Middle Tennessee State University

Situated to the north of the campus' main library along the edge of the student quad is likely the most daring learning facility completed in 1997: the Business and Aerospace Building's flight simulation lab. Constructed on the Middle Tennessee State University campus, the Department of Aerospace in conjunction with the College of Business, comprise a total of 40 classrooms, a 250-seat lecture hall and a 24-hour computer lab in the new facility.

A three-level lobby forms the front door of the 159,000-sf facility, bridged by tiered ``master" classrooms. Power and data cabling run to each desktop for student/teacher interaction; a multi-media podium allows faculty to display information from their computer screens with AV networking for distance learning. The aerospace technology learning zone incorporates a wind tunnel, an FAA testing room and a weather simulator.

Two wings, separated by an internal courtyard, divide student space from faculty offices; an enclosed third-level walkway connects the wings above a two-story archway. The internal courtyard houses an amphitheater for outdoor learning. In addition, a symbolic pair of towers house central mechanical units.

The exterior, predominantly brick, reflects the traditional façade of surrounding campus buildings. Balconies and vistas create relaxation areas along the stone and pre-cast detailings.

Project Information

Building Owner:

Tennessee State Board of Regents

Owner Contact:

Patti Miller, MTSU Director of Master Planning

Building Location:

Murfreesboro, TN UNITED STATES

Project Type:

New Construction

Principal Building Function:

Classrooms and faculty offices

Project Delivery Method:

Bid

Project Timeline

Jun 1994	Planning Start
Jun 1994	Design Start
Aug 1995	Construction Start
Jun 1997	Target Completion

Project Cost:

$23,000,000

Construction Cost:

$16,900,000

Cost Per Sq. Ft:

$105

About These Cost Figures

Building Information

Project Includes:

Education
Education: Classroom
Library
Office

Total GSF:

159,000

Total NSF:

103,400

Efficiency:

65%

Building Population:

2000

Special Equip:

Flight simulators, air control equipment, computerized weather tracking system

Office Size:

10' x 12' NSF

Power Req:

2,000 amps; 480/277 V; 3 phase; 4 wire

HVAC Req:

650 tons cooling capacity; 4,100 NBH heating capacity

Structure/Foundation:

Steel-framed, composite deck structure with brick veneer, glass and manmade stone detailing

Project Team

Architect

Hart-Freeland-Roberts

Architect

Earl Swensson Associates, Inc.

Builder

RCR Building Corporation

Consultant - Accoustical/AV

AVDI

Consultant - Civil Engineering

Hart-Freeland-Roberts

Consultant - Interiors

Earl Swensson Associates, Inc.

Consultant - Landscape Architect

Hodgson and Douglas

Consultant - Lighting

C.M. Kling & Associates, Inc.

Consultant - MEP Engineer

I.C. Thomasson Associates, Inc.

Consultant - Structural Engineer

Hart-Freeland-Roberts

Profile Created 11/01/1998

Last Updated 04/04/2006

About the Reported Cost Figures

The cost figures reported are supplied by the firms that submitted these projects for publication, which in most cases are the designers or builders. Whereas these sources are intimately familiar with their projects, they may not be fully aware of the owners' finally-realized and recorded costs. In some cases, costs are truly and completely accounted for, and in others they represent a near approximation of the final costs. Costs have not been adjusted for year of construction, nor has any attempt been made to make regional cost adjustments.

Further, costs are not comparable on any kind of detailed standard costing model. Hence, it is possible for the cost of one building to include a steam boiler, while the cost of a comparable building might not include the boiler, if steam is being supplied from an already existing campus grid. Or, in another case, a building might include excess boiler capacity to supply steam to another building. Some submittals include fees or unusual site improvements as part of the construction costs, which others do not.

Fig. 1

Floorplan

An interior courtyard separates the classroom wing from faculty offices. Notable to the courtyard is its external amphitheater for outdoor use. The remaining three-quarter acre courtyard is manicured landscaping by Hogson and Douglas.

Fig. 2

Business and Aerospace Building

The four-story Business and Aerospace Building houses the Centers of Small Business Development and Economic Education; also included FAA-simulation equipment from the Department of Aerospace.