Commission approves University Commons renovation and P3 child‑care RFP for University of Tennessee in Knoxville

The State Building Commission approved two University of Tennessee items for Knoxville: a renovation project for the University Commons and authorization to issue a request for proposals for a P3 child‑care center.

President Randy Boyd said the University Commons project will renovate space formerly occupied by a 120,000‑square‑foot Walmart; the UT Foundation will acquire the building and UT will lease space from the foundation. Boyd presented an estimated project cost of $9,200,000 and stated current funding of $1,750,000. "This facility, formerly a 120,000 square foot Walmart, will be acquired by the UT Foundation, and UT will lease the space from the foundation," Boyd said.

On the second item, Boyd requested permission to issue an RFP for a public‑private partnership to develop a child‑care center in the Cherokee Mills Complex to meet expanding child‑care needs for University of Tennessee Knoxville faculty and staff. Boyd said the facility will be managed by a third party and said it "will hold about a hundred" then later said "a 150," indicating the presenter cited a target capacity in the range of about 100–150 children.

Commission staff thanked Boyd and noted the issue is commonly raised; commissioners moved, seconded and adopted both items by voice votes. The record includes the project descriptions, estimated costs for the University Commons item and an approximate capacity range for the child‑care center; final developer selection, detailed funding sources, or operational contracts were not provided in the transcript and will require later approvals or administrative steps.