KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Knoxville College is under pressure to address serious structural issues with its McKee Administration Building after a city inspection revealed extensive damage. The City of Knoxville has given the historic college a 14-day deadline to either repair the building or secure it from public access, citing concerns over the safety of the facility.
The inspection, which took place on February 26, flagged a series of critical problems with the building’s structure. According to the inspection report, several walls had either failed or sustained significant structural damage. In one alarming finding, a load-bearing wall reportedly collapsed through the roof of an annex to the building.
The McKee Administration Building is one of the oldest structures on Knoxville College’s campus, which has been in a state of disrepair for years. The college, East Tennessee’s only historically Black college or university (HBCU), has been working to regain accreditation and restore its campus after losing its accredited status in 1997. However, the college has struggled financially and logistically, often finding itself unable to make necessary repairs to the aging buildings.
In addition to the issues with McKee Hall, the college suffered a significant loss in November 2023, when a fire destroyed Elnathan Hall. The building, which had been unoccupied for decades, was another reminder of the campus’s ongoing decline.
The city’s inspection report not only outlined the structural failures but also listed various other maintenance concerns, including damaged window screens, gutters, downspouts, and roofing. The report called for immediate action, noting that the college must either close off public access to the McKee Building or address the 22 issues identified by the city.
If Knoxville College fails to meet the city’s deadline of March 12, the city has warned that it will intervene and charge the college for the cost of repairs. The charges could include a base fee of $100, as well as additional costs for labor and equipment, with rates of $50 per truck and $16 per worker per hour.
The situation places further strain on a college that has faced years of financial difficulties, declining enrollment, and struggles to regain its status as an accredited institution. While the college has expressed a commitment to improving its campus, the immediate challenges posed by the city’s demands highlight the urgency of addressing both the physical and financial issues at hand.
As the deadline looms, questions remain about how Knoxville College will navigate this latest hurdle in its efforts to restore both its campus and its reputation.
