Samford University held a ceremonial groundbreaking April 16 to commemorate phase one of Samford Horizons: A Blueprint for Tomorrow, the university’s campus master plan.
The massive project, the largest in Samford’s history, will result in the addition of a new 513-bed residence hall for first-year students, two smaller residence halls totaling 140 beds for upper division students in Greek letter societies and an addition to the north parking facility with more than 500 new stalls.
Judge Karon Bowdre ’77, JD ’80, chair of the Samford University board of trustees, said, “The scope of this project is vast. Less than a year ago we broke ground for the new Campus Recreation, Wellness and Athletics Complex. That was, at the time, the largest capital project in Samford’s history. Today, for the second time in only 50 weeks, we once again make history by celebrating the beginning of another record-setting capital project for Samford.”
Master plan
With the guidance of the university’s strategic plan, Fidelitas: Faith and Future, Samford is charting its course to be the school of choice among national comprehensive Christ-centered universities. A key component to reaching this goal is the Samford Horizons campus master plan, which was endorsed by the Board of Trustees in December 2023.
Samford Horizons addresses infrastructure needs for the entire campus, increases energy efficiency, practices campus-wide conservation and refreshes and renews every facility — all steps in the process of creating a sustainable future for generations of Samford students.
James Jefferson, a rising senior entering his second year as president of the Student Government Association, said, “As president of the SGA, it is my honor to bring greetings on behalf of the student body and to express our thanks to the Board of Trustees for approving this project; to the administration for envisioning this project; and to the faculty and staff for their creativity in planning this project and moving it forward. From comfortable places to live and study and the blessings new parking will provide, the students are grateful for this investment and look forward to making the most of these new opportunities.”
‘Strong foundations’
President Beck A. Taylor recognized the Board of Trustees’ support of this project for which work began shortly after their approval in December 2023. He said, “Twenty weeks ago today, the board authorized this project, and we immediately went to work. Strong foundations are being laid, and soon new buildings and trees will transform our beloved campus once again, made more useful and even more beautiful than we can now imagine.”
The Campus Recreation, Wellness and Athletic Complex is on track to be completed in the fall of 2024, and the new Samford Horizons projects are expected to be completed by the fall of 2025.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Morgan Black and originally published by Samford University.
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