AUBURN, Alabama – Construction is moving forward on a groundbreaking building on Auburn University’s campus that will become home to a learning environment that blends a luxury boutique hotel, restaurant and food hall.
Located at the corner of East Thach Avenue and South College Street in downtown Auburn, the Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center is a 142,000-square-foot complex that will provide hands-on, immersive experiences for students in facility like no other.
According to Birmingham-based HPM, the construction manager for the project, work began on the structure in April 2020. Auburn alumnus Jimmy Rane, a businessman who serves on the Board of Trustees, helped kickstart the project with a $12 million gift dedicated to the building’s construction. The world-class facility is named in honor of his parents.
Auburn expects the center to become a draw for students currently in top culinary programs in high schools in Alabama and across the nation. The project was first announced in 2019.

