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State Building Commission approves Tennessee Tech's J. J. Oakley innovation center and 800-bed residence hall
Summary
The State Building Commission approved a revision and project budget in the early design phase for Tennessee Tech University's J. J. Oakley Innovation Center and an associated residence hall that could provide up to 800 beds and 15,000'20,000 square feet of ground-floor learning space.
The State Building Commission on April 24 approved a revision and project budget in the early design phase for Tennessee Tech University's J. J. Oakley Innovation Center and an adjacent residence hall that the project team said could provide up to 800 beds and 15,000 to 20,000 square feet of ground-level space for entrepreneurship and technology programming.
Tennessee Tech President Phil Oldham introduced the request and architect Eric Whitfield of WBA Architecture presented designs for a four-story residence building and a one-story innovation center. Whitfield said the site "will serve as one of the primary entrance features of the campus," at the corner of University Drive and Willow Avenue, and described interiors including fabrication labs, event space and multiple community lounges.
The commission's vote approved the revision and early-design budget after a motion and second. The motion was moved on the record and the chair called the vote; commissioners responded with "aye" and the item was announced as approved.
Whitfield described the residence hall as having a typical floor layout with room types that include RA units, double rooms and semi-suites; he noted the building would include multiple "pod" lounges to foster community. The project team said the building is designed with a single central residence lobby (with front and back entrances) for security, and that a future second phase is anticipated for the front portion of the site. In his remarks, Oldham said it was "a great honor to present this project today," and emphasized the combination of student housing with an on-campus learning center.
Project statistics presented to the commission indicated the residence hall would be four stories and that the innovation center is a single story tied to campus academic uses. The project team told commissioners the project was on schedule and on budget.
No statutes or external legal authorities were referenced during the presentation. No dollar amounts for total project cost or detailed funding breakdowns were provided in the presentation before the commission.
The commission moved on to other agenda items after the vote.
