Stone Building Company Celebrates Two Major Project Milestones in Auburn
Auburn, Ala. — September 21, 2026 — It was a milestone day for Stone Building Company in Auburn on Friday, September 18, as two major projects reached significant points in construction.
At the Auburn University Regional Airport, Stone’s project team successfully set the 90,000 pound cab for the new air traffic control tower, marking a highly visible step toward completion of the facility.
Later that day, Stone joined Auburn University and project partners for the topping-out celebration of the Auburn University Barbara Drummond Thorne Academic and Research Facility, marking the completion of the building’s structural steel frame.
Though taking place at two different sites, the milestones represented a common theme: major projects taking shape that will serve Auburn University and the broader community for years to come.
A Major Lift at Auburn University Regional Airport
At the Auburn University Regional Airport, Stone Building Company reached an important milestone with the setting of the new air traffic control tower cab.
The carefully coordinated operation required the project team, crane operators, subcontractors and airport personnel to work together to safely lift the cab into position atop the tower. With the cab now set, construction will continue on exterior completion and interior fitout as the team moves toward completion of the new air traffic control facility.
Reaching the Top at the Barbara Drummond Thorne Academic and Research Facility
Later that afternoon, Stone Building Company and Auburn University celebrated another significant achievement as the Barbara Drummond Thorne Academic and Research Facility reached its topping-out milestone as the project remains on schedule.
The event marked the completion of the facility’s structural steel frame and brought together Auburn University leadership, project partners and members of the construction team to recognize the progress made since construction began.
During the celebration, Auburn University President Christopher Roberts and College of Human Sciences Dean Hubbard reflected on the significance of reaching the milestone. Roberts emphasized the broader significance of the facility and the vision it represents: “Some milestones allow us to look beyond today and see the future taking shape. As we gather to celebrate the topping out of the Barbara Drummond Thorne Academic and Research Facility, we can see more than steel around us. We can see a bold vision becoming a reality. We can see Auburn’s continued investment in our students, our faculty and our mission.”
The 138,000-square-foot facility is designed to support the continued growth of Auburn University’s College of Human Sciences, providing spaces that will foster collaboration, learning, research and innovation.
With the structural frame now complete, Stone’s team will continue work on the building envelope, interior systems and finishes as the facility progresses toward completion.
Two Milestones, One Growing Auburn Presence
Friday’s milestones offered a unique snapshot of Stone Building Company’s work in Auburn — from the highly technical operation of setting an air traffic control tower cab to the celebration of a major university facility reaching its structural milestone.
Both projects reflect the complexity and coordination required to bring major construction projects to life, as well as the people behind the work.
For Stone Building Company, the day was also a reflection of its continued investment in Auburn.
“Construction milestones like these are always a reflection of the work of an entire team,” said Justin Drummond, President of Stone Building Company. “It takes tremendous coordination, communication and commitment from our field teams, project managers, subcontractors, owners and design partners to reach these points. We’re proud of the work our teams are doing in Auburn and grateful for the opportunity to be part of projects that will serve the University and the community for years to come.”
With two major projects continuing to take shape, Stone Building Company is proud to be building for Auburn’s next chapter.
