HARRIMAN, Tenn. — The Technical College of Applied Technology in Harriman may soon get a new campus meant to house the college's variety of programs under one roof.
The new campus is expected to be around 88,000 square feet large. The last time the location was upgraded was in 1999. The college hopes to break ground on the new campus over the summer and is planning for construction to finish in early 2026. Later that same year, they hope staff will be able to move in and start teaching students.
"I hate to see this one go because I have 25 years of history and buildings very similar to this. But, I'm so excited about the new image we get to create for technical education with the new facade of the new building," said Chris Ayers, the president of TCAT Harriman.
He said TCAT could only go so far to try and update its current building.
"You're trying to put nice equipment and a big rectangular lab that was designed in 1969. So, you can just kind of see the machines vs. the surroundings you're putting the machines in," he said.
Renderings of the proposed facility include seating areas as well as a lawn covering the front of the building. They include at least two stories and a parking area.
"There's been a few times that I dreamed that those grandpas were there with me, and hopefully, my dad will get to walk those halls of that campus with me, because all of those men were mentors for me as I pursued technical education," said Ayers.
The new campus will be located near Roane State Community College. The north side of the new campus will house some industrial trades, and the front facade will face Roane State. Ayers said he was at a loss for words when asked about how it makes him feel to see work progress on the new campus.
"You haven't caught me speechless many times during this interview, but that part makes me speechless, and to see what we're going to do this," he said.