Fall 2019, UTK College of Architecture & Design Collaboration by Chattanooga Design Studio

Chattanooga Design Studio + UTK Architecture DANIEL DAVIS + TRAVIS ROBERTS + CESSNA ADAMS + BADER ALBEE + GAWRYS FORSBERG + DONEGAN HEIDENESCHER + PARKS MORRIS

ABOUT THE PROJECT: In Fall 2019, CDS and UTK collaborated with the Bessie Smith Cultural Center to reimagine the future of their facility and the surrounding block. Students met with BSCC staff and board to understand the existing challenges of the facility and desires for expansion and renovation. The final design proposals suggest a range of programs unique to each project but each takes into consideration the surrounding context and urban design qualities of the site. ABOUT UTK ARCHITECTURE: The core of The University of Tennessee at Knoxville’s Architecture program’s curriculum is the studio, where the student learn to explore and ideate. We begin with a focus on design fundamentals, moving through conceptual, abstract and experimental exercises to strip away preconceived ideas. UTK Architecture students are often inspired in the collaborative studios, such as the 2019 Academic Studio collaboration with Chattanooga Design Studio. ABOUT CHATTANOOGA DESIGN STUDIO: The student work was sponsored by Chattanooga Design Studio. The work of the Studio takes many forms: studies, charrettes and exhibitions for the general public; programs for the professional design community and general public; facilitation for community stakeholders; consultation with the developmental community; and resources for local government. The Studio engages with various groups to keep a fresh perspective and allow for ideas to grow through the collaboration of thoughtful urban design.

DANIEL DAVIS [en] root

TRAVIS ROBERTS A New Permanence

CESSNA ADAMS The Space Between

BADER ALBEE A Living Record

spatial programming: green pink

is for living

is for exhibiting

magenta

is for archiving

gold

is for learning

navy

is for functioning

gray

is for supporting

The underground level of the BSCC contains a large parking garage, archive, exhibition space, and green room/dressing rooms for the auditorium performers. The parking garage is flanked by storage rooms and closets.

The first floor has a wide variety of programmatic spaces. The spaces are primarily subdivided by building. The original BSCC building contains classrooms for educational workshops. The building directly on MLKing houses retail spaces an a gallery space. The buildings on the back of the site provide residential units, retail spaces, and workshop spaces for aspiring local artists. BSCC NEW AUDITORIUM Surrounded by a double-skin facade, with the AT&T mural as a background, the stage is the center attraction.

The second and third floors of the site are residential. They contain apartment units of varying sizes that will be cater to a variety of social statuses. Courtyards were also important to provide quiet outdoors space away from the BSCC and retail traffic. The larger building (bottom left) has an interior second-level courtyard and the two smaller buildings (bottom right two) have space between the structures operating as private greenspace. The ultimate goal of providing housing was to provide a critical mass of people that will frequent the BSCC site.

This diagram of the site depicts the varying levels of the ground plane. This process of tiering was developed in response to the six foot height difference between the existing BSCC ground floor level and the ground from MLKing. By slightly increasing the height (one or two feet per tier), the difference between the BSCC and street level are minimized. This process has made the BSCC appear much more approachable from the street. (Levels also shown below on exploded axonometric drawings.)

AUDITORIUM COURTYARD FROM THE AT&T A human-scale space off of busy MLKing. Stepped levels create an amphitheater focused on the AT&T mural.

NORTH ELEVATION 1” = 20’

North Elevation 1" = 20'-0"

A PLACE TO EXPERIENCE Experience culture, experience life, experience the legacy of the Big Nine. The auditorium and classrooms of the BSCC are a vessel through which the history of Chattanooga’s African American population is passed down to new generations and new populations and visitors.

A PLACE TO LIVE/WORK With housing located above retail and artist workshops, these buildings provide a critical mass of people that will frequenct the BSCC grounds and facilities. These buildings also create an ideal environment for the BSCC to foster and support local artists.

A PLACE TO DISCOVER The archive is not locked away in a dark and cold basement; it lives in a vibrant and dynamic zone below ground, waiting to be discovered by those who treat above it.

SECTION PERSPECTIVE (NTS)

GAWRYS FORSBERG Cultural Community Campus

DONEGAN HEIDENESCHER

PARKS MORRIS Retain

East Elevation