Where Water Meets Innovation: Facilities Built for Real-World Learning

Designed to simulate the challenges of water infrastructure and emergency response, our indoor and outdoor training environments offer hands-on, visual experiences that bring hydrology, engineering, and resilience to life.

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Our Center

The WET Center is a state-of-the-art campus featuring dedicated areas for multiple types of learning:

    All photos on this page are representative of the in-progress design and construction of the WET Center, and not the actual facility or equipment. 

    Sandbox

    The Sandbox is a large outdoor training yard where participants use heavy equipment to simulate real-world scenarios such as culvert installation, levee repair, and erosion control. It provides a safe, controlled environment for applied learning in earthwork and stormwater management.

    On the Approach

    The WET Center welcomes visitors with modern architecture set against the natural beauty of Lone Oaks Farm—creating a unique environment for hands-on training, collaboration, and education.

    The WET Center in Action 

    The WET Center’s immersive outdoor training yard features hands-on environments for both heavy equipment operation and swift water rescue. Participants experience real-world scenarios in a controlled setting designed to enhance skills in stormwater management, infrastructure response, and emergency preparedness.
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    Swift Water Flume

    The Swift Water Flume allows emergency responders and public safety officials to train in dynamic, fast-moving water conditions. Simulated flood environments help build lifesaving skills in swiftwater rescue, equipment use, and response coordination.

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    Classroom

    The Classroom is a flexible, tech-enabled space for lectures, group discussions, and indoor instruction that supports the Center’s hands-on training modules. It serves as a base for learning concepts before moving into applied exercises.

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    WET Lab

    The WET Lab is an indoor learning space filled with water flow models and interactive displays that demonstrate how water behaves in natural and built environments. Students design, test, and observe small-scale systems to understand hydrology, infrastructure, and environmental impacts.

    Wavetank

    Erosion Models

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    Breezeway

    As you arrive to the WET Center you will enter the Breezeway where you will find an interactive watershed table that represents water movement throughout the State of Tennessee.  The Breezeway also connects key training areas while offering a gathering space for informal discussion, orientation, and transitions between activities.

    Watershed Table

    Watershed Table

    Breezeway

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    Simulator Room

    The Simulator Room houses two full-motion heavy equipment simulators and four tabletop simulators, all designed to replicate real-world machinery operations in a virtual environment. These simulators can be networked, allowing participants to work individually or collaboratively on coordinated heavy equipment exercises—building skills, communication, and situational awareness before moving into the field.

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    Mud Room

    The Mud Room provides a dedicated space for changing gear, cleaning up after field exercises, and safely managing transitions between wet or dirty environments and indoor learning areas. It supports hygiene, safety, and gear storage for participants and staff.

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    Ready to shape the future of storm resilience?

    Help build the WET Center, and equip those who protect our communities.

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