UTM has begun the process of removing trees and preparing the area slated for construction of the Latimer Engineering and Science Building.
The building will be located at the southeastern corner of the UTM quadrangle, and the timeline calls for completion in 2022 before students come back to school that fall. The Communications Building that once stood on the site was razed last year.
The donor for the Latimer building, Bill Latimer of Union City, said he believes that the new building will raise the standards of living of people who get their degrees at UTM in STEM fields.
The building’s name was approved on Oct. 14, 2016, after the Latimer family donated $6.5 million to get the project started and secure state funding as a UT capital project.
“I think that if you have been blessed by God, you need to use your blessings to bless others,” Latimer said.
The construction process can be viewed through the UTM webcam on the Holt Humanities Building by visiting www.utm.edu/about/webcams/humcam1.php.
The UTM quadrangle isn’t the only area of town humming with construction work, however. The City of Martin has been working along University Street in front of the Dunagan Alumni Center on the latest phase of the city’s Transportation Plan of building sidewalks.
The city is currently working on phases V and VI of the project, having already completed Phases I-IV, said Brad Thompson, director of Martin Economic and Community Development. Phases V and VI started on University Street at Lovelace Street and will stretch to Mt. Pelia Road.
Phases II and III go from Lindell Street along University Street to Lovelace Avenue. Phase IV goes from Lindell Street along Main Street to McCombs Street.
Thompson said that Phase VII has been funded and an application for Phase VIII has been submitted for grant approval from the Martin Mayor and Board of Aldermen, which votes on the projects.
“The goal of these grants are pedestrian safety focused, encouraging people to walk and for those who do walk to do so safely,” Thompson said.
The City of Martin awarded Ford Construction the bid for completing the sidewalk project. While the project is sponsored by the City of Martin, it affects UTM and has been discussed with UTM, Thompson said.
“We have coordinated with the university regarding the timing of construction, reviewed the plans, received input regarding the landscape and are sensitive to staff and students’ schedules to try to be as least disruptive as possible,” Thompson said.
Sidewalk construction continues on University Street in Martin between the Hardy Graham Stadium parking lot and the UT Martin campus. Pacer photo / Trevor Holcomb 
Trees have been removed and green islands have been demolished in the parking lot southeast of Holt Humanities Building and the Sociology Building at UT Martin. After the Communications Building was leveled and that area filled in, this is the next phase in the preparation work for construction of the Latimer STEM Building. Pacer photo / Trevor Holcomb 
Signs warn people to steer clear of the construction site on the southeast corner of the main quad at UT Martin. The area has been closed off so that tree removal could occur in preparation for the construction of the Latimer STEM Building. Pacer photo / Trevor Holcomb 
A Martin city employee works on the sidewalk construction project area next to University Street and in front of the UT Martin Alumni Office. Pacer photo/ Trevor Holcomb
Photo credit / Trevor Holcomb
