Big changes are on the way for one of the University of Tennessee's most popular buildings. The administration plans to build a new facility and tear down the old one.

When the University Center was built on Cumberland Avenue in 1954, it was the largest building on the campus.

Since then, the student body has more than tripled and the administration says it's time for a new facility.

"I come here at least two or three times a week and I love it," says UT Senior, Josh May.

May and his friend Thomas Williams were surprised to hear of plans to demolish the University Center.

"I've never had any problems with the UC. I've always felt that it was one of the newer buildings on campus, at least it appeared to be," Williams says.

UC Director Jim Dittrich says that's a testament to his hard-working staff and reminds students, "Looks can be deceiving."

"We do have some infrastructure issues, from the plumbing and heating, to the air conditioning and the electrical," Dittrich says.

He says it would cost millions to fix those types of problems and it would not address the real issue of space.

"Right now, we are absolutely busting at the seams, especially upstairs. You go to the meeting space or the auditorium, there's a lot of events we have to set up overflow rooms for right now," says Amy Anderson, the UC recreation director.

The auditorium was added in 1967. It was part of the only expansion of the University Center.

Currently, the UC is 212,000 sq. feet.

The first phase of the new UC will be constructed next to the building, so the many businesses, from the book store to the dining facilities, can continue to operate without interruption.

Phase I should be completed in 2013. It will be approximately 110,000 sq. feet.

The old UC will then be demolished, making way for phase II. It should be completed in 2015.

The project has an estimated price tag of $70 million. The new University Center will span close to 300,000 sq. feet.