA-ARS National Soil Dynamics Lab currently under construction. The Park is also home to the Center for Advanced Science, Innovation and Commerce; the Via College of Osteopathic Medicine; the Auburn Medical Pavilion—a free standing emergency department and surgery center; a childcare center; event center and café.

More than 1,000 people a day visit The Park. They include entrepreneurs, faculty researchers and students, as well as private- and public-sector partners. Established in 2007 as a partnership between Auburn University, the City of Auburn and the State of Alabama, The Park is developed and operated by the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation. Its first building was completed in 2008, and The Park infrastructure has seen steady growth in the years since.

Acreage approved for the expansion includes property north of Camp Auburn Road, east of Parkerson Mill Creek, south of Lem Morrison Drive and west of Donahue Drive. The new northern and eastern boundaries of The Park are adjacent to the university’s Health Sciences Sector.

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About the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation

The Auburn Research and Technology Foundation (ARTF) is a 501(c)(3) charged with supporting the Auburn University research enterprise by facilitating research contracts and partnerships, translating applied research into commercialized opportunities and new business ventures, and by providing an entrepreneurial business environment in which research-related ventures can prosper. ARTF is located in the Auburn Research Park, over 240 acres adjacent to the Auburn University campus.