Space To Thrive
Building Haslam's Future
On August 23, 2024, the university broke ground on Haslam’s new building, spanning over 245,000 square feet and slated to open in spring 2028. Once completed, it will be the largest academic facility on campus, offering additional classrooms, dedicated research and study space, and new homes for two of the college’s engagement and research centers.
Scaling Up for Long-Term Success
Haslam’s new building reflects the college’s rapid growth over the past decade, from just under 4,000 undergraduates in 2013 to more than 10,000 as of fall 2025. During that time, dozens of new faculty and staff members have joined Haslam’s ranks, and the college has continued to launch and expand graduate and executive programs. Today, approximately 1,200 graduate students are enrolled. With high retention rates already driving enrollment growth, Haslam’s facilities are expected to attract even more students.
However, undergraduate enrollment growth is slowing as the university nears its residential enrollment target. Stephen L. Mangum, dean and Stokely Foundation Leadership Chair, believes the college’s new building will accommodate its student population. “Continued growth is leveling off a bit in our undergraduate programs, but I do think we’ll continue to see it on the graduate side, both residential and online.”
Looking ahead, Mangum does not anticipate the need for another new building over the next few years. Instead, future development will likely focus on renovating the nearby Stokely Management Center.
“I envision a three-building complex of the existing Haslam Business Building, the new building, and a refurbished Stokely,” he says. With the opening of the new facility, Mangum is most excited about bringing faculty, staff, and students back into closer proximity. “We’ll reestablish those natural patterns of interaction, and the casual spaces—such as patios, terraces, and common areas inside the building—will expand opportunities for sharing ideas.”
The New Haslam Building Takes Shape
Construction on the new building is progressing on schedule, with classes expected to begin in spring 2028. Concrete has already been poured on the fifth floor, and in spring 2026, faculty will gather for a beam-signing event to mark the placement of the final beam at the top of the structure.
Once complete, the facility at the corner of Volunteer Boulevard and Cumberland Avenue will feature 18 classrooms, including two 300-seat auditoriums. Haslam’s Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, which is the front-door for entrepreneurship at UT, will be located on the first floor alongside a new research space. Its prominent location will make the Anderson Center easier for students to engage with as they move through the commons area, which also will include a Panera Bread.
The Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research, a nonpartisan research hub that studies national and state economic trends and shares data on Tennessee’s economy and population, will occupy a dedicated wing on the second level, near additional research labs and cluster classrooms. The Boyd Center works closely with the Baker Center for Public Policy, located just across from the new building, and the closer proximity of the two centers is expected to improve meeting convenience and research productivity.
Offices and collaboration spaces, along with outdoor terraces, will occupy the next two floors. The top level of the building will house graduate and executive education offices, classrooms, and breakout rooms.
The building’s technology will include interactive LED whiteboards, team rooms, and video conferencing equipment. Classrooms will be significantly larger than those in the existing Haslam Business Building, allowing for greater flexibility in class size. In total, the new facility will offer 1,910 classroom seats, nearly doubling the college’s overall classroom capacity. Betsy Adams, Haslam’s assistant dean of operations, strategy, and planning, says, “We’ll offer students more room to take classes and improve the classroom experience with better technology. This is an exciting time for the college.”
Beyond classrooms, the new spaces will create more opportunities for students to study together, host student organization meetings, and interact more easily with faculty members. Currently, faculty offices are located in the Stokely Management Center, while students are primarily based in the Haslam Business Building. “In this new building, classrooms and student meeting spaces will be housed together, and that’s going to greatly benefit our students,” Mangum says. “Faculty will gain opportunities to engage interested students more directly in some of the timely research they’re doing, especially those interested in pursuing professional graduate study in the future.”
Investing in Haslam’s Next Chapter
Alumni and donors have played a critical role in advancing the new building project, with 64 major gifts to date, including 52 named rooms. The new facility is taking shape through the generosity and commitment of Haslam alumni. Three donors share what inspired their support, as well as their hopes for the college’s next chapter.
“Our investment in this new building reflects our belief in Haslam’s students and the importance of providing them with a world-class learning environment. The facility will elevate the college’s academic standing and create lasting value for generations of Haslam graduates.”
—David Stokes
Senior director of engineering, mainframe software division, Broadcom, Parent of a Haslam freshman
“Milton’s parents could not afford his college education, so he worked three jobs at a time while attending UT. He loved the years he spent there and was always proud of his alma mater. Later, he paid his experience forward by providing academic scholarships for those who might not otherwise be able to attend the Haslam College of Business. He owes much of his success to the education he received at UT, and we are proud that he will have a room named in his honor.”
—Mary Lynn
“As the Official Bank of the Vols, First Horizon chose to support the new building for the Haslam College of Business because it’s a strategic investment in East Tennessee’s talent and economic future. The expansion will create modern, collaborative spaces that elevate learning and innovation, and it will deepen the ways our associates engage with students through mentoring, experiential learning, internships, and career pathways. As the college grows, we gain earlier access to job-ready graduates with fresh perspectives, helping us serve our clients better, strengthen local businesses, and uplift the communities we share. We’re proud to stand with the Haslam College of Business as it prepares the next generation of leaders.”
—Jim Atchley
Knoxville market president, First Horizon Bank
Paul Clark, Haslam’s executive director of capital projects development, says it’s not too late to follow the momentum and make a lasting mark on the college’s new facility. “There are still ample opportunities to secure your legacy in the new building, including room naming.”
To learn more about supporting Haslam’s students and mission, contact the Office of Advancement at haslamalumni@utk.edu.
