University of Memphis launches $90 million Fogelman business school overhaul, starting with interior demolition and relocations

A campus redevelopment begins with a symbolic start

The University of Memphis has formally launched a planned $90 million overhaul of its Fogelman College of Business & Economics facilities, a project the college has described as a combined renovation-and-expansion intended to modernize aging buildings and add new space. The kickoff event featured sledgehammers—an emblematic “start” to demolition—marking the transition from planning into early-stage execution.

What the $90 million plan includes

The project centers on the business college’s buildings at Central Avenue and Patterson Street. University planning materials describe a full renovation of two existing business buildings and the construction of an additional building designed to connect currently separated spaces into a single complex.

The planned program elements outlined by the college include new and reconfigured teaching and collaboration areas, such as case-study classrooms, flexible classrooms, computer and innovation labs, event and conference space, and expanded common areas aimed at increasing student use of the facilities.

Funding structure and the role of the state

University documents describe a $90 million total investment target. The stated approach pairs public funding for renovation with a fundraising-and-state funding strategy for the new addition. Planning materials specify that $25 million in state funding has been allocated toward a renovation budget described as $30 million, while the remaining financing for the new construction component has been framed as a combination of donor support and additional state participation.

How the work is unfolding on campus

Facilities planning information posted by the university shows the project moving through a sequence that starts with relocation and building logistics tied to construction readiness. The university’s project listings describe:

• Moving and reconfiguring computer labs, furniture, and supporting electrical and network infrastructure to support spring academic operations beginning January 19, 2026, with final setups targeted by January 12, 2026.
• Relocating faculty and staff from the Fogelman Administration Building on a timeline that extends through early 2026.
• A project completion target that extends to December 2026 for the listed renovation effort.

Academic and workforce goals tied to the facilities

The business school’s published strategic planning describes the building project as a central lever for growth in enrollment and programming, aiming to provide additional space for faculty, staff, programs, and centers, alongside upgraded classrooms and student spaces. The school has also articulated goals connected to student outcomes and employer engagement, positioning the facilities as infrastructure meant to support career-ready education and stronger connections with regional industry.

The modernization effort combines near-term construction logistics with a longer-term plan to consolidate business-school operations into a renovated, connected complex.

What to watch next

Key next milestones will include the transition from moving and preparation into sustained construction activity, updates on remaining financing for the new-building component, and clearer sequencing for how renovated and newly built space will be brought online while academic programs continue.