The Daily Dig
Construction is underway on Phase I of a $30 million renovation at the Fogelman College of Business and Economics at the University of Memphis. Flintco is the general contractor, with 4FDesign and William Blackstock Architects on design. The project got started with a wall breaking ceremony at the college's existing facilities at Central Avenue and Patterson Street.
Phase I covers renovation of the current FCBE buildings, updating classrooms, collaboration spaces, and faculty offices to match how the college actually teaches and operates today. This phase is the opening move in a larger capital program aimed at creating the Avron and Robert Fogelman Business Complex. The full vision totals $90 million, pairing the $30 million renovation with a future building addition that would connect the existing structures.
Project Snapshot:
Owner / Developer: University of Memphis
General Contractor: Flintco
Design Team: 4FDesign; William Blackstock Architects
Sector: Higher Education / Academic
Phase: Phase I Renovation
Value: $30M (Phase I)
Total Program Vision: $90M - Avron and Robert Fogelman Business Complex
State Funding: $25M allocated by the State of Tennessee toward the $30M renovation
Future Phase: Phase II planned to add a third building connecting the complex
Location: Corner of Central Avenue and Patterson Street, Memphis, Tennessee
Scope: Renovation of existing FCBE buildings including classrooms, collaboration areas, and faculty spaces
TheJobWalk Thoughts
Tennessee has already committed $25 million toward the $30 million Phase I renovation, which means this project is moving on solid ground. Phase II is a different animal. That $60 million new building addition still needs to be assembled through a combination of donor commitments and state funding, and that process takes time. For contractors and suppliers in the Memphis market, the gap between Phase I completion and Phase II breaking ground is the window that matters. Watch the University's fundraising momentum and whether Tennessee steps back in with another appropriation. When that $60 million stack closes, the structural, shell, and MEP scope that comes with a brand-new building will be among the larger bid opportunities this market has seen in higher education. Flintco is already positioned. The question for everyone else is whether they are building those relationships now or playing catch up later.
