A proposed $73 million chemistry building, its infrastructure and a satellite chiller plant for our campus moved to the top vacant spot on the Tennessee Board of Regents capital outlay list recently, bringing the much-needed facility closer to reality.

TBR representatives responded to the need to raise the project's priority after visiting our current chemistry facility, Foster Hall.

"Foster Hall has an antiquated ventilation system and inadequate space," says Jeff Boles, chemistry department chairperson, who took the lead on the presentation. "The current facilities simply cannot absorb the additional student credit hours generated by university and chemistry department growth.

"TTU's chemistry department already graduates more chemistry majors than any public university in Tennessee, including the University of Tennessee at Knoxville," explains Boles. "This new building is key to sustaining both the growth of the department and the growth of the university."

The proposal calls for the new chemistry building to be the first of four facilities that would create a new campus quadrangle, which marries well with the campus layout, says Glenn Binkley, assistant director of Facilities and Business Services. The complete complex would include buildings for biology, chemical engineering and the Center for the Management, Utilization and Protection of Water Resources.

"No demolition would be necessary before the construction of the chemistry building," says Binkley. "The new 100,000 square foot building would be located north of Capital Quad and south of Lewis Hall."

After the new building is completed, Foster Hall is scheduled for demolition.

"One study indicated that retrofitting the HVAC, electrical, plumbing and ventilation systems alone would cost $14 to $15 million," says Binkley. "With that price tag, there is no secondary use planned for Foster Hall."

Binkley says he's hopeful that recent state funding decisions indicate that funding for the design of the new chemistry building could be a reality in two to three years after the current fiscal year ends.

"This is the first additional capital outlay project in three years," says Binkley. "The TBR added four projects to the list this year, and our chemistry building was placed 14th, the highest of the vacancies.

"Jeff did an outstanding job in making the argument that TTU promotes undergraduate research and that a new chemistry building with adequate size and facilities is the best way to promote future growth," says Binkley.

Boles says the new building will allow the university to be even more competitive for new faculty and new students, in addition to providing a healthier, more environmentally friendly place to teach and conduct research.

"In a typical day, more than 1,000 students enter the building to take a chemistry course," says Boles. "A new building will provide even more momentum to help the faculty and students who are responsible for our current success.