“What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously, but the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.” – Kurt Vonnegut
With those words echoing in the air, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Student Government Association Vice President Bridgette Greene captured the spirit of a milestone moment for the campus: the official groundbreaking of the Oak Street Residence Hall, a transformative new student housing project set to open in 2027.
On a sunny morning between Oak Street and McCallie Avenue, UTC leadership, student representatives, architects and community members gathered at the construction site to celebrate the beginning of a project they say will reshape student life at the university for decades to come.
The $114 million project will add 794 beds in double-occupancy rooms to UTC’s housing stock, addressing what Chancellor Lori Bruce called “an essential need” to support the university’s ambitious growth goals.
Designed by Chattanooga-based architecture firm Tinker Ma alongside an extensive team of engineers and planners, the residence hall will feature collaborative “neighborhoods” on each floor, flexible common spaces for study and social connection, a pedestrian corridor linking both sides of campus, and outdoor courtyards designed for gathering and student gardening.
“This project isn’t just about buildings; it’s about building a community,” Bruce told the crowd during her remarks. “It’s about increasing student retention, enriching the student-centered culture, and ensuring more students experience everything UTC has to offer both inside and outside the classroom.”
Bruce, who became chancellor just three weeks ago, praised the UT System and President Randy Boyd for making campus growth a priority and expressed confidence in UTC’s ability to meet – and surpass – enrollment targets of 14,800 students by 2030. In fact, she’s already raised the goal to 15,000.
“We’re aiming at people, not just numbers,” Bruce said. “We believe in the power of higher education and in the product UTC has to offer. We want as many people as possible to benefit from that.”
Housing demand at UTC has surged in recent years. The university currently has about 3,700 beds but received over 5,300 housing applications last year, including a 25% increase from returning students. This fall alone, more than 1,200 students are on a housing waitlist.
Bruce, who’s been living in UTC’s West Campus Housing since her arrival in Chattanooga in July, said the experience has given her firsthand insight into the quality of the university’s current housing – and the urgent need for more.
“Students come in as freshmen, they experience what it’s like to live on campus, and they want to come back,” Bruce said. “We want to be able to offer on-campus housing options to all the students who are requesting it.”
The Oak Street Residence Hall aims to be more than a place to sleep. According to Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Artanya Wesley, every aspect of the design was crafted with care and intention, from collaborative study spaces to practical amenities like centralized mail, laundry facilities and kitchenettes.
“These aren’t just hallways with doors,” Wesley said. “They’re hubs where students can hold study sessions organically, where friendships will be built, and where students will grow and learn together.”
The ground floor will feature a large studio space for student organizations, events and creative programming – the “heartbeat of the residence hall,” as Wesley described it. Outdoor spaces, including tiered courtyards and student garden beds, will extend opportunities for wellness, relaxation and connection.
Wesley also praised the collaboration behind the project, singling out UTC’s facilities team, the UT System, and the many design and engineering partners, including Hoar Construction, RaganSmith, Wallace Design Collective, CMTA, HASTINGS and American Structurepoint.
Greene, a junior marketing and professional sales major from Portland, Tennessee, brought the student perspective to the ceremony. Speaking on behalf of UTC’s more than 11,000 students, Greene emphasized that the significance of the new residence hall extends far beyond its square footage.
“For me, the important aspects of this project are less tangible but critically essential,” she said. “Every floor will feature open spaces to encourage a strong sense of community among the residents. Even the outdoor spaces are designed to bring students together, to encourage new friendships, to foster a sense of belonging.”
Quoting Vonnegut, Greene highlighted the power of connection in combating the isolation that many students face – especially in their college years.
“Students who live in this facility will have the opportunity to create such a community that assists other students in their times of need,” Greene said. “By living and working together, they’ll form closer ties with one another and with the entire campus. In turn, students are more likely to be successful academically and socially and more likely to graduate.”
The project represents a cornerstone of UTC’s broader student success strategy, Wesley added, noting that access to supportive, well-designed housing is closely linked to retention, engagement and overall well-being.
Even behind-the-scenes considerations, such as the movement of custodial staff or the placement of wiring and piping, were approached with the goal of enhancing student life, Wesley said.
As UTC eyes a future of growth, Bruce sees Oak Street Residence Hall as a key ingredient in realizing the university’s full potential.
“Today’s groundbreaking marks a new chapter for UTC, and I couldn’t be more proud to be part of it,” Bruce said.
Construction is expected to be completed in time for students to move in for the 2027-28 academic year – bringing nearly 800 more students into the heart of UTC’s growing community.