Tennessee State University is relocating its College of Education to downtown Nashville, a move that comes as a part of a larger initiative to retool and expand university departments and programs.
The college will move from its current building on the main campus in North Nashville to the Avon Williams Campus at 330 10th Ave. N., TSU announced in a press release Monday.
The Avon Williams building currently houses the College of Business, the College of Public Service, Department of Speech and Language, Department of Public Health, and Departments of Adult Education, Library and Media Services and Online Learning. The move will include the expansion of the Teaching and Excellence Center, and enhancement of laboratory spaces and research centers, notably including the AI for All Applied Research Innovation Center.
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A cost to undertake the move has not been disclosed.
“The access to advanced laboratory spaces where students can engage in practical, hands-on learning is pivotal,” Janet Finch, dean of the TSU College of Education, says in the release.
“It’s about providing our students not only with theoretical knowledge but also with practical applications that will empower them in their careers, as well as aligning them with Nashville’s dynamic growth and educational community.”
The move is expected to be complete for the fall semester and kickstarts TSU’s “One Move. Big Impact.” initiative to reorganize, consolidate and enhance certain university departments.
In the past, the state has suggested selling the Avon Williams Campus as a way to help remedy TSU's financial struggles. That idea has been met by opposition from school leaders and state Rep. Harold Love Jr. (D-Nashville), who say the building holds historic value to the university.
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The Avon Williams Campus building is designed with a brutalist exterior (highlighted by lots of concrete and rugged shapes) and is considered by many local architects and urban planning professionals to be one of Nashville's better examples of the style.
“'One Move. Big Impact.’ exemplifies how one thoughtful action can lead to significant results,” says Leah Granderson, TSU executive planning director and project sponsor. “This revitalization aligns our facilities with current enrollment levels while enhancing our downtown presence. With the state Capitol, major transit thoroughfares, and cultural landmarks within reach, the Avon Williams Campus will continue to be an academic beacon for our community.”
The announcement of the initiative comes shortly after TSU began construction on two buildings for its College of Agriculture, a project that will carry a cost of about $90 million.
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
