Several improvements are being made to the Cumberland Avenue side of Ayres Hall and a primary pedestrian pathway to the Hill.
The project consists of two major components. The West Connector involves the area between Phillip Fulmer Way and Circle Drive, and the North Slope involves the green space on the north side of Ayres Hall that can be seen from Cumberland Avenue.
The Ayres project will improve accessibility to our campus’s most iconic building and beautify the most visible part of the sloping wooded lawn that can be viewed by traveling along Cumberland Avenue.
The West Connector project will add a new plaza for events to the campus and improve the accessibility of common spaces that lead to the Hill. Workers will install sidewalks and ramps and build the new plaza/courtyard between the Walters Life Sciences and Burchfiel Geography Buildings. A new ramp will be installed to better connect the new pedestrian bridge with the Austin Peay Building and make it easier for all pedestrians to reach Circle Drive.
The Ayres project began with removing the existing asphalt paths on the north side. New wider concrete sidewalks are now being installed to extend to Circle Drive. A low retaining wall is also being built along the pathway. New lighting will be installed and the lawn will be improved. Finally, two new ramps will be installed from each wing of Ayres Hall to improve access to the plaza on the north side.
New trees and other fall and winter plants will also be added to the north side of Ayres in late November.
Ross/Fowler, landscape architects, designed the project. Construction is being led by Johnson & Gaylon general contractors.
For more information on campus construction projects, visit the Cone Zone.
CONTACT:
Brooke Krempa (865-974-7782, bsteve14@utk.edu)