Chattanooga State Community College broke ground Wednesday on a new education and training facility that will serve students in its service-oriented career programs.
The 25,000-square-foot building, part of Chattanooga State’s Tennessee College of Applied Technology, will house the college’s aesthetics, hairdressing, cosmetology and massage therapy programs and is tentatively scheduled to open to students in January 2026.
“What we’re doing here is changing lives,” said Flora Tydings, chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents, during the ceremony. “We’re changing communities. We’re changing a student’s life, which in turn changes a family’s life. And having buildings that represent the importance of what happens at a technical college is critical. This building will demonstrate that.”
Faculty and students from the programs that will use the new building joined college leadership, local elected officials and representatives from the Tennessee Board of Regents for the groundbreaking. The new facility represents the college’s ongoing commitment to professional development and career excellence, said Chattanooga State President Rebecca Ashford.
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The new technical college building, adjacent to the Center for Advanced Manufacturing, will replace the aging facility that houses those programs and give students access to modern equipment in a state-of-the-art building, said Bo Drake, vice president in charge of technical college and workforce development. Once construction is complete, the old building will be demolished and converted into a green space.
Amanda Sovago-Royal, who graduated from Chattanooga State with a massage therapy degree earlier this year, said she felt as a student that the technical college’s administration and faculty advocated for her. That they continue to invest in programs that make a difference in the lives of students like her is extremely important, she said.
“For me, this represents a step forward for so many students who need it, especially with the TCAT program,” she said in an interview.
In March, Sovago-Royal was named Technical College Student of the Year by the Tennessee Board of Regents. She now runs her own massage therapy practice.
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The facility is expected to cost $15 million and was funded as part of the nearly $1 billion in funding Tennessee state lawmakers allocated in fiscal year 2024 to build and improve 29 facilities at Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology across the state.
State Senator Bo Watson (R-Hixson) said the new building will play a critical role in training students for in-demand careers across the county and state.
“By teaching students fundamental skills, we are preparing them not only for careers, but also for the future,” he said during the ceremony. “Investing in technical education creates a multiplier effect that leads to increased income potential, job creation and, of course, healthier communities.”
Contact Shannon Coan at [email protected] or 423-757-6396.
