Tech Breaks Ground On New Laboratory Sciences Building

Tennessee Tech has broken ground on what will eventually be the largest building on campus.

The laboratory sciences building will be located immediately north of the Capital Quad residence halls on the cite of the current parking lot along Stadium Drive. TTU President Phil Oldham said he’s happy to finally get the project started.

“The story of the new lab sciences building is bets told through people who have a passion for teaching,” Oldham said. “Four years ago faculty members took up the charge to think about how students best learn and how spaces influence that learning. About two years ago faculty began meeting regularly with the architectural design team.”

Oldham, a former chemistry teacher, called the new building a once in a lifetime opportunity…..and another sign of the university’s continuing growth.

“It’s really a once in a lifetime opportunity to create something like this. I couldn’t be prouder of the faculty and staff that have participated in really bringing a collection of ideas together in a way that’s going to really benefit Tech students for generations to come,” Oldham said. “There’s a lot of construction, but it’s a sign of growth and progress. Tech is on the move and we are excited about it.”

The 164,000square foot facility will also house a portion of the university’s biology department and a new academic quad. There will also be labs for earth sciences, physics, and environmental studies.

The project was funded by the State of Tennessee in the university’s 2016 budget appropriation.

There’s another big project going on around campus right now. Back in April the university also broke ground on a $50 million fitness center. That facility will be nearly 160,000 square feet and be located on the corner of Willow Avenue and 7th Street.

That building is expected to be completed by the fall of 2019.