Pratt Pavilion

 In October 2006, Tennessee Athletics had a ground-breaking ceremony to officially recognize construction on the Pratt Pavilion, the state-of-art basketball practice facility named in UT alumnus Larry F. Pratt's honor for his $5 million lead gift to the basketball programs. The Pratt Pavilion will house two full-size gymnasiums, one for each of the men's and women's varsity basketball teams, as well as space for an athletic training room, a weight room, a film study room and a place to host recruits.

Directly connected to the arena, the Pratt Pavilion will have convenient ground level parking. It will be a 70,000-square-foot structure with four short courts within each of the two full size courts. The facility will be equipped with secured practice facilities, spacious locker rooms and recruiting rooms as well. Balconies at the south side of the building will overlook the practice courts.

The west facade of the building is glassed from the first floor to the second floor, allowing visibility of gallery and display areas from the street. The building itself will be a significant additional element to the picturesque south entrance to the University of Tennessee campus.

Pratt Pavilion has a total project cost of $16 million, funded entirely through private gifts.  Lead donor Larry Pratt's commitment of $5 million in April 2006, coupled with leadership gifts from other campaign donors, including Jim Haslam, Brenda Lawson and Robbie Nutt, has enabled Tennessee to more forward with the project.

This is not Pratt's first donation. In the 1990s he honored his father Floyd by creating an endowed scholarship in his name as a member of the Nathan Dougherty Society.  He also was recognized at the Tennessee vs. Georgia football game in 2003 for a $1 million donation to the STEP-UP Campaign.  Pratt, an Athens, Tenn., native, currently resides in McLean, Va.  He graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1972 from the college of business and serves as president and CEO of First Savings Mortgage Corporation, the largest private mortgage banker in Washington D.C.