The University of Alabama at Birmingham announced today that it has opened an Early Learning Center as part of an effort to accommodate a growing workforce.

The school expansion will help address the growing need for child care at UAB: The new one-story building will accommodate 174 percent more children, including 228 children and 46 infants.

“We are pleased to open this new, thoughtfully designed facility, which will more than double our capacity to provide high-quality, accessible child care and early learning experiences,” said UAB President Ray L. Watts. “This investment reflects UAB's ongoing commitment to supporting work-life balance and faculty success, contributing to our collective success in achieving the strategic goals of Forging Ahead.”

The center will reportedly offer tuition discounts and child care discounts to UAB students as well as faculty and staff.

RELATED: University of Alabama engineering students develop walker to help patients at Children's Hospital of Alabama

Brian Burnett, senior vice chancellor for finance and administration, noted the impact the new facility will have on UAB and expressed his gratitude to those who worked to make the center a reality.

“The new Early Learning Center will further enhance the high-quality, convenient child care services we have been providing to our employees while providing a practical, economically sustainable solution,” Burnett said. “We appreciate the commitment of the task force and faculty and staff who are committed to the purposeful growth of the university while keeping family care solutions a top priority.”

The facility, located at 10th Avenue South and 11th Street between the Educational Technology Complex and Birmingham City Schools' EPIC Alternative Elementary School, will feature 18,500 square feet of space including classrooms and administrative space, as well as a 9,700-square-foot outdoor play area.

The total project cost of approximately $11 million will be funded by proceeds from a UAB bond issue and UAB financial management reserves.

Austin Shipley is a staff writer for Yellow Hammer News.