Who we are
About us
Whether you’re interested in a career here or just curious to know more about our team, take this opportunity to learn the history behind the facility we call home sweet home on Rocky Top.
The Facility
Behind the Workforce
While Facilities Services has a rich history of serving our campus well, we didn’t always operate from our state-of-the-art complex. Get to know the facility behind the workforce with a brief history and an introduction to how we use the space today. Interested in learning more?
Stop by the front desk to visit our permanent exhibit honoring the site’s history as part of the “Marble City.”
FACILITY & SITE HISTORY
Our home at 2040 Sutherland Avenue was formerly the site of Southeast Precast Corp. from 1966 to 2012. Prior to this, it was home to the Empire Marble Company, and then the Gray Knox Marble Company.
You can still find marble processed through these facilities in the US Supreme Court building, the National Gallery of Art, and the Tennessee Supreme Court building.
ADAPTIVE REUSE
Preserving the building’s volume and recalling its industrial character were critical during the project. The central hall’s original 46-foot ceiling height remains. The team preserved overhead cranes as decommissioned artifacts and refurbished, recreated, or salvaged and repurposed elements like the original steel structure, clerestory windows, concrete floors, and wooden decking in other areas of the building.
They reinstalled some of the original mechanical equipment and generators as decommissioned artifacts and sculptures in the landscape and patio areas of the complex to pay tribute to the industrious past of this facility.
Past Meets Present
This facility has long been home to creativity, innovation, and hard work. Upon the university’s purchase of the building in 2013, one thing was clear – it was now our turn to carry on this legacy. We may not be processing marble anymore, but we are shaping and cultivating a beautiful campus for all. This facility allows us to lead with precision and excellence – just as it always has- and it’s an honor to bridge the past with the present in this way.
The UT Facilities Services Complex on Sutherland Avenue has received an East Tennessee Preservation Award. The awards recognize outstanding individuals, organizations, and projects contributing to the protection of East Tennessee’s heritage. The East Tennessee Preservation Alliance is responsible for presenting these awards.
The Computer Training Room at the Facilities Services Complex has several additional design features in addition to training. The room’s audio/visual and communications setup allows for easy conversion into an emergency operations center. The computer training room and dispatch center are equipped with masonry construction on all four walls, as well as a concrete ceiling structure that allows them to be used for sheltering in the event of severe weather.
GET IN TOUCH
WITH OUR TEAMS
Do you want to connect with Facilities Services staff? If your organization wants to meet with our team to discuss potential partnerships, innovative enhancements to our work, or to gain a better understanding of how we support the university’s mission, please fill out the form linked below.