Leaders from the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation, the city of Auburn, Auburn Industrial Development Board and Auburn University broke ground on Tuesday on a 100,000-square-foot, $22 million facility that will house the Radio Frequency Identification Lab.
“The new facility is a transformational space designed to meet the growing demands of RFID innovation, research and industry collaboration,” said Justin Patton, executive director of the RFID Lab. “As the technology landscape evolves, this expanded facility allows us to scale our work, simulate complex supply chain environments, and better support our partners by accelerating adoption.”
The RFID Lab began at Auburn in 2014 and includes more than 100 students and faculty and more than 35 research and development sponsors.
The new space will allow the lab to scale up its operations, working with a wide range of manufacturing technologies, including automation, robotics, AI, digital engineering, lean manufacturing, advanced machining, additive manufacturing and mass timber production.
The RFID Lab will be the first of several facilities slated for the Auburn Research Park’s newly formed advanced manufacturing research district. The district is expected to be a place for research, technology development and rapid prototyping.
“The new RFID Laboratory within the park is an exciting next step to further collaboration between students, business and industry in an environment that promotes innovation, research and workforce development,” said Auburn Mayor Ron Anders.
The Auburn Industrial Development Board is providing construction management for the project, as well as an avenue for a university bond issue for financing, according to Anders. The lab is expected to open in summer 2027.
