(WBIR) - The University of Tennessee's brand-new student union represents the single largest construction project in the university's history.
After three years, the first phase is complete and open to the public.
"It's exciting. It's been long-awaited, I'll tell you that," said Brian Browning, director of administrative and support services at UT.
The $167 million project, which also includes a second phase, is just a small part in what's happening on the campus. UT is undergoing a $1 billion face-lift, and students are seeing some of the biggest changes the campus has seen in decades.
The University Center that it replaces on Cumberland Avenue was built in 1952 and had had only one upgrade since.
"What the old Student Union provided was great and served its purpose well over the past three decades, but this certainly provides much more than that," said Chris Cimino, vice chancellor for finance & administration.
Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek said the Student Union serves as the heart of UT's campus.
"We are excited and proud to open this beautiful building that our campus community has been anxiously waiting to enjoy," Cheek said in a press release. "The new Student Union is the centerpiece in our ongoing efforts to transform our student learning and living spaces."
"The students of today really want to see more modern spaces. They really want to see these new spaces come to life," Cimino added.
The five-story building is 50 percent larger than the University Center.
"Space, space, and space. We have significantly increased the space to accommodate the growing student population on this campus," Browning explained.
It includes a state of the art book store, dining facilities, and an entire floor dedicated to Career Services.
"We have over 10,000 square feet and it features 15 interview rooms so that we can really host employers in a great place and show off our university," said Stephanie Kit, interim director of career services.
Noticeable progress has been made, but construction on the Student Union won't be complete until 2018.
"It's more open space with meeting rooms, auditoriums, and so forth in phase two. The first phase was really critical for what's to come in that second phase," Cimino said.
When the second and final phase s complete, it will represent the largest single construction project in UT's history. A dedication ceremony for the first phase is set for Sept. 11.
Additional features of the building include:
- Extension of the Johnson Ward Pedestrian Walkway to an outdoor plaza and courtyard with links to the new Pedestrian Bridge to the Hill and an adjacent Blueberry Falls greenway.
- A glass and terrazzo staircase that links four floors of the building.
- Green building features include a lighting system that adjusts to make best use of natural daylight to save on energy costs. All new UT buildings are built to meet LEED standards.
- The first two levels house the VolShop, VolTech and VolBooks stores. The new VolShop is 14,500 square feet and offers more than twice the amount of apparel offered in the previous University Center. VolTech, an Apple authorized campus store, is twice the size of its prior location. VolBooks has expanded its space to offer the latest course materials, e-books, books and class supplies.
- More dining options and expanded seating include a Chick-fil-A, Qdoba, Salad Creations and AFC Sushi on the third floor and a Starbucks and Subway on the fourth floor.
