Baldwin & Shell Sponsors Senior Project Suite for Construction Management and Engineering Students at UA Little Rock

A key industry partner has made a significant contribution to support the next generation of construction management and engineering professionals at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

The generous $100,000 donation from the Baldwin & Shell Construction Company has funded the renovation and five-year sponsorship of a senior project suite, providing students with a state-of-the-art space to collaborate and bring their capstone projects to life.

"Baldwin & Shell currently employs more than 30 graduates of UA Little Rock. Not a day goes by that I don't think about what it takes to have a pipeline of employees," said Bobby Gosser, president and CEO of Baldwin & Shell. "What could be better than to have a university in your backyard that is preparing students for the future. I'm glad to be a part of it. I think it's interesting that our tagline at Baldwin & Shell is building relationships. We build buildings, but it takes a lot of relationships to be able to get where we are today. It's that relationship with UA Little Rock that helps prepare us and provides a pipeline of staff that you see today."

This generous contribution has provided students with an enhanced learning environment, fostering innovation and hands-on experience in their final-year projects. Baldwin & Shell provided the expertise of their company as well as many trade partners to ensure that the senior project suite would become a reality.

The trade partners who assisted in the renovation include Mid-State Interiors, Wood Painting, JGP, Inc., J+J Flooring, Glass Erectors, Arkansas Airflow, Powell Creative Woods, Harrell Mechanical Contractors, Staley Electric, Lighting and Power Solutions, and Archway Graphic Design.

The Baldwin & Shell Senior Project Suite is a space that is dedicated for seniors from the Department of Construction Management and Civil and Construction Engineering to work on their senior capstone projects, a requirement of graduation. The room contains a large open, comfortable working environment for students that is always accessible as well as two conference rooms for teleconferencing and an office for a lab technician. UA Little Rock faculty and students selected the room's design from three student submissions.

"It's a unique space that is available 24/7 for our seniors to concentrate on their capstone projects," Department Chair Hank Bray said. "To me, this room is very special, and you can tell that Baldwin & Shell put a lot of thought and care into it. You would have thought that the Baldwin & Shell employees were building their own home here."

[Link]Bobby Gosser, president and CEO of Baldwin & Shell, speaks about the many talented alumni of UA Little Rock who now work at Baldwin & Shell. Photo by Benjamin Krain.

The hallway leading up to the senior project suite is filled with pictures displaying Baldwin & Shell's long history of building in Arkansas. The company's history with UA Little Rock dates back to the university's early days when it was still known as Little Rock University. Since 1997, Baldwin & Shell has been involved with 64 projects on campus ranging from $1,100 to $19 million.

These projects have included the Reynolds Center for Business and Economic Development, the Trojan Grill, Starbucks, and West Hall. In 1986, Jim Minor, vice president and COO of Baldwin & Shell, was working as a laborer when the company built the Engineering Technology and Applied Sciences Building, which holds the senior project suite.

"Baldwin & Shell has been a trusted partner of our university for many years, contributing not only to the development of our campus but also to the growth and success of our students," UA Little Rock Provost Ann Bain said. "Their commitment to education is evident in every project they undertake, and this suite is a shining example of that dedication. This suite will be instrumental in shaping the future of our students, providing them with the tools and environment they need to succeed."

This space represents the culmination of a longstanding partnership between UA Little Rock and Baldwin & Shell, and it will serve as a vital resource for construction management students.

"I'd like to express our deep gratitude to Baldwin & Shell for this generous gift, which contributes to our ongoing Centennial Campaign," said Dr. Jeff Connelly, interim dean of the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. "This campaign is an ambitious effort as we look toward 2027, a landmark year that will mark the 100th anniversary of our institution. Our goal is to raise a quarter of a billion dollars by that time, and with the support of dedicated companies like Baldwin & Shell, we are confident that we will achieve it."

Find out more information about the UA Little Rock Centennial Campaign by visiting ualr.edu/centennial.

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