The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is building for the future — investing in its campus to enhance the student experience and support high-impact research, academic excellence, the workforce needs of the state and world-class athletics.
“The university’s commitment to strategic growth and its vision for the future require continued investment in infrastructure,” said Senior Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Paul Byrnes. “Transformative construction projects empower the university to thrive as a leader in education, workforce development, research and athletics while providing an unparalleled student experience. We are providing spaces that will support the flagship land-grant university and state for years to come.”
New residence halls enhance student experience, support growth
The university celebrated the opening of two new residential communities this fall that house a combined 1,959 students. The halls are a key component of UT’s strategic growth and an investment that will enhance the student experience. Poplar Hall is located at Andy Holt Avenue and 20th Street. Beacon Hall at Caledonia and Terrance avenues comprises two buildings, Beacon East and Beacon West. The new halls each feature a post office, laundry room, community kitchen, study rooms and lounge spaces.
“Poplar and Beacon halls represent a bold step forward in our vision for the student experience at the University of Tennessee,” said Vice Chancellor for Student Life Frank Cuevas. “Beautifully designed with collaborative spaces, outdoor courtyards and modern amenities, these residence halls set a new standard for on-campus living at UT. They reflect our commitment to providing innovative high-quality facilities that support academic success and foster vibrant communities where Volunteers can learn, lead and serve.”
A third new residence hall, Torchbearer Hall, remains on schedule for a fall 2026 opening. Work continues at the site at Lake Loudoun and Volunteer boulevards.
The Executive Committee of the UT Board of Trustees on Sept. 19 voted to allow the university to move forward with plans to purchase property at 2126 Terrace Ave. pending government approvals. The site will be used for future Greek housing expansion as identified in the campus master plan.
Building projects strengthen research, experiential learning and student success
The new UT Medical Nursing Building was dedicated Aug. 25 after three years of construction. Located between Volunteer Boulevard and Peyton Manning Pass, the 117,000-square-foot building houses the College of Nursing. It features flexible classrooms that allow adjustments for different teaching methods and growing enrollment, nursing simulation spaces, an outdoor teaching and event plaza, and a student commons space with fresh food dining options.
The Board of Trustees Executive Committee approved the naming of the new Jenny Boyd Theatre at its September meeting. Main construction of the theatre is complete, and crews are working on the finishing touches. The 300-seat theatre is an intimate venue that will bring audiences closer than ever to the heart of live performances, with cutting-edge technology enhancing every movement. The Clarence Brown Theatre will host two productions in the new theatre in spring 2026.
Work continues on a new building to expand the Haslam College of Business. The building is scheduled to open in fall 2027 and will support the fast-growing college, which consistently has programs ranked among the top in the country. The five-story, 240,000-square-foot building will serve more than 10,000 students, faculty, staff and visitors each week. It will feature 18 classrooms and three research laboratories.
A new Student Success Building is expected to open in fall 2027. UT is a national leader in student success, and this investment 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 new building will replace the former Melrose Hall near the John C. Hodges Library.
The university broke ground on a new chemistry building Sept. 5. The building will be named the Charles and Julie Wharton Chemistry Building in recognition of the Wharton family’s history of service, engagement and philanthropic generosity to the university. The building is the largest state investment ever funded for a single higher education project in Tennessee, and its impact will extend far beyond campus. UT ranks No. 1 in the United States for polymer science — a subset of chemistry — and the chemical industry has invested more than $400 million in the state over the past six years, creating more than 2,000 jobs. The 162,000-square-foot building will feature research laboratories, instructional spaces, and offices in support of graduate and upper-division courses. It will be constructed at the site of the former Panhellenic Building and is expected to open in fall 2029.
Renovations will begin this fall at the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs Building to enhance the student and faculty experience. Focused on the first and second floors of the building’s east wing, the renovation will introduce vibrant modern spaces designed to foster learning, collaboration and community. The second floor will become the new home of the Institute of American Civics, featuring 14 faculty offices and two classrooms accommodating 35 and 55 students. On the first floor, a reimagined layout will serve as a welcoming hub for Baker School faculty offices. Both floors will also be outfitted with new windows to provide abundant natural light throughout the day. While the updates are in progress, the rest of the building will remain fully operational and open to the university community. Updates are expected to be completed in May 2026.
