The University of Tennessee Health Science Center recently celebrated the completion of the fourth floor of its Nash Building with a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking a significant upgrade to the institution's research infrastructure, an event chronicled by UTHSC News. The state-funded project, tallying up to $11.5 million in costs, aims to bolster the Department of Physiology and the College of Medicine's research capabilities.
The renovations included the construction of eight labs, and three office spaces as well as specialized rooms for temperature-sensitive experiments, even a conference room and a break area was part of the plan; it is part of an ongoing effort to fully revitalize the entire Nash Building, which also includes the unfinished fifth floor and vivarium. According to Raaj Kurapati, the university's executive vice chancellor and chief operating officer, the success rides on the university's forward-thinking vision, a sentiment he expressed during a ceremony attended by key personnel like Chancellor Peter Buckley, MD, and Chancellor Emeritus Steven Schwab, MD, as well as Flintco's project manager Savannah Harvey who led the post-ceremony building tour, as reported by UTHSC News.
Dr. Zhongjie Sun, the chair of the Department of Physiology, underscored the potential for scientific advances that the new facilities would bring, stating, "This marks a new chapter in our history," indicating a significant leap towards transforming the Nash Building into a state-of-the-art research hub. Meanwhile, interim executive dean of the College of Medicine, Dr. Nick Verne, highlighted the renovation's role as a "game-changer" for the institution in both recruiting researchers and showcasing its commitment to academic excellence.
Bolstering the enthusiasm for the building's future, Chancellor Buckley pointed out the blend of tradition and innovation in the renovation, noting that the 1954-designed building will not only encourage pioneering research but also support educational missions by serving as a practical learning environment for graduate students with, “Great science and great discoveries will happen right here." Flintco’s area manager, Scott Taylor, relayed his team's pride in contributing to the project and its potential impact on both local and global scales, ultimately enriching the city's educational and research landscape.
