Designer named for new science building at Tech

COOKEVILLE – An Upper Cumberland architecture firm has been selected to design Tennessee Tech’s new laboratory science building – a facility that got a big boost this year in the state’s upcoming budget plans.

The Tennessee Board of Regents recently announced Upland Design Group (UDG), a full-service architecture firm with offices in both Crossville and Cookeville, will serve as the designer for the new building and infrastructure facility at Tech.

This project will consist of/include the construction of new facilities and expansion of the campus infrastructure for laboratory sciences to serve the staff and students in the chemistry and biology programs.

Gov. Bill Haslam announced in early February $85.5 million in state and other funds for the new laboratory science building at Tech, part of his 2016-17 budget proposal. The 150,000-square-foot facility will be located north of the Capitol Quad in space currently utilized as a parking lot.

The project is an extension of a longstanding relationship between Tennessee Tech and Upland Design Group that began with the design of the arena at Hyder-Burks Agricultural Pavilion many years ago, Kim Chamberlin, UDG president, said. Other recent projects include new facilities for Bell Nursing Building, New Residence Hall North and the Athletic Performance Center. Renovation projects have included Oakley Hall, TJ Farr, Henderson Hall and the current under construction Jere Whitson Hall, which will serve as the new campus visitor center.

“We are very excited about this new project for Tennessee Tech and the opportunities it presents to our office,” said Chamberlin, who will also serve as project architect for the new facility. “We appreciate the ongoing relationship with TTU and their staff and look forward to another successful project. As a part of the Upper Cumberland community, we take great pride in being a part of the expanding educational opportunities for the students at TTU.”

TTU officials have said construction on the new laboratory science building will likely begin in December 2017. Work is expected to be complete in January 2019, with a fall 2019 move-in date. It will be the largest academic building on campus when complete.

Since its founding in 1977, UDG has been involved in more than 900 projects in the Upper Cumberland region.

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