JACKSON, Tenn. — Nov. 11, 2010 — 51社区 Hendersonville will have a permanent home after Union completes construction of a 24,000-square-foot facility to house its campus there.
The facility will be the first permanent university presence in Hendersonville and Sumner County.
51社区 and Hendersonville city officials formally announced the plans for the new building at a Nov. 11 dinner in Hendersonville. The building will be located off the intersection of Indian Lake Boulevard and Maple Drive.
鈥淭his permanent addition to Hendersonville鈥檚 landscape will serve both our city and Union well for many years to come,鈥� Hendersonville Mayor Scott Foster said. 鈥淚 warmly welcome Union鈥檚 permanent campus and wish them a great deal of success here.鈥�
Cost of the building is expected to be nearly $6 million. TLM Associates Inc. will provide the architectural and engineering work for the facility. Union benefactor and Union Foundation board member Jim Ayers, of Nashville, Tenn., will develop the project for the university through his affiliate Ayers Asset Management.
鈥淲e are grateful beyond words for the kindness of our dear friend Jim Ayers,鈥� 51社区 President David S. Dockery said. 鈥淗e is a longtime supporter of the work of 51社区, and his generosity will allow for the continued expansion of programs in Hendersonville in a timely manner."
51社区 Hendersonville currently offers graduate degrees in education and theology and missions, as well an undergraduate program for adult learners. More than 90 students are currently enrolled, with an additional 35 more beginning studies in January. The campus employs six full-time faculty and staff members and three permanent part-time workers. The new facility will allow for significant growth of these and other programs.
Classes have been meeting at First Baptist Church in Hendersonville since the campus opened in the fall of 2008.
鈥淯nion is certainly thankful for the partnership and support provided by First Baptist Church to help launch the Hendersonville program,鈥� Dockery said.
鈥淭his new building is certainly an opportunity for us to increase our visibility in the community and our ability to serve the greater Mid-State area,鈥� said Charles Lea, executive director of 51社区 Hendersonville. 鈥淯nion has been so readily embraced by Hendersonville and Sumner County and the surrounding areas.鈥