{"id":975,"date":"2020-10-19T13:44:09","date_gmt":"2020-10-19T17:44:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/magazine\/?p=975"},"modified":"2020-10-27T11:57:35","modified_gmt":"2020-10-27T15:57:35","slug":"renewal-and-construction-updates-on-campus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/magazine\/renewal-and-construction-updates-on-campus\/","title":{"rendered":"Revitalization and Construction Updates on Campus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Life\u2019s only certainty is change, whether good or bad. Good change continues to come to UTC as the University beautifies and modernizes facilities on campus.<\/em> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is always growing, always improving, always making changes both big and small. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps the largest transformation in 2020 has come from the numerous construction projects underway on campus. Some are obvious\u2014large-scale revamping and renovations to buildings\u2014and some are behind the scenes\u2014roofing replacements, underground utility line installation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a trip across campus and have a look. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\n\t\tLupton Hall<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>\n\t<\/span>\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The most obvious construction work has been the gutting and complete renovation of the former Lupton Library into Lupton Hall. The king-size, 116,000-square-foot building was torn down to the concrete framework and rebuilt with new electrical, heating and air conditioning and lighting systems. The renovation also included revamping the interior layout to create room for classrooms, administrative offices and other uses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside, the Center for Women and Gender Equity, the Multicultural Center and the Office of International Student and Scholar Services\u202fmoved in to new, spacious offices.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second and third floors now house some departments in the College of Arts and Sciences. Communications, Philosophy and Religion, Modern and Classical Language and Literature have new homes on the second floor. The College of Arts and Sciences advising hub also is on that floor. The third floor houses the office of Arts and Sciences Dean Pam Riggs-Gelasco along with Mathematics and English.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\n\t\t\u202fFine Arts Center<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>\n\t<\/span>\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Fine Arts Center also underwent a major renovation. Most of the electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning has been replaced or repaired in the Roland B. Hayes Concert Hall, the Dorothy Hackett Ward Theater and the more intimate Jim G. Lewis Studio Theater. The theaters have new, state-of-the-art projectors and huge projection screens.\u202fThe building\u2019s lobby was redesigned and updated with new furniture, lighting, signage and flooring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\n\t\t\u202fFletcher Hall<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>\n\t<\/span>\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Home to the Gary W. Rollins College of Business, the building sports new interior finishes and furnishings and improvements to lighting, restrooms and facilities for students with disabilities. Layouts on the second, third and fourth floors were reconfigured to make them more efficient and functional. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\n\t\tGuerry and Decosimo Housing<\/strong> <\/span>\n\t<\/span>\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The two apartment complexes received $12 million in renovations that gutted the two buildings. Old carpeting was torn up and replaced by new flooring in the residential rooms. Kitchen appliances, water heaters and worn-out furniture were replaced in student suites. Several suites were updated to meet federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. Plans are to start similar renovations in 2021 in Stophel, Walker and UC Foundation apartments with an estimated a cost of $28 million. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\n\t\tMcKenzie Arena<\/strong> <\/span>\n\t<\/span>\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The building\u2019s sound system was upgraded, replacing analog equipment with state-of-the-art digital audio. The new system can target specific \u201czones\u201d of the arena with public announcements and music. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\n\t\tCenter for Innovation and Entrepreneurship<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>\n\t<\/span>\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The new Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship opened on the second floor of the James R. Mapp Building and is available for all students across campus. The center has a large central area known as “The Nest,” where students can work and collaborate on their business ideas. The center also has a collaborative workshop area\u2014a \u201cmakerspace\u201d\u2014that supplies equipment and technology for creative projects. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\n\t\tHEALTHIER DINING OPTIONS <\/strong>ADDED ON<\/strong> CAMPUS<\/strong> <\/span>\n\t<\/span>\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\n\t\tBy Christina Valenti<\/strong> <\/span>\n\t<\/span>\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not one but two new eateries opened on campus for fall semester: Freshens and the Blue & Gold Bistro. Both dining options were created in response to students requesting healthier options and more variety. Hannah Grigsby, marketing coordinator for Aramark and Mocs Dining, explains that Blue & Gold Bistro replaced Which Wich this fall in efforts to provide a wide range of options to students during the semester.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

During the first few weeks of the new semester, Blue & Gold Bistro offered barbecue options such as pork sliders, collard greens and macaroni and cheese. Since then, rotating menus have been created and overseen by Executive Chef Andrew Millsap. Vegetarian and vegan options also are available, including a \u201cBeyond Burger.\u201d\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Freshens, Lupton Hall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Along with extensive renovations, a Freshens outlet was added inside the newly-renovated Lupton Hall (formerly Lupton Library) as another convenient place to grab a bite to eat in between work and learning hours, says Grigsby.\u202fFreshens features healthier options including wraps, salads and rice bowls. Freshens is perhaps best-known, however, for specialty smoothies like \u201cTropical Therapy,\u201d a combination of pineapple, coconut, kiwi lime and \u201cMaui Mango,\u201d a mixture of mango, strawberries and bananas.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To comply with COVID-19 health and safety protocols, Mocs Dining created varied options for eating on site and mobile ordering and take-out delivery. Blue & Gold Bistro is one of five campus dining venues offering mobile ordering, while dine-in seating is available at Freshens in Lupton Hall. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\n\t\tAquatic and Recreation Center<\/strong> <\/span>\n\t<\/span>\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

New paint was applied to the swimming pool and water slide and a \u201cPower C\u201d painted on the bottom of the pool. New colors were painted on the walls and benches in the area. A host of new equipment is now available in the outdoors section, including stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, sleeping bags and tents. Electronic trackers were placed on all the fitness equipment to record usage patterns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\n\t\tRoof Replacements<\/strong> <\/span>\n\t<\/span>\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Routine roof maintenance was performed on the Metro, Military Science and College of Engineering and Computer Science buildings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\n\t\t540 McCallie Building<\/strong> <\/span>\n\t<\/span>\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Revamping the fifth floor is in the works. Among the improvements are new interior finishes and furnishings as well as upgrades to audiovisual equipment and overall technology. Lighting, restrooms and facilities for students with disabilities will be retrofitted. The national public radio station at UTC, WUTC-FM, is scheduled to move offices and broadcast studios from its current location in the basement of Cadek Conservatory within the McCallie Building\u2019s fifth floor sometime in 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\n\t\tNew projects<\/strong> <\/span>\n\t<\/span>\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Upcoming projects include planned renovations to Hunter Hall, which houses the College of Health, Education and Professional Studies, the School of Education, Interior Architecture and Design and the School of Psychology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construction is currently expected to begin in 2021 on the Wolford Family Athletics Center, a 70,000-square-foot addition\u202fto McKenzie Arena. It will include a 35,000-square-foot addition and a separate 35,000-square-foot renovation the arena, all of which is expected to take two years to complete. The facility is named in honor and memory of alumnus James \u201cBucky\u201d Wolford, who died in September 2017. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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