Adding and expanding facilities on a college campus is about more than just growth鈥攊t represents expansion in areas of study in which MTSU particularly excels.
Numerous improvements to our campus buildings are underway or have been recently completed:
Kirksey Old Main Building and Rutledge Hall
Renovations to our historic Kirksey Old Main building and Rutledge Hall are completed! The buildings are open and ready for Fall 2026. This project, with a $54.3 million total project cost, was obviously a labor of love as KOM and Rutledge Hall were two of the four original campus buildings dating back to the institution鈥檚 founding in 1911. KOM, the first building on campus, with its iconic columns, is an especially nostalgic place for alumni as generations of MTSU graduates attended classes there and sat on its front steps. The updated Kirksey Old Main will house Mathematics, Computer Science, Data Science, and Actuarial Science. Rutledge has been converted from a residence hall into an office-classroom building to house University College and University Studies. Renovations to both structures included major renovations of HVAC, plumbing, data/IT, and electrical systems; replanning of building layouts to accommodate future use; accessibility improvements; window replacement; and exterior building improvements. Small additions were provided on both buildings to allow for new entries and vertical circulation.
Planned Hotel Project
Our planned hotel project is gaining traction! The ground lease was approved by the State Building Commission on June 11. Construction completion is now estimated in late 2028. The four-story hotel with 120 guestrooms will not only serve a community need for nearby hotel availability but also provide experiential learning opportunities for MTSU students in various programs including Tourism and Hospitality Management, Art and Design, Interior Architecture, and Concrete and Construction Management. Outside of typical front-of-house and back-of-house hotel programming, the project will offer an outdoor pool and lawn, fitness center, meeting space, anchor restaurant, corner caf茅, game room, and sky deck. Interior finishes will follow brand standards with custom features tying back to MTSU themes.
Womack Commons and Nearby Parking Structure
Construction activities have commenced on the five-story Womack Commons residence hall! The contractor is working on site grading, underground utility installation, exterior stem walls and elevator pit, and block masonry. Estimated completion is one year from now, in Fall 2027. The new student housing building containing 150 units/554 beds will be located at the corner of Blue Raider Drive and Homecoming Circle, a natural threshold into campus that offers an opportunity to connect academics, student life programs, and recreation and wellness hubs. The project is designed using a pod-style unit type with a mix of double- and single-occupancy bedrooms with shared bathrooms and living rooms.
A brand new, nearby parking structure is also under development and estimated to be completed by next spring. This $27 million total project is located on a portion of the former Womack Lane housing site and will provide approximately 550 new parking spaces.
Aerospace Project, Shelbyville
Construction is continuing on the Aerospace project in Shelbyville. This $62.2 million first phase should be completed in spring 2028 at the site along Highway 231 and just west of the Shelbyville Municipal Airport. The project includes facilities for the Professional Pilot concentration, a main academic building, and a hangar. This project represents the initial phase of development for the relocation of MTSU Aerospace programs to the Shelbyville airport from Murfreesboro.
Beasley Hall and Floyd Stadium
Renovations are also ongoing for Beasley Hall ($7.7 million total cost) and Floyd Stadium ($16.5 million total cost). The latter project, with an estimated completion by next summer, includes renovation and replacement of a portion of the west grandstand bleachers.