The residence hall will accommodate 400 students with double rooms and semi-suites.
An attached innovation center will provide fabrication spaces, event facilities, a podcast studio, and meeting rooms.
Construction is underway with a target completion date for fall 2027..
Tennessee Tech University
Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville has broken ground on the $61.6 million J.J. Oakley Innovation Center & Residence Hall.
The university says the 102,000-square-foot residence hall will provide accommodations for 400 students, featuring a mix of double occupancy rooms and pod-style semi-suites. Amenities will include an activity room, community kitchen and lounge, study areas, quiet rooms and laundry facilities.
University leaders aim to have the facility ready for student occupancy by fall 2027.
“This is going to be an attractive place for students to live and enjoy for generations to come," Tech President Phil Oldham said.
A nearly 12,000-square-foot innovation center attached to the residence hall will provide fabrication spaces, multipurpose event and presentation facilities, a podcast studio, meeting rooms and other functionalities –- all designed to spark creativity and collaboration among students. A dining space will offer convenience items such as coffee, snacks and prepared foods.
The building is named for Joyce Annette “J.J.” Oakley, a local philanthropist who, with her late husband, Millard Vaughn Oakley, contributed millions of dollars to the university over the years.
The builder is American Constructors and the architect is WBA Architecture in conjunction with Mackey Mitchell Architects.
Mike Kennedy has been writing about education forAmerican School & Universitysince 1999. He also has reported on schools and other topics for The Chicago Tribune, The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Times and City News Bureau of Chicago. He is a graduate of Michigan State University.
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