With a scheduled completion date of summer 2008, plans are moving forward for a new building to house the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy.
With a scheduled completion date of summer 2008, plans are moving forward for a new building to house the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy.
The $42.8 million project was recently approved by the Tennessee General Assembly after being proposed in Governor Bredesen”s “State of the State” Address in February. Two Memphis architectural firms have been named for the project: TRO/The Ritchie Organization and Evans Taylor Foster Childress.
According to Robert J. Nolly, associate professor with the UT College of Pharmacy and building committee chair, the committee is currently reviewing space recommendations. The new building will have approximately 190,000 gross square feet, which will be spread across several floors.
Currently, UT College of Pharmacy students, faculty and research activities are stretched across six buildings, with some of these in need of updating and renovations. These buildings include: the Crowe Research Building, built in 1928; the Mooney Building, built in 1928; the
Joe and Pat Johnson Building, completed in 1946; and the Seldon D. Feurt Building, completed in 1961.
Dean of the UT College of Pharmacy, Dick R. Gourley, Pharm.D., commented, “We have been asking for a new building specially dedicated for the College of Pharmacy for more than three decades. The current demand for pharmacists is the highest ever in Tennessee and across the nation; however, our current facilities cannot accommodate the need to further expand class size. Not only is space needed for additional classrooms, but seminar rooms, scientific laboratories, computer labs, conference rooms, a clinical learning center, technology center, staff offices and storage areas are also needed to provide our students and faculty with access to the tools they need.”
He stated, “Our sincere appreciation goes to the Tennessee General Assembly and Governor Phil Bredesen for their vision for the college, which will benefit healthcare provided to Tennesseans. This new center for pharmacy education will give us the opportunity to, not only strive toward providing the best pharmacy education available anywhere, but to undertake innovative research and embrace new technology and innovations.”