Tennessee State University (TSU) has received approval to move forward with a multi-million dollar construction project that will see the addition of two new College of Agriculture buildings. During a Tennessee State Building Commission meeting, commissioners authorized the design phase for the new Food and Animal Science building and the Environmental Science building, which will add a total of 110,000 square feet to the campus. The project is estimated to cost $63 million.

The announcement of the approval came on the first day of Dwayne Tucker’s tenure as the university’s interim president. Tucker expressed his excitement, stating, "Today’s actions also demonstrate the State government’s continued trust in TSU and ongoing support of our future." He added that the buildings represent "the beginning of our journey to enhance educational offerings and research capabilities."

According to the university, the new buildings will include:

• 35 faculty offices
• 23 research labs
• Four classrooms
• A multipurpose room

Dr. Chandra Reddy, dean of the College of Agriculture, emphasized the importance of the new teaching labs, saying, “Agriculture is a very skill-based profession, not just a theoretical one, so the teaching labs will help us to provide experiential learning for students.”

The commission’s approval was unanimous, with the understanding that the plans would be revisited if costs exceed projections. TSU has set an expected move-in date for August 2026.