Following the completion of construction at Kirkland Hall last February and Carmichael College over the summer, Vanderbilt’s campus remains pockmarked with construction projects as part of the university’s FutureVU initiatives.
FutureVU construction projects are currently underway on Garland Hall, the Highland Chilled Water Plant, Frist Athletic Village and Payne Hall. Each project is a piece of the university’s FutureVU plan, a long-term vision for a more cohesive, accessible, sustainable and pedestrian-friendly Vanderbilt campus.
According to a representative of the Division of Administration, FutureVU was created, along with the academic strategic plan, to guide the development of Vanderbilt’s campus in alignment with its goals for academics, community outreach, accessibility, transportation and sustainability.
“It is Vanderbilt University’s mission to become a destination for the most talented and ambitious students and faculty from across the globe and provide them with world-class facilities that allow for the prioritization of research, discovery and creative experience,” the representative said in an email to The Hustler.
FutureVU’s plans divide long-term construction goals into neighborhood-specific projects across Vanderbilt’s eight campus neighborhoods. Projects are underway in four neighborhoods — the Historic Core, Peabody, Highland and Athletics.
Sophomore Amarin Sharma shared her experience navigating construction when traveling between her classes on main campus and Blair School of Music.
“[Last year] they were drilling a lot, and every single day we had to take a new path to get to Blair,” Sharma said. “I think the construction is a distraction, just walking by every day. I’ve gotten used to it and all the noises, but it’s very loud.”
Garland Hall
Garland Hall, a 96 year-old building in the Historic Core, has been under construction since August 2024 and is set to be open by February 2025. A crane has been located in the construction site since last semester, marking the “long overdue” renovation, according to FutureVU. The completion of the project will add updated learning spaces to the College of Arts & Science.
In an email to The Hustler, a representative of Vanderbilt Facilities said that the Garland Hall project is on schedule, noting the recent celebration of the placement of the final structural beam in a topping-out ceremony on Sept. 12.
“When done, the building will be more inclusive and welcoming with collaborative and meeting spaces, improved classrooms and labs and the university’s first true outdoor classroom,” the facilities representative said.
According to the facilities representative, the design of Garland Hall was informed by feedback collected from faculty, students, staff and the broader Vanderbilt community through surveys and focus groups. The renovated Garland Hall will have gender-neutral bathrooms and a mix of interdisciplinary instructional labs, offices, classrooms and other study spaces.
Central Utilities Initiative
The Highland Chilled Water Plant — located between Highland Quadrangle and the Rec — is part of the university’s Central Utilities Initiative. The new power plant will aim to improve energy efficiency across campus. The plant will utilize hot and cold water lines, replacing current underground steam lines. The new power plant and nearby infrastructure were designed in anticipation of expansion of the Frist Athletics Village.
Construction of the new power plant and nearby infrastructure is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024. In February 2023, students reported issues of noise, dust and diverted access to the Rec as a result of this construction. Once completed, the project will include improved pedestrian access in the area and the burial of overhead utilities.
Senior Samara McLain has lived in Morgan for three years because of its proximity to her classes and the Rec. McLain noted the inconvenience of the closure of 25th Ave., which congested move-in and creates confusion when ordering Ubers. On a day-to-day basis, she said the noise of construction is most disruptive.
“No matter what floor you’re on, it’s so loud,” McLain said. “Because the [windows] and the walls are so thin, you can hear people just talking outside, but then the construction itself with the jackhammer starting at 8 [a.m.] — even if you’re trying to do work in your apartment in the middle of the day, it’s so disruptive. You can’t get any work done.”
Sophomore Luke Wells echoed concerns about accessibility, saying he has become accustomed to the new path to the Rec.
“Honestly, my biggest complaint is that the construction is just a bit of an eyesore,” Wells said. “As a sophomore, it seems natural to me to have the walkway to the Rec and the area around Garland be a whirlwind of fences and moving pieces, but that’s just because I’ve never seen them any other way, which is kind of sad, actually.”
Frist Athletic Village
Updates to football, basketball and tennis facilities are underway as part of the $300 million Vandy United project first announced in 2021.
Jess Neely Drive was permanently closed to vehicular traffic between Natchez Trace and 25th Avenue South in January of 2022. It will reopen by the end of the year as a pedestrian street connecting main campus to the Frist Athletic Village and adding greenspaces to the area.
The renovated north end zone at FirstBank Stadium opened premium seating to fans this season at the game against Virginia Tech. Other projects at the stadium, including an update to the south end zone, will be completed for the next season, according to the Division of Administration.
A new basketball facility — located north of FirstBank Stadium — is still under construction despite an original completion date planned for summer 2024. The facility was the first Vandy United project to break ground. It will be connected to Memorial Gym and include a weight room, training room, equipment storage and nutrition space.
Construction on the Lunnis Family Tennis Center is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. The updated facility will include nine total indoor courts after updating four of the five preexisting courts and adding five more. It will also include resurfaced outdoor courts with new lighting, enhanced circulation indoors and improved seating and accessibility for fans.
Payne Hall
On Peabody campus, Payne Hall is currently undergoing renovations scheduled to be completed by June 2025. The building will house the Department of Leadership, Policy and Organizations and feature updated classrooms, a new HVAC system, elevators, roof, windows and improved accessibility. The project follows the updates to the 6 Magnolia Circle and Mayborn buildings, completed in 2020, and will reflect the style of these buildings.
Payne Hall, along with Garland Hall and the Highland Chilled Water Plant, will achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, according to Vanderbilt Facilities.
