State Funding Secured For Tech’s New Engineering Building

Tennessee Tech has been approved for the state funding needed to break ground on its new engineering building.

Construction funding for the project was delayed last year due to COVID-related budget concerns. But, Governor Bill Lee’s recently passed budget has the needed funds.

President Phil Oldham said just under $50 million has been allocated for the project.

“Funding for the new engineering building is a significant benefit to the campus,” Oldham said. “We have been working on this for a while. It is about a $60 million project. We have designed the building now. We are basically ready to break ground late this summer.”

Oldham said the university has also raised about $9 million of private money for the building. The 100,000 square foot facility will have a new water feature, dubbed Sherlock Lake. The design is a fusion of innovation with the historic style of campus buildings.

“We’re really excited about a new engineering building,” Oldham said. “First engineering building on campus since 1970, so it’s been 50 years. This is going to be an exciting improvement for the campus.”