KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Tennessee lawmakers have earmarked $165.5 million in the state budget for the construction of a new chemistry facility at the University of Tennessee. It marks the largest state investment ever funded for a single higher education project in Tennessee.
The eight-story building will be located on Cumberland Avenue between Strong Hall and the College of Law on the site of UT’s recently demolished Panhellenic Building. A groundbreaking is scheduled for September and the project is expected to be completed in 2029.
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It will feature a wide range of facilities including dedicated workstations for student researchers, 28 research labs, 12 collaborative spaces, two 50-seat lecture halls, and one 50-seat study room. The project design phase is nearly complete with final blueprints expected in August.
University leaders touted the project in an official announcement on Friday as a critical tool to help prepare students for in-demand careers in the chemical industry.
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According to the official release, the industry has invested over $400 million in the state over the last six years and created more than 2,000 jobs. More than 16,000 Tennesseans already work in the chemical industry with an average salary of $82,800, more than 30% above the average of other manufacturing jobs in the state…