Leaders from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, gathered April 24 to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Student Success Building, which will serve as a central hub connecting students to resources that support their academic achievement and career readiness.
The new facility will aid the Division of Student Success in its mission to retain a talented student body, connect students with resources to be successful in and out of the classroom, and prepare students for the workforce by offering services in one centralized location.
The 119,000-square-foot building will replace Melrose Hall and sit in the heart of campus next to the John C. Hodges Library along the Johnson-Ward Pedestrian Walkway.
“While our new Student Success Building will be a beautiful addition to our campus, it’s what will be on the inside of the building that matters most,” said Vice Provost for Student Success Amber Williams. “It is the physical symbol of the investment we are making and the belief we have in the potential of every student – an investment that will propel UT to even greater academic heights.”
Supporting academic achievement and career readiness
The building will house the Academic Success Center, University Honors and First-Year Experience offices; Veterans Success Center and Veteran Benefits Administration; the Vol Study Center; the UT Success Academy; Student Disability Services and Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. These programs and centers advise, coach, support and collaborate with students toward the fulfillment of their academic, professional and personal goals.
The space will include multiuse classrooms, testing rooms, student lounges, and a student commons space, among other facilities. To support student well-being, it will feature calming aesthetics and natural elements including a green roof, a pavilion made from timber, and large windows that will allow natural light and warmth to radiate inside.
“Our new Student Success Building represents the future of how we learn, grow and achieve at UT,” Williams said. “It will be a place of radical collaboration, where inquiry, academic support, strengths coaching and curiosity collide, creating a powerful synergy to elevate every student’s experience.”
Leading the nation in student success
The university is experiencing another historic year of student success. In fall 2024, for the second straight year, UT posted a record retention rate with 91.9% of first-year students returning for their sophomore year. As a national leader in personalized approaches to student success, the university hosted the Student Success US 2024 conference in October, which brought together more than 200 institutions to facilitate conversations about helping students succeed in college and beyond. More than 90% of student scholars from the class of 2024 reported positive career outcomes after graduation.
Williams was joined at the groundbreaking ceremony by Chancellor Donde Plowman, Senior Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Paul Byrnes, Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor John Zomchick and Student Government Association President Dante Grayson.
The space was designed by Hastings Architecture with Lord Aeck Sargent. It will be built by Hoar Construction in partnership with Capital Projects and UT Facilities. The project is estimated to cost $108 million and is expected to open in fall 2027.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Lisa Leko (865-974-8698, lleko@utk.edu)