Burleson Hall’s renovation, in support of the new academic building will begin in early February, with new office spaces for faculty and staff. Students will have more opportunities to meet with professors in the new academic building.  

Chief Operating Officer, Jeremy Ross, shared that the renovation will change the dynamic on campus as Burleson Hall shifts to offices only. Despite the rumors, the building will not face demolition. Instead, it will be gutted and arranged more appropriately to accommodate the change.  

Ross shared that the current Burleson Hall contains offices that are too big or too small, and the new building will effectively utilize the space. It will undergo an interior facelift, including modern technology and adaptability. “This allows us an opportunity to be more efficient in office spaces,” said Ross.  

The new academic building will include collaborative spaces to encourage students to interact with their professors. It will be the beginning of a pilot program for ETSU.  

“Going forward, professors will have spaces where they can have quiet and put together lesson plans but also have more dynamic spaces to interact with students,” said Ross.

Ross believes students and faculty will adapt well to this adjustment since offices became unpopular meeting spaces after COVID-19. “I found myself meeting far less at my office with students and more often where they were or in their labs,” said Ross.

Exterior photo of Burleson Hall. (Abby Trembeczki/East Tennessean)

Ross is most excited for the staff to have their own spaces within Burleson Hall. “I’m looking forward to faculty having brand new state of the art office spaces, and areas where they can collaborate with their peers and colleagues,” said Ross.  

Ross shared that the Burleson renovations will disrupt campus and students far less than that of the academic building. Construction is projected to end in Fall 2025 for Burleson Hall and the academic building.   

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