Tennessee Tech makes plans for ‘iconic’ tower in the heart of campus
Tennessee Tech University will soon add a new landmark to the Cookeville skyline with the construction of a large-scale tower in the heart of campus, funded primarily through the generous gift of an anonymous donor.
The project was unanimously approved at a specially called meeting of Tech’s Board of Trustees on Jan. 8 and will now advance to the State Building Commission, where university leaders anticipate strong support.
“Tennessee Tech is a university on the move,” said Tech President Phil Oldham. “In recent years, we’ve undertaken a massive overhaul of our campus footprint and invested in new buildings, green spaces and gathering areas that will enhance the student experience and improve the look and feel of our campus for generations to come. This iconic tower is a continuation of those efforts that will be an unmistakable campus centerpiece and a point of pride for students, faculty, staff and alumni alike.”
Set at the north end of Wilmore Way – the university’s new pedestrian walkway and plaza – and located near the main entrance of the Volpe Library and the west portico of the Roaden University Center, the 70-foot tower is expected to become the tallest structure on Tech’s campus.
A long-held goal of President Oldham, the tower was part of the campus’s existing master design plan.
“At Tennessee Tech, we know that our greatest success lies in the caliber of our people and the strength of our academic programs, but buildings matter, too,” added Oldham. “This tower is a symbol of the fact that, more than 110 years later, Tennessee Tech is still finding new ways to dream bigger, soar higher and leave this campus better than we found it. We are deeply grateful to the anonymous donor whose transformational gift has made this project possible. “
The Board of Trustees’ vote to greenlight the tower’s design and construction comes as it also recently adopted a new landscaping plan to guide campus beautification over the coming years. The plan, approved at a Dec. 2025 board meeting, calls for increasing tree coverage, prioritizing native plants and installing a bandshell at the site of the former Foster Hall, among other features.
According to university officials, construction on the yet-to-be-named campus tower could be complete by 2029.