The Presidential Courtyard Building is being revitalized to better serve student needs, with the design phase underway for renovations. Enhancements include a home for various Division of Student Life programs and offices for Aramark (the university’s food service provider), a food delivery robot charging and maintenance area, package lockers for student residents and a coffee shop. Design is nearing completion, and renovations are expected to be completed in spring 2027.
Stadium upgrades enhance world-class athletics programs
Upgrades to iconic sports venues will modernize the fan experience and support top-tier Tennessee Athletics programs.
A multi-year renovation project at Neyland Stadium is projected to be completed in summer 2026. This fall, students, alumni and fans can expect to see improvements in the south concourse, including concessions, restrooms and additional space to move around that will allow for faster entry through Gate 10. New Founders’ Suites will be ready, and improvements were made to the HVAC systems at both the east and west skyboxes.
Work continues on a multi-year project to expand and enhance Lindsey Nelson Stadium, home of the 2024 Men’s College World Series champions. For the 2026 season, fans can expect to see a new home plate entrance and plaza area, third-level suites and club space, a new sound system and permanent LED lighting, a new team merchandise shop and ticket office, and third baseline restrooms and concessions.
Upgrades to Thompson Boling Arena at Food City Center include a new 11-display centerhung system, new corner boards, a 360-degree ribbon display circulating the seating bowl and outdoor marquee displays to enhance the fan experience. The new system will be in place for the 2025-26 basketball season.
Mobility upgrades enhance campus connectivity
The university is enhancing campus mobility with new pathways and future parking surface lots — making it easier and safer for students, faculty, staff and visitors to navigate campus.
A new pathway at Melrose Park between Caledonia Avenue and the Presidential Courtyard Building connects several residence halls, including Beacon, Magnolia, Dogwood, Fred D. Brown Jr., Reese and Carrick, to Presidential Court and the rest of campus. The pathway is open and ready for use. Landscaping will be planted in the fall.
The UT Warehouse on Stephenson Drive is scheduled to be demolished this fall to make way for a new two-tiered surface parking lot that will provide more than 700 spaces. The project is expected to be finished in spring 2026.
Parking and Transportation launched a new T Bus route in August that goes from campus to downtown Knoxville. The Downtown Loop route will operate on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is one of many UT Transit Routes that students, faculty, staff and visitors can access for free to travel across campus and to popular off-campus destinations.
Inviting green spaces welcome students, promote sustainability
Improvements to green spaces provide parks for students to gather and enjoy while creating a sustainable campus for the future. A new stormwater park, located at the corner of 20th Street and Andy Holt Avenue, includes a pond and waterfall with picnic tables and seating. New landscaping will be installed later this year. The pond holds 155,000 gallons of stormwater runoff from nearby buildings. The water collected and stored is used to irrigate all of the Joe Johnson-John Ward Pedestrian Walkway, Rocky Top Dining Hall and the stormwater pond itself.
The new shared courtyard of Poplar, Magnolia and Dogwood halls offers students a large green area to play, gather and study.
A new green space between Beacon East and Beacon West also provides an outdoor area for students, and pickleball courts will be installed there this academic year.
A planting renovation of the Volunteer Boulevard Streetscape is now complete. Facilities Services studied which plants in the medians and bioswales — special channels that use plants to clean rainwater — worked the best. After the review, crews replaced some plants with others that perform better at filtering water runoff while surviving the conditions.
Vol Dining expands off campus
New and refreshed spaces from Vol Dining will better serve students and the greater community. Renovations are complete to the dining space at Volunteer Hall, which include an upgraded Southern Kitchen and new concepts Traditions Deli and Vol Market. It will offer convenient grab-and-go options, snacks, drinks and everyday essentials.
The new Cumberland Food Hall located at the base of Hub Knoxville on Cumberland Avenue will be open to students and the public. It will feature seating for 350 guests and vendors including Zen Sushi & Wok, Athenian Grill and Big Orange Grill. The new food hall is expected to open in late fall. Cumberland Food Hall will accept Dining Dollars, Flex Plan, VolCard accounts, credit and debit for seamless access by on- and off-campus guests alike.
The Big Orange Pantry opened a new pocket pantry location at the Student Health Center on the main floor across from the pharmacy. The pantry features snacks, shelf-stable foods, period products and basic hygiene kits. The location is self-serve: Students, faculty and staff can visit and scan a QR code to check in.
—
MEDIA CONTACT:
Lisa Leko (865-974-8698, lleko@utk.edu)
