MTSU alumni playing key roles in construction of new $2.1B Tennessee Titans stadium [+VIDEO]

Two Middle Tennessee State University Concrete Industry Management program alumni are playing prominent roles in the Tennessee Builders Alliance team constructing the NFL Tennessee Titans’ new $2.1 billion Nissan Stadium.

Already in the prime of their careers, Reggie Polk, CEO and co-founder of Brentwood, Tennessee-based Polk & Associates Construction Inc., and Paul Lawson, vice president and general manager of Nashville, Tennessee-based Turner Construction, saw their work elevated to a higher level with the Metropolitan Sports Authority’s approval and Titans’ subsequent August announcement.

From left, Middle Tennessee State University College of Basic and Applied Sciences Dean Greg Van Patten, School of Concrete and Construction Management Industry Relations Specialist Nicole Green, Concrete Industry Management program alumnus Paul Lawson of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Turner Construction, CIM program alumnus Reggie Polk of Nashville, Tenn., co-owner of Polk & Associates, SCCM Director Tom Nicholas and Concrete Industry Management Director Jon Huddleston chat during Polk’s and Lawson’s visit to campus earlier this fall. They and their companies are part of the Tennessee Builders Alliance team constructing the NFL Tennessee Titans’ new $2.1 billion Nissan Stadium. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli) — From left, Middle Tennessee State University College of Basic and Applied Sciences Dean Greg Van Patten, School of Concrete and Construction Management Academic and Industry Relations Specialist Nicole Green, Concrete Industry Management program alumnus Paul Lawson of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Turner Construction, CIM program alumnus Reggie Polk of Nashville, Tenn., co-owner of Polk & Associates, SCCM Director Tom Nicholas and Concrete Industry Management Director Jon Huddleston chat during Polk’s and Lawson’s visit to campus earlier this fall. They and their companies are part of the Tennessee Builders Alliance team constructing the NFL Tennessee Titans’ new $2.1 billion Nissan Stadium. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

An architectural rendering of the exterior of the new Tennessee Titans Nissan Stadium, to open in 2027 on the East Bank next to the Cumberland River in Nashville, Tenn. Middle Tennessee State University Concrete Industry Management program alumni Paul Lawson with Turner Construction and Reggie Polk with saw their respective companies named as two of four Tennessee Builders Alliance partners in the future construction of the NFL Titans’ future $2.1 billion stadium. (Graphic by Manica Architecture)

Joining Polk & Associates, and Turner in the titanic build will be Nashville-based ICF Builders and Nashville-based AECOM Hunt — a four-team team driving force with 55-plus years of NFL stadium construction experience and lengthy history of building iconic sports facilities. Polk & Associates is co-owned by Polk and his wife, MTSU alumna Tanora Polk.

“We’re going to divide and conquer on the project, in terms of executing the project and getting it built for the Titans,” said Reggie Polk (Class of 2003), who said the four companies will come together as construction managers on the massive project. “We have to get this thing built on time and within budget, so there’s a lot of manpower that’s going to be needed to do that.”

Reggie Polk, left, and Paul Lawson, two Middle Tennessee State University Concrete Industry Management program alumni whose companies will be part of building the NFL Tennessee Titans’ new $2.1 billion stadium set to open in 2027, chat in the foyer of the MTSU School of Concrete and Construction Management Building earlier this fall. They met with faculty, staff and administrators during the visit. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Born and raised in Murfreesboro, Lawson (’06) said Turner Construction is “excited about the partnership with the Titans and really just excited about what the Titans are going to do to impact the community as a whole with this project.” He added that the Titans wanted “local and diverse minority businesses. It’s something they implemented and I’m excited about that.”

Their CIM program degrees are housed in MTSU’s School of Concrete and Construction Management.

With assistance from associate professor Tom Gormley, Polk, his wife, daughter Zakiyah Polk and Lawson visited campus earlier this semester — but this time in the elaborate, 1-year-old, $40.1 million, 54,000-square-foot School of Concrete and Construction Management Building, about six times larger than when their CIM program classes and labs were in the Voorhies Engineering Technology Building.

Greeting them on the visit were Tom Nicholas, first-year School of Concrete and Construction Management director; Greg Van Patten, College of Basic and Applied Sciences dean; Jon Huddleston, Concrete Industry Management program director; and Gormley and other faculty and staff.

Jon Huddleston, Concrete Industry Management program director — Jon Huddleston

Dr. Tom Nicholas, MTSU School of Concrete and Construction Management director — Dr. Tom Nicholas

Dr. Greg Van Patten, professor, Chemistry; dean, CBAS — Dr. Greg Van Patten

“Our goal (as a college) is to bring people into executive positions within industry. Paul and Reggie are examples of that,” Van Patten said.

Nicholas said Polk and Lawson are “leading the construction field and leading the construction industry. I can’t tell you how proud we are of them to call them alumni of MTSU and the School of Concrete and Construction Management.”

Huddleston added that the alumni duo “set a phenomenal example for our students.”

Reggie Polk of Nashville, Tenn., a former MT Blue Raider football player and Middle Tennessee State University Concrete Industry Management program alumnus, answers questions regarding his time as an MTSU student and how it led to him co-owning Polk & Associates, one of four construction industry partners who will help build the NFL Tennessee Titans’ new $2.1 billion Nissan Stadium on the East Bank next to the current stadium in Nashville, Tenn. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Admitting he is a “proud alumnus,” Polk said “the program has poured so much into me in terms of who I am,” adding that he has seen “a lot of great things faculty and leadership have done.”

“I love coming back and sharing our story and really inspiring our students,” he said.

A former MTSU Blue Raider football player, Polk serves on the MTSU construction program’s board and periodically returns to listen to the students’ capstone projects “and give great feedback in terms of what it’s really like in the real world and serving in the industry.”

Paul Lawson of Murfreesboro, Tenn., a Middle Tennessee State University Concrete Industry Management program alumnus and vice president and general manager of Turner Construction Co.’s Nashville, Tenn., office, responds to a question during an interview while visiting campus earlier this fall. Turner is part of the Tennessee Builders Alliance team constructing the NFL Tennessee Titans’ new $2.1 billion Nissan Stadium. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

With solid family ties to MTSU — his parents, Nita and Rick Lawson, and sister, Lauren Rich, all graduated from the university — Paul Lawson said current students will discover their careers will be in “a relationship-driven industry, honing in those skills and growing their network.”

Groundbreaking for the anticipated 60,000-seat stadium is expected to occur in early-to-mid 2024, with an anticipated opening in 2027.

The 1.7 million-square-foot stadium, being built on Nashville’s East Bank, will feature a nonretractable dome, 12,000-square-foot community events space, exterior terraces and porches, some with large screens that face green space surrounding the building, panoramic views of the city and more.

It is expected to be a venue for numerous other premier events, entertainment and civic events.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)