The East Tennessee Community Design Center: 50 Years

OUR MISSION & HISTORY

In 1969, the late Bruce McCarty, FAIA, then-President of the local AIA, alonside several local architects, returned from a trip to the community design center in Philadelphia and gathered roughly forty local professionals to discuss the need for such a center in this region. On April 15th, 1970, the East Tennessee Community Design Center (ETCDC) was founded.

The objective of ETCDC has been to make East Tennessee a better place by bringing professional design and planning assistance to communities and organizations lacking resources to acquire those services. Our mission is to Envision, Inspire, and Improve East Tennessee communities through design, collaboration, and leadership. The ETCDC also serves as a catalyst to initiate projects within our service area and serves as an advocate for quality design in the public realm. The ETCDC offers these services through the pro-bono contributions of area architects, landscape architects, planners, engineers, and other professionals.

Since its founding, the ETCDC has completed over 1,100 projects in the 16 county region it serves!

BETTER COMMUNITIES BY DESIGN ENVISOIN - INSPIRE - IMPROVE

BETTER COMMUNITIES BY DESIGN ENVISOIN - INSPIRE - IMPROVE

WHO WE SERVE We serve a 16 county region within East Tennessee. The star is Knoxville.

The counties we serve, seen in blue, include:

• • • •

Anderson Blount Campbell Claiborne

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Cocke Grainger Hamblen Jefferson

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Knox Loudon Monroe Morgan

• • • •

Roane Scott Sevier Union

The 19

70s

The 20

00s

The 19

The 20

80s 10s

The 19

The 20

90s

20s and Beyond

BETTER COMMUNITIES BY DESIGN ENVISOIN - INSPIRE - IMPROVE

A Novel Concept Incorporated in April of 1970, the East Tennessee Community Design Center (ETCDC) was among a wave of similar centers that would begin during the decade. The 1970s were filled with projects that focused on local rezoning and historic preservation issues, as well as establishing parks, recreation areas, and playgrounds - many of which evolved in scope over the years such as Knoxville’s Ijams Park (now Ijams Nature Center).

The decade also saw many local caregiving facilities - such as clinics, daycares, and animal shelters - reach out for help from the ETCDC, which was given assistance from over 200 VISTA workers in that time span.

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The

70s

Fort Sanders House

Reuse of several adjacent houses in the Fort Sanders neighborhood County: Knox || Illustration by Dede Christopher

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70

Fort Sanders Neighborhood Plan

Master plan for the neighborhood focusing on historic preservation County: Knox

19

71

Vestal Park

New picnic shelters, playground, and parking area created in an existing park County: Knox || Volunteers: Ron Childress & Gene Burr, AIA

19

72

Cumberland Gap Plaza

Design for a downtown plaza space. Plaza is still in use to this day County: Claiborne || Volunteer: Bob Cole, LA

19

73

Rugby House

Restoration and reuse plan for one of many historic structures in Rugby, TN County: Scott || Volunteer: Frank Sparkman, AIA, Gene Burr, AIA

19

74

Mechanicsville Historic District

Analysis and documentation allowing district to be on the National Register County: Knox || Volunteer: Gloria Neal Testerman

19

75

Ijams Nature Center Building

Adaptation of a historic home into the main office for Ijams Nature Center County: Knox || Volunteers: Bruce McCarty, FAIA, David Kendall, LA, Charles Smith, AIA,

D. Michael Pursley, Hugo Ley, Ron Ruth

19

76

Third Creek Bikeway

Renovation and long-range expansion plan created for a major greenway County: Knox || Volunteer: George Criss, RA

19

77

Knoxville College

Long-range plans for the campus and individual buildings created County: Knox || Volunteer: Mike Fowler, ASLA

19

78

Malcolm Martin Park

Improvement plans for an existing park in a low-income neighborhood County: Knox || Volunteer: Pete Drew

19

79

Back to the future The second decade of the ETCDC saw a push to reach the future by helping preserve the past. Multiple localities reached out for downtown revitalization plans from the Design Center, as well as Knoxville neighborhoods like Mechanicsville. 1982’s vision of the future was also ushered in through the ETCDC presenting at Knoxville’s World’s Fair, which ran from May to October of that year. A row of Victorian homes in Fort Sanders was saved from demolition in the lead-up to the Fair, thanks to the efforts of the ETCDC. Playgrounds and local recreation fields and trails became a highlight of the decade, including facilities like Tremont Lodge and Camp Tanasi. The push to create a stock of affordable housing throughout the region began conversations on other housing issues as well, such as housing co-ops and solar homes.

