ATLANTA – The University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents picked an Atlanta construction-management company to oversee the building of a $35 million classroom and office building for the University of Georgia’s business school.

Funded with private donations, the multistory Business Learning Center is to be the first in a complex for UGA’s Terry College of Business. In addition to classrooms, it will house offices for graduate and undergraduate programs.

Sixteen firms sought the contract, but the board picked the one University Staff ranked first, Hardin Construction.

In October, the board gave the project the go-ahead and selected a design firm the next month.

The board also approved the demolition of two bathhouses on the medical campus built in 1960 to be replaced with "green space." The buildings were part of the campus’ prior life as a teacher college and then the U.S. Navy Supply Corps School.

The small, masonry buildings are in poor condition, and their demolition will require steps to safeguard against the spread of asbestos and lead-based paint. Environmental mitigation of the site is also planned.

University officials submitted the proposed demolition for a State Stewardship review by the Georgia Historic Preservation Division.