The Executive Subcommittee of the State Building Commission on Oct. 20 approved a three-year amendment to an existing lease for the Tennessee Department of Correction office in Columbia, Murray County, while the agency seeks larger office space.

Deputy Commissioner John Hall said the office currently occupies approximately 7,100 square feet but the Department of Correction needs roughly 11,000 square feet. Hall said the amendment will maintain the current office for three years while staff advertise and evaluate options for a new, larger location.

Hall told the subcommittee the office location has been under lease since 2010 and that prior advertising produced only one proposal; the most recent solicitation produced two proposals that staff consider "build to suit." A subcommittee member asked why the previous advertising had been unsuccessful and whether this amendment would lead to a successful relocation; Hall said the earlier single response was from the landlord and that this round produced two proposals that staff have checked out.

The subcommittee approved the lease amendment with a waiver of advertisement. No member registered opposition.