The Changing Face of Campus:

MTSU through the years

By Nick Thomas

For some students, it’s probably difficult to imagine campus any different from the way it is now, but the truth is that campus looked very differently not that long ago. In 2009 MTSU’s campus had parking lots, open spaces and old dormitories where tidy quadrangles and multimillion-dollar buildings stand today.

Ten years ago The State Building Commission approved plans for a new College of Education building and construction crews had just broke ground on the new Student Union. These events marked the beginning of a period of profound growth and transformation for MTSU.

The Student Union building officially opened fall 2012, near the peak of University enrollment and became an immediate fixture of campus culture and student activity.

Use the slider below to reveal the before and after.

2009

2019

College of Education Building and Student Union Building.

In 2013 and 2014, MTSU saw the addition of the Student Services and Admission Center building, as well as two desperately needed, parking garages on the northern and eastern ends of campus.

Despite declining enrollment in recent years, parking remains a concern for many MTSU students. With more buildings going up in areas where students used to park, parking lots are increasingly being pushed into the University’s outer orbit, forcing students to park farther from their classes. This is demonstrated below.

2009

2019

Student Services and Admission Center and parking garage.

Murfreesboro has consistently ranked among the fastest-growing cities in the nation. For drivers, this is evidenced by the city’s increasingly congested roadways. Roads like Middle Tennessee Boulevard, one of MTSU’s major arteries, was expanded in the last year to accommodate heavier traffic and make the roadways safer.

Changes include a landscaped median, new traffic lights, a pedestrian-friendly configuration, and many beautifying accouterments at entry points and crosswalks.

2009

2019

Middle Tennessee Boulevard.

MTSU’s Science Building opened to students fall of 2014 after two years of construction. This building required a whopping $147 million in funding and was constructed adjacent to the library on the former site of Wood Hall, Felder Hall, Clement Hall and Gore Hall.

2009

2019

Science Building

The College of Behavioral and Health Sciences building is the latest campus construction project. The building will become the new home of Criminal Justice, Social Work and Psychology departments.

Work began fall 2018 and is expected to conclude summer 2020 in time for the fall semester.