Renovations announced for Fisher Hall at Tennessee Wesleyan University

One of the labs inside of Tennessee Wesleyan University’s Fisher Hall in Athens.

ATHENS, Tenn. (WDEF)- One of the main halls at Tennessee Wesleyan University will soon get a much needed renovation.

Fisher Hall has long been a central building on the Tennessee Wesleyan campus, housing much of the school’s science courses.

TWU President Tyler Forrest said, “Fisher Hall was completed in 1967. It is getting ready to celebrate at 60th year on this campus and it’s most buildings that are 60 years old. It needs a facelift.”

That facelift is coming in the form of new renovations.

The renovations will include new laboratories, classrooms, and other common area space upgrades.

Forrest said, “This will ultimately allow us to take more students, to graduate more students, and then have a significant impact on the workforce in this area.”

These renovations got $2.5 million in federal funding, as Representative Chuck Fleischmann says it took some time to secure that funding for the university.

Rep. Fleischmann said, “As Tennessee’s only appropriator in the house I have been privileged now for several years to be able to direct certain funds, community projects to certain places… It doesn’t increase federal spending. It allows my control over federal dollars to direct it as the communities asked me to. So when Tennessee Wesleyan and the other schools have asked me for funding I’ve tried to deliver it. We were very fortunate, but it does take time.”

Forrest says the campus community is excited.

Forrest said, “The students and faculty are so excited about the renovations. To be able to walk into a building that’s going to be completely renovated in the next 18 months and to see the smiles and the excitement on their faces will be tremendous… It is a big big win to have these dollars come to this campus.”

The renovations are expected to be complete by the end of 2027, and Fisher Hall will remain open during that work.