New Hall at Tennessee Named for Former President Randy Boyd

The newest addition to the University of Tennessee’s campus is a massive business school building that will carry the name of its former president, Randy Boyd. The structure, which will be the largest on campus, has just hit its highest point in construction during a topping‑out ceremony. During the event, students, faculty and donors signed a beam that was then lifted into place by a crane. Boyd, an alumnus who earned his degree in 1979, has been a prominent figure in Knoxville for decades. After starting his career as a salesman, he entered the pet‑supply industry and later owned a minor‑league baseball team. He served as president of the UT System, leading five campuses across Tennessee, before stepping down in 2024. The building will be called Randy Boyd Hall and is part of a $227. 4 million project that the university hopes to finish by fall 2027.Its design includes 18 classrooms, two auditoriums and space for research labs, offices and dining. The five‑story structure will hold up to 10, 000 people and feature tributes to three former campus buildings that were demolished for the new site. An undisclosed donation from Boyd is helping UT reach its $100 million fundraising goal for the project. The university has already raised about $44 million and received an additional $83 million from the state. The name must still be approved by the UT System Board of Trustees, who are set to vote on it at a meeting in June. Boyd’s legacy at the university is highlighted by other honors, such as the Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research. He believes that naming buildings after leaders shows stewardship and encourages others to contribute. The new hall aims to attract top students from across the country by offering state‑of‑the‑art facilities and a strong academic community.