State Building Commission approves West Tennessee flood-training center, Tennessee Tech residence hall and other campus projects

The State Building Commission on an undisclosed March meeting date approved early design work for a Water Education and Training Center in Hardeman County, voted to advance a Tennessee Tech University residence hall and innovation center project into early design with a revised budget, and authorized a University of Tennessee predevelopment public–private partnership for a Neuwen Entertainment project in Knoxville.

The WET center, presented by Deputy Commissioner Karen Simo of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and project representative Dusty Mays of Kimley‑Horn and Associates, is proposed for Lone Oaks Farm adjacent to Cove Creek Lake and the new 4‑H and youth STEM center. The facility would include two flumes — a sandbox flume for applied construction training and a swift‑water flume for emergency response drills — and exhibit, education and water‑treatment wings. David Blackwood, director of the West Tennessee River Basin Authority, told commissioners the site is intended to serve municipal, county and emergency‑response personnel across Tennessee and the region; “we may have 60, 90 people going through this facility,” Blackwood said, describing circulation through simulators and equipment.

Commissioners asked about class sizes, prioritization for Tennesseans and whether the facility would be self‑sustaining. Mays said seminar rooms would hold "small" class sizes, roughly "30 or 40 people," and that the project team expects the center to operate without state operational funds, with trainees paying for training. The project team said construction is on schedule for a construction start in October (described by the presenter as "this year") and a substantial completion date in April 2027. Commissioners repeatedly characterized the project as timely given recent flooding and approved the early design phase and a minor revision in scope.

Tennessee Tech’s JJ Oakley Innovation Center and new residence hall were presented by Phil Oldham, president of Tennessee Tech, with Eric Whitfield of WBA Architecture outlining the site and floor plans. Oldham described the project as a combined residence hall and ground‑level innovation space intended to provide student housing and a learning center focused on entrepreneurship and technology. Oldham said the residence component would "provide up to 800 beds and 15,000 to 20,000 square feet of ground‑level space for a learning center." Whitfield presented design details, describing a four‑story residence hall and a one‑story innovation center that share mechanical systems but have separate secure entrances. In one portion of the presentation Whitfield described a typical residence floor and stated a figure of "400 beds" in context; that figure differs from the earlier “up to 800 beds” description in the presentation. Commissioners voted to approve the revision and project budget to advance the project into early design.

University of Tennessee President Randy Boyd presented a single item seeking approval of a predevelopment agreement for a public–private partnership associated with a Neuwen Entertainment P3 development project in Knoxville. Boyd described the agreement as identifying roles and responsibilities for partners and requested the commission’s approval; the commission approved the predevelopment agreement by voice vote.

The commission also approved the consent agenda (items 1–17), approved minutes from the March 13, 2025, State Building Commission meeting, and received a report from the Office of the State Architect listing change orders and other administrative items filed "in accordance with the SBC bylaws, policies and procedures." Many votes were taken by voice and recorded as "items approved" in the meeting transcript; the record does not show roll‑call vote tallies in the transcript.

Votes at a glance • Consent agenda items 1–17 — approved (voice vote). • University of Tennessee predevelopment agreement (Neuwen Entertainment P3, Knoxville) — approved (voice vote). • Tennessee Tech University: revision and project budget; early design phase for JJ Oakley Innovation Center and residence hall — approved (voice vote). • West Tennessee River Basin Authority/TDEC: revision in scope and approval of early design phase for Water Education and Training Center (Hardeman County, Lone Oaks Farm) — approved (voice vote). • Approval of State Building Commission minutes (03/13/2025) — approved (voice vote). • Office of the State Architect report items (change orders, scope additions, designer additional services, disposal easement) — reported.

The commission’s approvals advance design work on multiple education, housing and emergency‑training projects across the state. Several presenters emphasized the regional role of the WET center and the operational model that the project team expects will be funded primarily by trainees rather than ongoing state appropriations. Commissioners asked for clarifications about class sizes, lodging and mutual‑aid training, and presenters cited on‑site or nearby lodging options at Lone Oaks Farm or UT Institute of Agriculture facilities. The commission adjourned after the recorded votes.