City of Knoxville Public Safety Complex
City of Knoxville Public Safety Complex
YEAR:
2023
LOCATION:
Knoxville, TN
SIZE:
230,000 SF
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
MHM provided full architectural, engineering, and interior design services for the 230,000 s.f. conversion/renovation of a former medical center for new administrative and operational offices for the Knoxville Police and Fire Departments and City Court.
The project consolidates the city’s public safety functions onto one campus, providing enhanced accessibility to the public and operational efficiency for the departments. The program contains a range of training spaces, including a Police Academy, Fire Department Training/Simulation, and Backup Emergency Operations Center for E911.
The program included reusing the three largest structures for adaptive reuse - the Professional Office Building, the Central Annex, and the Woman’s Pavilion. The other structures were demolished and a green space was created for community use. The program included a new structure for the building entrance and a new City of Knoxville Courtroom. Access control, public access, and program adjacencies were important design considerations when creating the public safety campus. was part of the design team and consultants for elements related to the Police, Fire, Courts, and E911 uses.
The original 1929 structure was preserved as the centerpiece of a new master plan for the site focused on the redevelopment of this under-served, reinvigorated sector of Knoxville.