As the College of Agriculture at Auburn University celebrated 150 years in 2022, it also announced plans to renovate its administrative building, Comer Hall. Last November, the Board of Trustees approved a comprehensive renovation of the building, including project initiation and architect selection. The renovation is scheduled to begin this summer.
“We are exceedingly grateful to the board for its support of our needed updates to this historic building,” said Interim Dean Arthur Appel. “Comer Hall has been the focal point of more than 150 years of teaching, research and leadership for our college. While the college has flourished in that time, Comer is showing its age.”
The building was originally built in 1910 but lost to a fire in 1920. It was completely reconstructed in 1922, and the now more than 100-year-old building has only had minor renovations and some preservation work since.
The plans are for a total interior renovation of Comer — while retaining its historic façade — to allow the building’s interior to meet the needs of current and future faculty, staff and students. They include adding an elevator and ADA-compliant restrooms, comprehensive HVAC, electrical and plumbing replacements, a new roof and a complete exterior building envelope restoration.
The new interior will also allow Comer to function not only as an administrative building but as a classroom building as well, bringing students back into the historic facility that housed classrooms and laboratories for many years after it was first constructed.
Houser Walker Architecture of Atlanta was hired as the project architect. The firm has successfully managed several comparable projects recently and possesses substantial expertise with Comer Hall.
The project will be financed by a combination of state, bond and gift funds. It is particularly dependent upon the latter. In order to garner the needed gifts, the College of Agriculture announced the Comer 150 Campaign. All contributors to the campaign will be recognized inside the newly renovated Comer. To learn more and donate, go to agriculture.auburn.edu/about/development/the-comer-150.
Naming opportunities are available. Contact Phillip Cowart for more information at 334-844-1198 or pcowart@auburn.edu.
