Auburn University is expanding its presence in Cummings Research Park with a new building that will house equipment to test and harden military electronics against radiation damage.

City Councilors approved the sale of 13 city-owned acres in the park for $932,360 on Thursday. The item was a late agenda addition, which Shane Davis, director of urban economic development, said was due to the university needing approval to close the financial side of the transaction by the end of the month.

Auburn plans to set up shop in the new building by September, he said, noting the university just entered into a “long-term research contract” with the Department of Defense.