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The University of Tennessee

Facilities Services

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Early Learning Center Project

This August the Facilities Services Department was faced with a massive undertaking: convert a modular building shell into a fully functioning Early Learning Center in less than three weeks.

The Early Learning Center that was housed in the Laurel Apartments had to be moved due to the planned renovation of the building to become undergraduate student housing. The move, to a site on Lake Avenue , had to take place prior to the start of renovations and the start of UT's academic year.

The Early Learning Center is both a full-service day care and a research and teaching center for the College of Education , Health and Human Sciences' Child and Family Studies Program. It has three locations, including the Laurel Avenue site.

Due to a number of unanticipated delays, the modular units were not ready to be placed and finished until just 18 days before the Center was to open in its new location. At that time, Facilities Services was faced with a partially finished, mostly empty, building shell.

More than 100 different Facilities Services staff members worked nearly around the clock, including on weekends, to prepare the building. They accomplished a number of tasks that required expertise from across the department, including: installing plumbing fixtures, a fire alarm system and exit lights, electrical systems, building a brick facade to cover the modular structures, building a playground, hanging cabinets and other finish work, and quickly moving the Center's contents into the new building.

VOL Spirit Award

"Operating as a team all of the shops pulled together and pitched in wherever help was needed," said Mike Sherrell. "I am very proud of the effort of our entire department. It’s truly amazing what we can do."


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