Turner-led team wraps women’s residence reno at Alabama A&M

Last month, a building team managed by Turner Construction completed a $3.12 renovation of Emily Thigpen Hall, a 30,000-sf, three-story women’s residence hall on the Huntsville campus of Alabama A&M University.

The renovation didn’t alter the building’s basic footprint, and the construction crews took care to maintain its historical exterior. The building’s original ceilings, bathrooms, and flooring were demolished and then updated with modern finishes.

Turner has been the university’s construction manager, and essentially its owner’s rep, since 2016. The building team on the Thigpen Hall project included Nola Van Peursem Architects, Moody Nolan, Lee Builders, Mims Engineering, and EE Group. The project, whose construction started in July 2018, was brought in on time and under budget, according to Turner.

“Turner has not only worked to restore and modernize Thigpen Hall, one of the historic structures on the campus, thus demonstrating the university's commitment to historic preservation, but they also continue to invest in the future of Alabama A&M by providing our students with practical experience,” said AAMU President Dr. Andrew Hugine Jr.

According to a spokesperson, Turner has been working with alumni and interns from Alabama A&M on all of its projects for the university.

Since opening its office in Huntsville in 1955, Turner has been involved in numerous local buildings, including the Davidson Center for Space Exploration and its freestanding Saturn V rocket, the Huntsville Botanical Garden Welcome Center, the Von Braun Center, ADTRAN, Torch Technologies, Davidson Technologies, the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce, and the Huntsville Public Library.

It is currently in preconstruction for AAMU’s new events center and arena.

Emily Thigpen Hall is named after the Dean of Women for Alabama A&M College from 1944 through 1951.