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The

80s

Rose Center

Created reuse and long-range plans for historic school-turned-art-center County: Hamblen || Volunteer: Dan Brewer, RA, Terry Hendrickson, Bill Gillmore

19

80

Agape Houses

Renovation and reuse plans for three old homes used by a local addiction recovery program County: Knox || Volunteer: Thea Lane, Ed Green, AIA

19

81

World’s Fair ACT Exhibit

Historic preservation and exhibit showcasing small-scale sustainability County: Knox || Volunteer: Frank Sparkman, AIA

19

82

Laurel Theatre

Restoration of historic church-turned-cultural-venue after a major roof fire County: Knox || Volunteer: Don Horton, AIA

19

83

Lakeshore Park Trails

System of walking trails developed for a mental health institute; site is now a City park County: Knox || Volunteer: Steve Fritts, LA

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84

Carmichael Inn

Plan for relocation of historic building and reuse as a local museum County: Loudon || Volunteers: Dr. Charles Faulkner & Charles Tichey

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85

Ramsey House Visitor Center

Design for a visitor’s center adjacent to a historic home from 1797 County: Knox || Volunteers: Frank Sparkman, AIA, Ken Moffett, AIA, Elise Johnson-Schmidt

19

86

Camp Montvale

Master planning for the 280+ acre site of the summer youth camp County: Blount || Volunteers: Bill Barth, David Kendal, & Dan Campbell

19

87

Speedwell School

Provided stabilization and preservation plans for the historic 1827 school County: Claiborne || Volunteers: Ron Childress & Keith Richardson

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88

Christienberry Ball Fields

Improvements to existing ballfields and landscape County: Knox

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89

Schoolhouse Rock With a renewed cultural interest in historic preservation, community planning, and the understanding of unique local places as assets, the ETCDC saw the 1990s focus itself on the renovation of things like old school buildings and spaces for theatre groups. Examples of such spaces included the Oak Ridge Playhouse, the Newport Theatre Guild, the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, and Flenniken School.

Also recognized was the importance of natural resources, which resulted in the planning of waterfront developments in both Knoxville and Loudon. Communities as well sought to remake the assets they had, and holistically plan for their futures. Places like Fort Sanders and Pittman Center held sessions to determine future development of their areas based on their values.

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The

90s

Hiwassee College

Master planning addressing pedestrian circulation and building issues County: Monroe || Volunteers: Dave Forkner, LA, Robert Parrott, FAIA, Randy McGill

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90

O’ Connor Senior Center

Relocation of a greenhouse from downtown to the facility; design for a new building entry County: Knox || Volunteer: Bill Moorefield, RA

19

91

Girl Scouts Tanasi Council

Development of long-range master plan for a 461 acre camp County: Anderson || Volunteer: DeWayne Pendley, AIA

19

92

Vestal Vision Plan

Neighborhood center plan including streetscapes, creek trails, and building improvements County: Knox || Volunteer & Drawing by Elizabeth Eason, AIA

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93

Coalfield Library

New building design for an existing mini rural library County: Campbell || Volunteer: George Criss

19

94

County: Morgan // Project Type: Preservation

Morgan County Courthouse

Restoration plan for the bell and clock tower of a historic courthouse County: Morgan || Volunteer: Frank Sparkman, AIA

19

95

Beck Cultural Exchange Center

Addition created which included a 5,000 SF Great Hall & meeting areas County: Knox || Volunteer: Anthony Fuller, RA

19

96

Pittman Center FutureScape

Master plan focusing on green space, watershed, & ridgetop protection County: Sevier || Volunteer: Bruce McCarty, FAIA

19

97

Nance House

Interior renovations for a historic home-turned-cultural center County: Grainger || Volunteer: Frank Sparkman, AIA

19

98

Crockett Tavern Musuem

Concept plans developed for concession & toilet building on museum campus County: Hamblen || Volunteer: Frank Sparkman, AIA

19

99

Details, Details, Details The dawning of the New Millennium saw not only an increase in the desire for grand visionary master planning, but the detailed articulation of how to get there. The ETCDC experienced an increase in requests for technical assistance and the need for architects and planners to partner with engineers to solve such client issues.

