Auburn University is set to gain a major new resource for RFID innovation after the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation broke ground on a $22 million laboratory facility dedicated to expanding the university’s well-established RFID Lab.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place on April 28, 2026, marking the beginning of construction on a 100,000-square-foot building within Auburn Research Park. The facility is expected to be ready for occupancy by summer 2027 and will serve as the first phase of a newly established 45-acre advanced manufacturing research district.
The new building will house four high-bay laboratories designed to simulate complex supply chain environments, along with offices, chamber rooms, and truck docks. These spaces will allow researchers and industry partners to develop, test, and scale RFID technologies across multiple sectors including retail, aviation, aerospace, and manufacturing.
Auburn’s RFID Lab has been operational since 2014 and has grown into one of the leading university-based RFID research centres in the United States. The lab now involves more than 100 students and faculty members and works with over 35 R&D sponsors on projects that push the boundaries of radio frequency identification and related supply chain technologies.
Justin Patton, executive director of the RFID Lab, described the new facility as “a transformational space designed to meet growing demands of RFID innovation.” He added that it will enable the lab to scale its operations alongside industry partners, providing the kind of physical infrastructure needed to move from concept-stage research to real-world deployment.
The project brings together several key partners. The Auburn Research and Technology Foundation is leading the development, with the City of Auburn and its Industrial Development Board providing construction management support. Goodwyn Mills Cawood is serving as architect on the project, while Bailey-Harris Construction has been appointed as general contractor.
Beyond the RFID Lab itself, the broader advanced manufacturing district is planned to become a hub for research in automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, digital engineering, lean manufacturing, advanced machining, additive manufacturing, and mass timber production. Auburn Mayor Ron Anders highlighted the partnership between the university and the city as a driver of innovation, research, and workforce development in the region.
The investment signals growing commercial and academic interest in RFID technology, particularly as supply chains become more complex and demand for item-level visibility continues to increase. With dedicated space to run large-scale simulations and pilot programmes, the new facility should position Auburn to attract additional industry collaboration and federal research funding in the years ahead.
Read more at https://rfid.auburn.edu/