UA Little Rock Celebrates Dedication of Darragh Company Concrete Lab
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock celebrated the dedication of the newly renovated Darragh Company Concrete Lab.
“With the generous support of the Darragh Company, we will have a renovated concrete lab that will enable our students to have hands-on experience testing concrete, as well as related products,” Provost Ann Bain said. “UA Little Rock is very lucky to be located in the capital city, because we’re located within touching distance of so many of our industry partners, who are important for our city, as well as our region and our state.”
With support from the Darragh Company, the concrete lab has been redesigned to provide an upgraded workspace for students in the Department of Construction Management and Civil and Construction Engineering at UA Little Rock.
“We have 200 students, and each of them must log 800 hours of work experience to graduate,” said Dr. Hank Bray, department chair at UA Little Rock. “So, it’s a perfect fit for this urban setting, and Darragh Company is a perfect match for our education program where we can really interface with the company and build relationships. They have a lot to teach us.”
Darragh Company, a construction material and tool company based in Little Rock, gave UA Little Rock a $50,000 grant for the renovation and continued maintenance of the concrete lab for the next five years.
“We here at Darragh Family Foundation are very pleased to present this sponsorship to the concrete lab to help prepare students to be constructional leaders in the state,” Darragh Company CEO Rich Dunlap said. “The work they are doing, the faculty and staff, and turning out graduates at a high level is really remarkable. The program you’ve put together here is second to none.”
The Darragh Company has a long history in Little Rock. It started in 1906 when three brothers came to help build the State Capitol Building by supplying concrete in wooden barrels.
“Our legacy, 117 years later, is still within the core products of concrete,” Dunlap said. “Darragh Company and Darragh Family Foundation are very pleased to be a part of this.”
