Net square footage of Pellissippi State's operations in Blount County would increase from 21,760 square feet at the current center to approximately 44,400 at the new campus. Pellissippi State has operated a facility in Blount County since 1988, first at the former Union School and then at the former Bungalow School. Student enrollment peaked at almost 1,200 students in 1992 and has since declined to less than 900. The decline has not been due to lack of demand, according to college officials, but because of the required conversion of classroom space into science, distance learning and computer labs, and testing and learning center space. Because of space constraints, no full academic programs are offered at the center.
Students have to travel to other campus locations to complete degrees.
Although the facility is owned by the county, the Blount County Commission has approved using proceeds from the property's future sale for the as-yet unspecified support of a new campus. College officials believe actual construction of the new campus could come in three to five years.