Skip to main content
Campus News

UT Celebrates Opening of Torchbearer Residence Hall

Torchbearer-Hall-dedication
Left to right: David White, dean of the Herbert College of Agriculture; David Miller, UT System senior vice president and chief financial officer; Austin Oakes, UT System associate vice president of capital projects; Marla Scannicchio, chief financial officer at Provident Resources Group; Jeremy Doss, senior vice president of RISE Real Estate; Chancellor Donde Plowman; Frank Cuevas, vice chancellor for student life; Anthony White, executive director of university housing; Randy Boyd, UT System president; Rodney Combs, assistant director of university housing; Allen Bolton, senior vice chancellor of finance and administration; Nathan Miller, manager of UT Creamery; Keith Carver, senior vice chancellor and senior vice president of the UT Institute of Agriculture.

Leadership from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, gathered with community partners on Aug. 17 to dedicate the new Torchbearer residence hall. The eight-floor, 1,024-bed residence hall plays a crucial role in the university’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the campus experience. The building welcomed its first residents on Aug. 9.

The new residence hall, located next to Circle Park at the corner of Volunteer and Lake Loudoun Boulevards, broke ground in spring 2024 and was constructed in a public-private partnership with RISE Real Estate and Provident Resources Group to help meet the housing needs of a rapidly growing campus population.

“The place a student calls home at UT is foundational to academic success, personal growth and well-being,” said Vice Chancellor for Student Life Frank Cuevas. “Through our partnership with RISE Real Estate, Torchbearer Hall helps meet the growing demand for on-campus housing while creating a living-learning environment that fosters connection and supports student success. This project reflects our shared commitment to student engagement, retention and an exceptional campus experience.”

Modern amenities for a growing student body

Torchbearer Hall features four- and two-person living suites, a post office, laundry room, community kitchen, study rooms, lounge spaces, a large outdoor green space, and a space that will be home to a satellite location of the UT Creamery.

With UT enrollment now expected to surpass 41,000, Torchbearer Hall is the newest milestone in the university’s strategic plan to accommodate its growing student population. Beacon and Poplar residence halls opened in fall 2025, and plans are underway to replace North Carrick, South Carrick and Reese Halls by 2029.

Sample student room in Torchbearer Hall.
Courtyard area behind Torchbearer Hall featuring a fire feature wall with the state of Tennessee.
Exterior view of Torchbearer Hall from rear courtyard.
Community kitchen inside Torchbearer Hall.
Torchbearer Hall lobby area.
A lounge area inside Torchbearer Hall.
Torchbearer Hall exterior front side with the Great Smoky Mountains in the background.

Chancellor and cabinet welcome students 

After the dedication, Plowman and members of her cabinet greeted guests and students in the plaza behind Torchbearer Hall, handing out snacks and treats. The annual welcome-back tradition gives the chancellor and her team a chance to connect with the campus community by serving complimentary tailgate food and desserts.

—

MEDIA CONTACT:

Stacy Estep (865-974-8304, [email protected])