News Source: UTC News

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga officially broke ground on a new on-campus housing project on Monday, July 21, that will expand student living options and serve as a hub for student life when completed in 2027.

The project is led by Tinker Ma, a Chattanooga-based architecture, interiors, and planning firm, with design and engineering contributions from Hoar Construction, RaganSmith, Wallace Design Collective, CMTA, HASTINGS, and American Structurepoint.

Located between Oak Street and McCallie Avenue, the Oak Street Residence Hall will feature a pedestrian corridor that runs through the building, linking both sides of campus. The facility will include 794 beds in double-occupancy rooms and is designed with collaborative “neighborhoods” on each floor, flexible common spaces for studying and socializing, and outdoor courtyards for gathering and student gardening.

The groundbreaking ceremony, held at the Oak Street site, featured remarks from UTC Chancellor Lori Bruce, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Artanya Wesley, and Student Government Association Vice President Bridgette Greene.

Bruce thanked the UT System and UT President Boyd for prioritizing campus growth across the system, including her goal of UTC reaching 15,000 students by 2030.

“I’ve only been here three weeks, but it has already become clear to me that expanding our infrastructure is essential to meeting our enrollment goals and providing the type of student experience that sets UTC apart,” Bruce said.

Bruce praised the collaboration between UTC’s facilities team, the UT System and Tinker Ma, as well as the leadership of Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration Brent Goldberg in securing project financing.

“This project isn’t just about buildings; it’s about building a community,” Bruce said. “It’s about increasing student retention, enriching the student-centered culture, and ensuring more students experience everything UTC has to offer both inside and outside the classroom.

“Today’s groundbreaking marks a new chapter for UTC, and I couldn’t be more proud to be part of it.”

Oak Street Residence Hall amenities will include in-building laundry facilities, a shared kitchen, kitchenettes in each neighborhood, centralized package/mail services, and multipurpose spaces for student organizations, residence life and creative programming. A large studio space on the ground floor will support events, meetings and student-led activities.

“Today’s groundbreaking is really laying the foundation for transformational student experiences,” Wesley said. “At UTC, we know that where students live impacts how they learn, develop, and grow. That’s why this project was approached with such care and intention.”

Currently, UTC has just over 3,700 beds but receives more than 5,300 housing applications each year. Fall 2024 saw a 25% increase in applications from returning students and a waitlist of over 1,200.

“We already offer exceptional campus housing,” Bruce said, noting that she has lived in West Campus Housing since arriving in Chattanooga. “The reality is, though—we simply need more.”

Greene, a marketing and professional sales major from Portland, Tennessee, said she has lived on campus throughout her time at UTC.

“Students who live in this facility will have the opportunity to create such a community that assists other students in their efforts to support them during their times of need,” said Greene, who is about to begin her junior year. “By living and working together, these students will form closer ties with one another and to the entire campus.

“In turn, students are more likely to be successful academically and socially.”