University of Tennessee's $309M plan for three new residence halls gets the fast track

Three big new residence halls will help alleviate the University of Tennessee's housing crunch, with construction starting soon.

Work can move forward after the state selected a private developer to build them to speed up the construction process and shield the university from risk. It's a critical step as the university reaches record enrollment numbers and hopes to meet students' desire to live on campus longer. This is the first agreement of its kind for a university in Tennessee.

UT received a record 49,790 first-year applications as of Feb. 14. Even though administrators are reducing the school's acceptance rate in order to strike the right balance, they are expecting a record number of students this fall.

The three new residence halls, expected to have about 2,500 beds, will be built in the next three years for an estimated $309 million. All three have similar brick and roofing colors to blend in with UT's aesthetic.

To house students before the new dorms are built, the university has signed a five-year master lease for students at Lakemoor Station Apartments in South Knoxville.

Here's a look at the new residence halls:

Andy Holt Avenue residence hall

The Andy Holt Avenue site will house about 750 students, and it's estimated to cost $70 million.

The seven-story building will house first- and second-year students and is expected to open for the fall 2025 semester.

It will offer furnished one- and two-bedroom suites with bathrooms. The building will include staff offices and student lounge areas.

It will be built on a parking lot that's adjacent to the existing Magnolia and Dogwood Halls.

Caledonia Avenue residence hall

Another hall is planned to replace a parking lot between Caledonia and Terrace Avenues. It will house more than 1,100 students and will cost an estimated $110 million.

Caledonia will be home to first- and second-year students and is expected to open for the fall 2025 semester. It will feature one- and two-bedroom suites with staff offices and student lounge areas.

This residence hall is near the Lake Avenue Parking Garage south of Cumberland Avenue.

Residence hall near Lindsey Nelson Stadium

The third residence hall will be built adjacent to Lindsey Nelson Stadium and is expected to open in fall 2026 with 750 apartment-style rooms.

These two- and four-bedroom furnished apartments are intended for upperclassmen and will feature common spaces. The building has an estimated $129 million price tag.

Apartments will feature two bathrooms, a living room and a full kitchen. It will be adjacent to a new UT Baseball indoor practice facility.

What's in all of the residence halls

All the residence halls will feature:

• Lobby with 24-hour desk

• Study rooms

• Lounge spaces on each floor

• Water bottle filling stations on each floor

• Public bathrooms in common spaces

• Laundry facilities

• Vending machines

How the construction partnership works

The state selected RISE Real Estate from Valdosta, Georgia, to build the residence halls after a request for proposals process.

UT will own the land and is contracting with RISE to "design, build, finance, operate and maintain each development," according to the RFP. UT can buy the buildings later.

The deal requires Board of Trustees approval and a few approvals by the State Building Commission. They're expected to happen later this year, Frank Cuevas, vice chancellor for student life, said in a statement.

Keenan Thomas is a higher education reporter. Email keenan.thomas@knoxnews.com. Twitter @specialk2real.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: University of Tennessee Knoxville builds three new residence halls