AGC Arkansas’s Generosity Builds Future Success for UA Little Rock Students
Demonstrating a steadfast commitment to nurturing the next generation of construction management and engineering professionals, the Arkansas Chapter of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America has generously funded the renovation of a new computer lab and student lounge at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
The new AGC lab will serve as a welcoming gathering place for students in the Department of Construction Management and Civil and Construction Engineering to study, collaborate with classmates, and hang out. AGC Arkansas has made a $30,000 donation to support the lab for the next five years.
“We are very excited to be here today as this lab has been a long time coming,” AGC Executive Vice President Brad Spradlin said. “We made the donation for this lab during the pandemic, and it took the collaborative efforts of AGC, UA Little Rock faculty, and our members of the AGC student chapter to make this happen. The student chapter is very important to us as it builds a relationship with students and our members who are leaders in the construction industry. We look forward to continuing to support this construction management program, and that UA Little Rock will continue to support our student chapter.”
AGC Arkansas has a long history of advocating for contractors across the state and has given consistently to the university since 2004. The trade association has also sponsored the renovation of the Building Information Modeling Lab in 2020 and has created four endowed scholarships to provide financial support for construction management students at the university.
“At UA Little Rock, we are focused on upgrading our living and learning environments to ensure that students learn in an environment that meets their needs and has the latest technology,” Provost Ann Bain said. “One amazing example of that is this computer lab. This is made possible through the generous support of our longtime friends at Associated General Contractors. Your investment in our students and university is ensuring a strong construction industry workforce in Central Arkansas for decades to come.”
A unique feature of the area is two eight-foot-long custom oak tables that were created through a partnership with the School of Art and Design.
“At UA Little Rock, all our students learn by doing,” Bain said. “Student Kim Arcega crafted these tables from a felled red oak that was on campus. She did a wonderful job, and I think that speaks to the type of space this lab will be for our students – one of building, shaping, and collaborating.”
Kim Arcega, a senior applied design major with an emphasis in woodworking, is thrilled to see how much people admire her tables and is happy to think of students enjoying them for many years to come.
“It’s incredible to see the tables surrounded by so many people,” Arcega said during the dedication. “It changes the entire space, and it’s really nice to see how the tables tie this room together. I’m glad everyone enjoys them so much. I am actually working on another commission for the university on a collaborative project with a metalsmith.”
This transformative initiative not only enhances the learning environment for students but also underscores the invaluable partnership between academia and industry. With cutting-edge facilities at their disposal, students are poised to thrive and succeed in their academic pursuits, laying the foundation for a bright future in the field of construction and engineering.
“I love coming to this building and seeing students everywhere,” said Dr. Larry Whitman, dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math at UA Little Rock. “Room renovations like this really change the climate of this department to create a great atmosphere for our students. We are very thankful for partnerships with industry partners like AGC Arkansas that make this happen. We are trying to create the next generation of construction and engineering leaders at UA Little Rock, and we appreciate across-the-board collaborations that are helping us to succeed.”
This donation is a part of the Centennial Campaign, UA Little Rock’s historic campaign to raise $250 million to support initiatives for student success by the university’s 100-year anniversary in 2027. Learn more about the Centennial Campaign at ualr.edu/centennial.
