There’s a new hall on the block.
After two years of labor and $59 million contributed to construction, Fred D. Brown Jr. Residence Hall has opened its doors to 682 student residents this fall. Brown has been lauded as the fastest construction project completed to date, as well as one of the most technologically advanced buildings on campus.
“We’ve had it on the books for quite some time, and we’re glad to be able to kick it off,” said Frank Cuevas, assistant vice chancellor for Student Life and executive director of housing. “It’s part of a long-term plan to really transform campus housing … As we look at the journey to being a Top 25 institution, we began really looking at our facilities that are outdated, and, while we’ve done a good job of maintaining our facilities, the student demands change over time.”
Fred D. Brown Jr., the hall’s namesake, was the first black teacher at Oak Ridge High School shortly after its integration and served as a member on the Alcoa Board of Education. Brown was a longtime UT staff member fundamental in forming the Office of Diversity Programs and recruiting students from underrepresented groups to the College of Engineering.
Each floor in Fred D. Brown Jr. Hall houses 128 residents and offers common areas for students to gather and study with movable tables for small group work. Cuevas said the bar tables placed in each area create an “internet café feel.”
According to Cuevas, the design of the building focuses on energy efficiency, while emphasizing students’ needs and safety.
“We wanted to bring in a lot of natural sunlight and you can see these windows do that, but if it gets too hot there are screens that drop that will let you see through and provides some shade and protection,” Cuevas said. “On every floor there will be a television monitor that will say what’s going on in the building and on campus, and in case of emergency it will override like an alert system and that will be in the common areas.”
Freshman in economics Margaret Draper said she is astounded at all her new dorm room has to offer.
“This is so much nicer than I thought I would ever get to live in,” Draper said. “My dorm has two full-size beds and my room can be configured in lots of different ways – everything is movable. Under the bed is a dresser and the bed goes up and down so you can move the dresser. It’s very homey.”
Draper said her decision to live in Brown Hall was an easy one.
“My (track) coach told me this was the best dorm to live in,” Draper said. “I love how open it is and with all the windows it doesn’t even feel like a dorm, it could be an apartment complex. I love that I’m one of the first people to get to live here.”
Cuevas said he hopes by creating more accommodating campus living spaces, UT residence halls will attract a wider variety of students.
“I think when you look at what we offer and the amenities they’re getting, it will certainly appeal to all ages,” Cuevas said. “When you have intergenerational housing – freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors living together – it has a ripple effect of a more vibrant campus community.”
Cuevas said the demand to fill Fred D. Brown Jr. Hall was high, and the hall’s population comprises students enrolled in the Chancellor’s Honors Program and students who applied early for housing.
“We’re excited to be opening this building and welcoming our students,” Cuevas said. “This is a great time to be at the University of Tennessee.”
