UT will soon begin the construction of its new Student Union, but first it has to start tearing down the old one.
On March 17, UT will begin the demolition by tearing down the UC Parking Center. Along with closing and tearing down the parking garage, the portion of Andy Holt Avenue between Volunteer Boulevard and Phillip Fulmer Way, across from the Joe Johnson and John Ward Pedestrian Mall, will be closed.
That portion of Andy Holt Avenue will not reopen. It is planned to become an extension of the Pedestrian Mall and will eventually open up into a new student plaza near the Hill.
According to Jeff Maples, senior associate vice chancellor for finance and administration, there are plans in the works to provide additional parking space.
“We are close to finalizing plans to provide additional parking options for the campus,” Maples said. “We will disclose these options once the plans are complete.”
Some plans have already been revealed. To help facilitate the upcoming need for parking space, the university plans to open up Volunteer Hall’s parking garage for all visitor parking.
Those seeking handicap parking are encouraged to park in Staff Lot 9, which is the parking lot directly across from Neyland Stadium. However, Maples estimates that about 50 spaces will be temporarily closed during construction. Officials hope that the spaces will be reopened by fall.
To help alleviate the new traffic burden being made, a new traffic light will be installed at the corner of Phillip Fulmer Way and Peyton Manning Pass.
Students may have noticed that some of the ATMs along the Money Wall have been boarded up. The remaining few will also be taken down. Some of the ATMs will be moved inside the UC by the end of Spring Break, but it has not been determined which banks will be making that move.
Along with the closing of the UC Parking Center, demolition will also come to the former Student Counseling Center, Temple Court and Aconda Court. This demolition is expected to take place in late May.
Additionally, the portion of Phillip Fulmer Way between Cumberland Avenue and Andy Holt Avenue is also expected to temporarily close in late May but should be reopened by early August. This closure will also include the pedestrian bridges connected to the UC Plaza.
The main building of the UC will remain open for now and is not expected to be closed and demolished until two years into the project.
The entire project, from start to finish, is expected to take four years to complete and has a budget of $160 million. This is an increase from the initial budget of $130 million.
According to e-mail correspondence with Chris Cimino, vice chancellor for finance and administration, the increase was due to inflation and the complexity of utility work. The budget is not expected to increase again now that the design plans are complete.
Cimino also said that student tuition is under no threat of increasing.
“Tuition will not be used to fund this,” Cimino said, “only program and services fees and dining services commissions.”
Students wanting to learn more about any potential detours and road closures the university has and will have can learn more at www.conezone.utk.edu. It addresses the traffic concerns with the new Student Union, as well as the many other construction projects at UT.
