The University of Tennessee Student Union, built in collaboration with the Christman Company as Construction Manager, was honored with the 2020 New Architecture Award. Designed as a joint venture with BMa, the 395,000 SF building houses the largest auditorium on campus, meeting spaces and ballroom, offices, recreation, retail, and dining facilities, among other spaces. BMa-MHM utilized a contemporary approach to Collegiate Gothic design for the facility, paying equal tribute to UT's heritage and its promise for the future.
The KUB Engineering Building was honored with the Environmental Stewardship Orchid Award. The 3-story, 41,000 SF office building was built adjacent to the existing Engineering + Operations Building on Knoxville Utilities Board’s Hoskins campus. The sustainable efforts made while designing and constructing the Engineering Building on KUB’s largest campus showcase to more than 1,000 employees that environmental responsibility is a core value at KUB. This energy efficient building is designed to be LEED™ Certified and was completed in 2019.
The Miller’s Building, a 2000 Orchid Award winner, took home the Mary Lou Horner Award which recognizes a former Orchid winner whose property has been beautifully maintained for at least 10 years since its original recognition as an Orchid Award winner.
For many years, the storefront of the Miller’s Building was occupied by daytime businesses that left most of its block of Gay Street dark and empty outside of daytime business hours. In the spirit of community revitalization, the Knoxville Utilities Board decided to open up the storefront of the Miller’s Building by leasing to two new retail tenants: Cruze Farm Ice Cream and Bliss/ Tori Mason Shoes. The renovation brings new life to Gay Street by replacing existing tinted windows and shades with transparent glazing and new finishes throughout. The foot traffic created by the added interest of the storefronts has strengthened the connection between shops and businesses along one of the community’s most prized streets.
These awards acknowledge projects that help to beautify our city, and we are honored to be 2020 winners!