A Green Living Laboratory
Cherokee Farm is a state-of-the-art “green” campus where the collective expertise of the University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and private industry partners can thrive in their pursuit of answers to the world’s most challenging problems.
The 188-acre site will welcome thousands of researchers, students and assistants to work on interdisciplinary initiatives in energy, computation, neutron and materials science, climate and environmental science, and biomedical science.
The sustainable layout of the campus will build on only 77 acres, protecting the natural feel of the site.
» LEED-certified buildings, “living” roofs, solar and geothermal energy sources
» Mature trees preserved, storm water recycled, native grasses restored, and
archaeological sites left undisturbed
» 1.6 million square feet of space in 16 buildings along the banks of the
Tennessee River
The promise of Cherokee Farm has been bolstered at the federal and state government levels. In 2007, the state approved $32 million for site infrastructure. Thirty million dollars in approved state and federal appropriations will help build the Joint Institute for Advanced Materials building, which will anchor Cherokee Farm.
The campus also will be home to the Tennessee Solar Institute, part of the $62.5 million Volunteer State Solar Initiative proposed by Gov. Phil Bredesen to advance job creation, education, research, and renewable power production in Tennessee.
Cherokee Farm further enhances the partnership between UT and ORNL, site of two of the world’s fastest supercomputers, one of which is managed by UT.
The Goal
Cherokee Farm will enhance the University’s ability to promote economic development, maximize unique, resources and partnerships, and take a national leadership position in innovative research.
The campus will become an international center for innovation where graduate and undergraduate level education advances in the context of cutting-edge research by organizations such as Oak Ridge National Laboratory.