Welcome | Giving to Union University

A Few Commonly Asked Questions

What are Union’s plans to replace the demolished Hurt andWatters complexes?

Union University broke ground Feb. 22 for 14 new residence life buildings on the site of the former Hurt and Watters complexes. The new buildings will include more than 700 private bedrooms—a few more than the pre-tornado total.

How quickly can this be accomplished?

A 10-year plan before the tornado to replace Hurt and Watters complexes has now become a 10-month plan. Completion of the new residence life complexes should come fall semester 2008.

How will the new buildings improve the overall experience for residential students?

The new on-campus housing will go far beyond simple replacement of the lost buildings.
Across the entire 14-building complex, there will be an additional 45,000 square feet when compared to the total pre-tornado residential space. This added square-footage is prompted by the need for a second bathroom within each apartment suite and other amenities that prospective parents and students expect.

Will the buildings be stronger than the structures they replace?

The Hurt and Watters residence life complexes were built in 1975. Since that time, building codes and the expectations of college students have changed.
Beyond the building code required in West Tennessee, Union University is voluntarily complying with codes for coastal Florida that are designed to protect against 110 m.p.h. winds. The new buildings will feature 2’ X 6’ frames rather than the standard 2’ X 4’ construction.

What about safe rooms?

Safe rooms will be incorporated for first floor apartments in each of the 14 new buildings. These will be structurally-reinforced bathrooms with heavy metal doors that will be large enough to accommodate everyone who lives in the building.

Won’t all these improvements be expensive?

Beyond replacement cost, anticipated expenses are in excess of $6 million. In addition to the lost rooms, what about replacing the commons areas in Hurt and Watters?
Work on the commons buildings will begin in early 2009 at a total cost of about $4.5million.

Apart from rebuilding the campus, what must be done to meet the financial needs of students and their families?

Just as with the University, this tornado has created significant financial losses for students. These storm-related expenses are presenting challenges for families. Therefore, some additional financial aid is needed to help families recover from the storm and assist students with educational expenses.

Won’t insurance payments cover the losses?

Not entirely. Some losses are capped at fixed amounts that are inadequate to repair the level of destruction seen on Union’s campus. Some coverage provides only for replacement costs. It is not possible to replicate a 1975 building project in 2008 and expect to meet code requirements and consumer expectations.
The university will also face significant challenges due to the business interruptions and displacement of residential students associated with the tornado. One example: Centrifuge programs for summer 2008 are canceled. Union is the most popular Centrifuge venue, annually attracting about 5,500 campers to campus from across the Southern Baptist Convention.