Tennessee Tech broke ground on the new Advanced Construction and Manufacturing Engineering (ACME) Building Friday.
The 81,000 square-foot building will cost the university an estimated $89.6 million. Dean of the College of Engineering Joseph Slater said the building will set a new course into the future for the College of Engineering.
“The ACME building will provide world-class facilities in construction and manufacturing for our students, giving them the practical hands-on experience with industry-grade equipment, tools, and technology so that they are ready to hit the ground running when they graduate and provide the workforce that these industries need,” Slater said.
The ACME building will be constructed at the corner of Stadium Drive and Wings Up Way. The building is expected to be fully constructed by the Fall of 2028.
Tennessee Tech President Dr. Phil Odlham said the building shows the university’s commitment to putting students first. Oldham said the building is another step in the right direction of making the College of Engineering great.
“Tennessee Tech will never be any better than our College of Engineering,” Oldham said. “That’s a very important statement. It’s a very important thing to keep in mind. It’s important for our College of Engineering to not only be good but to be great.”
University Trustee Trudy Harper said she is a believer that the building will be a step forward in the University’s enrollment.
“I believe that there are students who will find this building to be their home when they may not have found a college home in the state of Tennessee,” Harper said. ” I believe that this building will attract a different kind of student than what we have seen before.”
Tennessee Tech Engineering Alumna Cracey Cobble said it is a very exciting time for the university and the state to invest in students and new buildings to help their education go further than what is gained in the classroom. Cobble said it’s a good time to be a civil engineer and a great time to be a Tech student.
The ACME building will be constructed at the corner of Stadium Drive and Wings Up Way. The building is expected to be fully constructed by the Fall of 2028.