State Building Commission approves Columbia State and Pellissippi State master plans

The State Building Commission approved master plans for Columbia State Community College and Pellissippi State Community College following presentations from their consultants and college leaders.

A Sizemore Group representative presented Columbia State’s master plan. The presenter said the campus is projecting roughly 22 percent enrollment growth, from about 2,800 full‑time equivalents to closer to 4,000 FTE, and emphasized capital priorities that include a science building to replace the Wharf Building. The transcript notes that the Wharf replacement was identified as a major capital priority and that the presenter placed a $71,100,000 figure in the 2026 capital budget request tied to that replacement.

For Pellissippi State, a Dobrzycki representative presented campus priorities and programmatic investments. President Anthony Wise (introduced during the item) described growth across four campuses, program priorities including student recreation and athletics at the Hardin Valley campus, welding at Strawberry Plains, and a proposed aviation academy to align with PSA Airlines’ movement into the Knoxville area. The presenter outlined site changes, parking and circulation improvements, new athletic fields and a student resource hub; project costs were shown during the presentation.

Both master plans were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. The transcript records the approvals but does not include a roll‑call tally.

Ending: The commission approved both master plans and then moved on to approve minutes and administrative reports.