Building for the Future
In the last decade, the University has added nearly 2.5 million square feet of new facilities, including our I-STEM Research Buildings, the Business Learning Community, and Black-Diallo-Miller Hall. We’ve also renovated over 1 million square feet of our existing facilities.
In FY 2023, we advanced many design and construction projects across campus, with an emphasis on improving our research facilities and providing our students with updated living spaces. With the help of state and private funding, we are investing in an environment that puts world-class research, learning, and teaching at the forefront.
Holmes-Hunter Academic Building
The $30 million renovation of the Holmes-Hunter Academic Building is enhancing functionality while also restoring historic features. Improvements include new student meeting spaces, conference rooms, and a restored courtyard to further honor Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter-Gault, UGA’s first two African American enrollees. The building is under renovation, which will be completed in 2024.
Business Learning Community
Funded through a 50-50 split of state and private support, the Business Learning Community represents one of the largest capital projects in the history of the University System of Georgia. The six-building, $140 million complex includes 300,000 square feet of learning space.
Bolton Dining Commons
Bolton Dining Commons is the largest dining hall on the UGA campus and can seat up to 1,000 people. In 2014, UGA replaced the original building with the new two-story, 56,000-square-foot dining structure.
Black-Diallo-Miller Hall
In 2022, students moved into UGA’s newest residence hall. Construction of the six-story, $50 million project began in 2020 and features an exterior courtyard, in-room temperature control, and privacy-enhanced community bathrooms, as well as extensive shared lounge and study areas. The residence hall was named in honor of the first African American students to enroll as freshmen and graduate from UGA.
Sanford Stadium West End Zone and Renovations
Game day has gotten even better for Georgia fans. Funded largely by donor support, the $63 million West End Zone enhancement project for Sanford Stadium included a new locker room, hospitality lounge, larger video board, and new upper and lower plazas for fans.
New Poultry Science Building
Opening in 2023, the 77,000-square-foot Poultry Science Building is a $54.1 million public-private partnership with state-of-the-art classrooms, modern laboratories, and collaborative meeting spaces to support research in genetics, nutrition, agribusiness and more.
Strengthening STEM
In 2022, the University completed a dramatic transformation of approximately seven acres on South Campus. The research complex added approximately 200,000 square feet to support UGA’s efforts in creating a robust research and teaching enterprise.
Science Learning Center
With 33 instructional labs, two 280-seat lecture halls, and two 72-seat SCALE-UP classrooms, the Science Learning Center offers an engaging environment that promotes active learning and student collaboration for STEM learners.
Butts-Mehre Renovations/ Payne Indoor Practice Facility
The two-year, $80 million expansion and renovation of Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall has so far added 165,000 square feet of innovative space, including a larger weight room, sports medicine facility, locker room, and player lounge. The $30.2 million Payne Indoor Practice Facility added 109,000 square feet to support our athletic programs.
Veterinary Medical Center
UGA’s College of Veterinary Medicine is currently ranked No. 7 in the nation (USNWR). Over the past decade, the $97 million, 300,000-square-foot Veterinary Medical Center has established several new programs, including a small animal rehabilitation service and an equine podiatry service.
Other Projects in Georgia
The last decade has included many historic facility upgrades for UGA’s growing research enterprise, including the $1.8 million Experiential Learning Center at Wormsloe as well as the $12.9 million Turfgrass Research and Education Facilities in Athens, Tifton, and Griffin. In 2022, $2 million was provided to restore and improve the Research Vessel Savannah, a crucial research tool for UGA’s Skidaway Institute of Oceanography.
Additional Capital Projects
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Studio 255
Known as UGA’s Student Center for Entrepreneurship, Studio 225 acts as a collaboration space for students, entrepreneurs, and potential investors.
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Delta Innovation Hub
Supported by a generous $5 million commitment from The Delta Air Lines Foundation, the newly renovated Innovation Hub is a makerspace for entrepreneurs and inventors.
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Grady Film Studio
In 2021, the MFA Film Studio opened on the first floor of the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. The 5,000 square foot space offers collaborative working areas to support future film writers, producers, and directors.
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Brumby and Russell Residence Halls
In 2018, Russell Hall, followed by Brumby Hall in 2020, underwent extensive renovations. Both won awards for preservation.
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Science and Ag Hill
UGA’s investment in our research enterprise and infrastructure is continuing to grow. So far, we have renovated 186,000 square feet of laboratory space on Science and Ag Hill.
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The Georgia Center
The renovation of the Georgia Center’s “Classic Wing” included upgrades to food services, hotel rooms, and more, totaling nearly $14 million.
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Foley Field
The renovations to Foley Field, set for completion in 2025, will include a new pitching lab and hitting tunnels, expanded seating, coaches’ offices, a players’ lounge, and a weight room.
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Lindsey Hopkins Indoor Tennis Facility
The $26.7 million tennis center project, set to open in 2024, will be a game-changer for UGA’s tennis programs, creating opportunities to host the NCAA Tennis Championships once again.
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Driftmier Engineering Center
The Driftmier Engineering Center has served as the home of engineering at UGA since 1966, and renovations to add state-of- the-art instructional space were completed in 2022.
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Center for Molecular Medicine
The University of Georgia’s Center for Molecular Medicine is developing new therapies and cures for human diseases. (Not in map geography)
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Equestrian Team Complex
In 2019, UGA’s equestrian program opened its new state-of-the-art clubhouse. The $3.1 million project features approximately 7,000 square feet of updated office and athletic space. (Off campus)
Ryan Nesbit
Vice President for Finance and Administration
Ryan Nesbit’s job is multi-faceted, encompassing finance and human resources, environmental safety, facilities and grounds design, construction, maintenance, campus safety, and auxiliary services.
Vice President Nesbit started working for UGA in the University Architect’s Office in 1994. Since then, he has worked with countless partners on many building projects that have changed the landscape and experience on campus. More than 3,000 individuals work in Finance and Administration. Each year, Nesbit and his leadership team thank them for their dedication through the F&A Staff Recognition Program.
I like to explain my role by flipping the traditional organization chart upside-down so that I’m at the bottom. My job is to support our F&A senior leadership team, who then support their respective teams who are directly supporting our community of students, faculty, and fellow staff in every way that they can.