What is the story about?
Students
returning to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville this fall will find campus looks a little different, from a new residence hall and expanded dining options to the early stages of the G10 garage's transformation.
- New hub for grub: Food trucks have a new spot on campus next to the Humanities and Social Sciences Building that will feature Big Orange Grill and Snackin' Wagon. These food trucks accept meal plans, cash and electronic payments.
- Student Union glow-up: UT has finished upgrades to the east and north plazas of the Student Union along Cumberland Avenue. The east plaza features a multi-level patio, lawn and garden with chairs and umbrellas where students can relax. A multi-tiered lawn and plaza − with even more areas designed for socializing − includes a stage and an area for food trucks. V-O-L-S letters have been added to north side of the union, providing a new landmark for students.
- Academic all-stars: The university is knee deep in its preeminent scholars initiative aimed at bringing some of the nation's top academic minds to UT. Four new scholars have arrived on campus for the semester − Laurent Capolungo, Shaundra Daily, Kimberly Powell and Graham Thomas − along with two UT-Oak Ridge National Laboratory Governor's Chairs.
- A new place to park: UT has a new surface parking lot on Stephenson Drive near Regal Soccer Stadium and the Joan Cronan Volleyball Practice Facility that includes around 700 spaces for students with commuter remote passes. A T bus stops near the lot, and students can check space availability on the VolPark app. The university also has installed a new traffic light at the intersection of Neyland Drive and Joan Cronan Way.
- The building boom: The noise of construction doesn't stop when students return. UT is continuing to build and expand, with plans to open the Student Success Building and complete the Presidential Court Building renovation, Randy Boyd Hall and the G10 portion of the Neyland Entertainment District in 2027. The entire Neyland Entertainment District, including the "condotel," is scheduled to wrap up in 2028. UT plans to complete the Charles and Julie Wharton Chemistry Building in 2029.
- Take what you need: The Center for Basic Needs will relaunch the Free Store on Aug. 28, offering students, faculty and staff free clothing, hygiene products, household goods, kitchen supplies and accessories. The store will be open from noon to 4 p.m. weekdays at 915 22nd St.
- Pull up a chair: Stokley Dining Hall has 210 new seats, creating room for more students to dine inside.
- Dorm life upgrades: The new Torchbearer Hall is housing more than 1,000 students in the heart of campus, just a short walk from Neyland Stadium. It's one of three new residence halls built through a fast-tracked public-private partnership, and UT plans to keep the partnership going to add three more dorms.
- A sweet new spot: The satellite location of UT Creamery is set to open on the ground floor of Torchbearer Hall later this month. Students will run the location, serving Torchbearer Chocolate and other flavors of ice cream made at the original location at the UT Culinary Institute.
- Goodbye, G10: Students past and present are mourning UT's plans to demolish a large section of the G10 parking garage this fall. The demolition window is set for August through October, and hundreds of parking spots will me lost before a new garage opens in its spot as part of the Neyland Entertainment District.
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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: From 1 to G10, here's how University of Tennessee looks different this fall
