MTSU ‘tops out’ new Applied Engineering Building with beam signing as construction continues

Middle Tennessee State University College of Basic and Applied Sciences Dean Greg Van Patten, left, and Engineering Technology Chair Ken Currie sign the final steel beam as MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee smiles in the brief Applied Engineering Building topping out ceremony Wednesday, May 1, next to the School of Concrete and Construction Management Building on the MTSU campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The building will house the Mechatronics Engineering program and other Engineering Technology concentrations. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Led by Middle Tennessee State University President Sidney A. McPhee, Engineering Technology Chair Ken Currie and alumnus Donald McDonald, the university held a final beam signing and topping out ceremony Wednesday, May 1, for the new Applied Engineering Building on the southeast side of campus.

Construction is moving along with the new $74.8 million, 90,000-square-foot facility, scheduled to open by the start of the fall 2025 academic semester.

As Middle Tennessee State University alumnus Donald McDonald waits his turn, President Sidney A. McPhee, signs the final steel beam that was later placed on top of the new MTSU Applied Engineering Building Wednesday, May 1, on the southeast side of campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Construction is moving ahead on the 90,000-square-foot, $74.8 million building that is scheduled to open by the start of the fall 2025 academic semester. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli) — As Middle Tennessee State University alumnus Donald McDonald waits his turn, President Sidney A. McPhee signs the final steel beam that was later placed on top of the new MTSU Applied Engineering Building Wednesday, May 1, on the southeast side of campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Construction is moving ahead on the 90,000-square-foot, $74.8 million building that is scheduled to open by the start of the fall 2025 semester. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Dr. Sidney A. McPhee, MTSU president — Dr. Sidney A. McPhee

“This will be another state-of-the-art facility that puts the finishing touches on our Science Corridor of Innovation that began a decade ago with the opening of our wonderful Science Building,” McPhee said. “We are committed to providing our students with the latest, cutting-edge technology and resources to ensure they’re well prepared for the in-demand jobs this facility will train them to do.”

MTSU faculty, administrators and staff were joined at the brief ceremony by alumni, friends and supporters, including Nissan North America and Automation Nth. Nissan Lead Quality Engineer Tony Lee, alumnus and chair of the Engineering Technology Advisory Board, and Mark Kennedy, an adjunct faculty member who has worked 25 years with Oracle, were among those present.

Dr. Ken Currie, chair, MTSU Engineering Technology — Dr. Ken Currie

“I told Dr. McPhee that every time we have faculty meetings and meet with students, we say, ‘This will all get better with the new building,’” said Currie, a reference to the current Voorhees Engineering Technology Building on the west side of campus. “We’ve got a lot of new technology we’re starting to buy. We can’t wait.”

McDonald and his wife, Frances McDonald, have donated $1 million toward the atrium to be named the Donald and Frances McDonald Atrium. They also are major donors for the MTSU Aerospace Department, which features the Donald McDonald Hangar at MTSU’s Flight Operations Center at Murfreesboro Airport.

The Applied Engineering Building will be the home to the renowned Mechatronics Engineering program and other Engineering Technology concentrations, providing students with the space, equipment and education to prepare for ever-changing careers.

Retired Middle Tennessee State University professor Ron McBride, left, signs the final steel beam to be placed atop the new Applied Engineering Building Wednesday, May 1, as Engineering Technology lab director Rick Taylor and Tony Lee, MTSU alumnus and Nissan lead quality engineer, wait their turn. The facility, which will be adjacent to the School of Concrete and Construction Management Building, is expected to open by the start of the fall 2025 semester. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

The Applied Engineering Building will sit next to the School of Concrete and Construction Management Building, a $40.1 million, 54,000-square-foot facility that opened in fall 2022 and serves as an integrated and experiential learning laboratory.

Both are part of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, whose dean, Greg Van Patten, attended the event.

Denark Construction of Knoxville, Tennessee, is building the facility. Wold Architects & Engineers of Brentwood, Tennessee, designed the structure.

To learn more about MTSU Engineering Technology, call 615-898-2776 or visit https://w1.mtsu.edu/et/index.php.

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