As students gear up to return to ETSU this fall, they should expect to see differences. With the completion of Lamb Hall, the university hopes to continue the momentum of change around campus.
Crews have been working over the summer preparing for the school year. Jeremy Ross, ETSU’s chief operating officer said housing is undergoing a $30 million renovation in various residence halls across campus, focusing on utilities.
“I think things will work better such as the HVAC, the electrical, the lighting, things will just function nicely,” Ross said.
Along with updates in the residence halls, Gilbreath Hall has undergone renovations. Ross said, “. . .it’s ETSU’s first building, and it’s its oldest building, so to have it renovated and modernized is nice.”
Visible changes on campus will be seen soon with the demolition of the Campus Center building. “We’ll start removing the hazardous materials in September and we’ll completely demolish the building in November,” said Ross.
The project is predicted to finish at the start of 2026. In its place will be a new academic building mainly focused on general education classes. It will include spaces for students and faculty members to interact. Ross said offices will be relocated to Burleson Hall, which will undergo an $8 million renovation.
Ross said, “The concept is that students and faculty will meet in collaborative spaces in the new academic building, but if a student needed to talk with a department leader or faculty member their actual offices would be in Burleson.”
Ross said the construction will alter traffic patterns and pedestrian paths but should not interfere with parking in the parking garage. There is a potential for parking lots to have adjustments throughout the school year.
ETSU campus is set to have further expansions within the next school year with an Integrated Health Sciences building. Ross said, “I don’t know what the vision will be. We’re just now talking about it.” It will be a place for all health and medicine students.
ETSU is focusing on tailoring the campus for new and returning students. “Let’s say a new student when they walk through campus three to five years from now, I hope they would say, ‘Wow this is the most beautiful campus in Tennessee,’” Ross said, “I would hope that the reputation that we have is a place where people want to socialize and study.”
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