The University of Tennessee at Knoxville is fronting $5 million to repair the downtown UT Conference Center, which was seriously damaged by a water main break Aug. 20.
The second through fourth floors reopened at the end of August for occupants that include the UT Center for Professional Education and Lifelong Learning
, but the first floor and basement remain closed as crews rebuild after the flood.The Audiology and Speech Pathology Department, which is a part of the UT Health Science Center, has moved some of its important operations to Cherokee Mills on Sutherland Avenue until repairs are complete, according to UT System spokesperson Jason Moody.
The full reopening date hasn't been determined as the facilities team for the Knoxville campus,
the system's design and construction team and state and system insurance offices work together on the restoration.
How a 2023 state law set University of Tennessee up for $5 million repairs
The funding doesn't need outside approval because a 2023 state law change allowed UT to pay for projects that cost less than $10 million without legislative approval. It means UT doesn't have to wait months or years for the state to give campuses the go-ahead for smaller projects. Some projects, including this one, still require State Building Commission approval, and the commission pushed it through Sept. 10.
The university also needs UT System President Randy Boyd's signoff for projects like these.
Lists of projects approved across the five UT campuses are given to the UT System Board of Trustees to keep them in the loop, with the newest round included ahead of the board's fall meeting Oct. 15-16 in Knoxville. Unlike other capital projects, the list doesn't require the board's vote.
The other under-$10 million projects on the Knoxville campus include elevator upgrades and updates at Senter Hall and the Student Services Building.
Between the law passing in 2023 and a recent policy update, the UT System has moved ahead on 147 projects totaling $381 million. Additionally, the system has saved more than $32 million in costs and eliminated 940 months of potential process time – or more than 78 years' worth of bureaucracy.
The flagship Knoxville campus had the most with 110 projects.
Former department store building will be restored
UT's work to repair the conference center will help preserve the building's legacy. Originally built in 1955, the building housed Rich's department store before Miller's took it over in 1961. Miller's operated until 1987 when Hess's – a part of Crown American – bought the department store chain and took over the building's lease.
UT was looking to place a conference center and offices downtown and entered into a lease with Crown American for the Henley Street building while Hess's continued operating. Crown American built the fourth floor.
Hess's closed and the company decided to work with the university on acquiring the property, with the UT System Board of Trustees approving the $6 million purchase in 1992, plus an extra $6 million for renovations. It has remained a part of downtown and UT since then.
Keenan Thomas is the higher education reporter for Knox News. Email: keenan.thomas@knoxnews.com.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: New law made a quick $5M repair possible after University of Tennessee flood
