Yates Construction breaks ground on the University of Mississippi's Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation

    OXFORD, MS, November 13, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Today, Yates joined the University of Mississippi to break ground on the Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation, the largest single construction project in the campus' history.

"We are excited to start this significant project with the University," said William Yates, Yates Construction's CEO. "As the largest contractor in Mississippi and having built many facilities on the campus, we look forward to a successful partnership and seeing the tremendous impact this project will have on the University and the State of Mississippi."

The 202,000 SF building will provide leading-edge laboratories, interactive classrooms, collaboration areas, lounges, breakout spaces, conference and meeting rooms, and offices for faculty and staff. Among other building highlights, the facility will feature technology-enabled active learning, or TEAL, and a 3D visualization lab, similar to a small IMAX theater. Engineering students will also have access to dedicated lab spaces, including fabrication and testing equipment.

The additional space and technological advances offered by the Duff Center are crucial to serving the University's student enrollment. The University can expand STEM courses with the new facility, especially those requiring laboratory work and group projects. Additionally, the added classroom, laboratory, and nontraditional teaching spaces will facilitate active learning.

The University of Mississippi's Chancellor, Glenn Boyce, said "The project signals the University's commitment to producing graduates well-prepared for fields flush with career opportunities. There is a critical need to increase the number of graduates in STEM fields to support growth and innovation in our state, region, and nation."

About Yates Construction:
W. G. Yates & Sons Construction Company (Yates Construction) is part of The Yates Companies, Inc., which ranks among the top construction services providers in the nation. The firm has the capabilities to provide a full range of construction services to clients nationally and internationally. In recent years, Yates has ranked among the top 50 providers in all delivery methods (Construction Management, Program Management, General Contracting, and Design-Build) and ranks as the #1 Mississippi Contractor by Engineering News-Record (ENR). These attributes make Yates one of the largest and most well-respected corporations in the construction industry today. Visit Yates Construction's website for more information: www.wgyates.com.

# # #