Projects including roofing on Rutledge School, drainage in Sweetwater, documentation of blighted properties in various towns and neighborhoods, and homeowner handbooks were some examples of this new category of projects for the Design Center. Work was done in several Knoxville neighborhoods to help plan for the reduction of traffic and crime, including Forest Heights, Sequoyah Hills, Island Home, and Vestal. These were ways the ETCDC planned for both large and small projects.

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The

00s

Love Kitchen

Plans developed to relocate facility to an expanded location on MLK Jr., Avenue County: Knox || Volunteers: Garry Eastman, RA, Albert Barnes, Paul Palko

20

00

Grove Theater

Renovation studies for a historic WWII era theater County: Anderson

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01

Breakthrough Corporation

Developed a residential campus plan and an office facility County: Knox || Volunteer: Len Johnson, AIA

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02

Ashley Nicole’s Dream Playground Design for Knoxville’s first 100% accessible playground County: Knox || Rendering by Dede Christopher

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03

Old Gray Cemetery Gate House

Preservation plans for the historic gate house at the Old Gray Cemetery County: Knox || Volunteer: DeWayne Pendley, AIA

20

04

David Webb Park

Park expansion including walking trail and veterans’ memorial County: Roane || Volunteer: Ben Pethel, ASLA

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05

Knoxville Museum of Art

Alternate plans created for a better neighborhood pedestrian connection & visitor experience County: Knox || Volunteer: Bruce McCarty, FAIA, Doug McCarty, AIA

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06

Belle Morris School

Renovations to historic school including classroom additions & a geothermal HVAC system County: Knox || Volunteer: Elizabeth Eason, AIA

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07

Downtown Dog Park

Creation of downtown Knoxville’s first dog park County: Knox || Volunteer: Carrie Read, LA

20

08

Clearfork Community Institute

Master site plan including renovation plans for the former Eagan School County: Claiborne || Volunteers: Sara Hedstrom Pinnell, ASLA / Robert Marlino, Assoc. AIA / Annette Anderson / Bob Wilson

20

09

A Community Effort The 2010s brought about a renewed interest in sustainable planning, creating walkable communities and developing stronger relationships with our nonprofit partners. The Design Center embarked on large scale revisioning projects such as Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness & Historic Corridor, which was the first of many ventures with Legacy Parks Foundation.

Other visioning projects in Knoxville included the Old City Streetscapes, Broadway Corridor Vision Plan, Community Collaborative projects focused on Burlington and Sutherland Avenue, the Recode Knoxville Design Charrette, and numerous facade enhancements throughout the city.

The Design Center continued its work in the surrounding counties by developing Visioning Plans for Dandridge, Powell Station, Loudon, Maynardville, Rocky Top, and a master campus plan for Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts.

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The

10s

Urban Wilderness Historic Corridor

Connectivity plan created for over 1000 acres of trails and parks in South Knoxville County: Knox || Volunteer: Sean Vasington, ASLA

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10

Dandridge Main Street

Streetscape plan designed including signage, landscaping, and lighting County: Jefferson || Volunteers: Ben Pethel, ASLA / Barbara Pearman, AICP

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11

Maynardville Vision Plan

Master plan exploring unique existing assets & providing future opportunities County: Union || Volunteer: Sean Vasington, ASLA

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12

Good Shepherd Center

Existing facility analysis and options for renovations and expansion County: Monroe || Volunteers: Frank Sparkman, AIA / Susanne Tarovella, AIA

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13

Tanner School

Preservation plan for the Tanner School - a historic Rosenwald School County: Cocke || Volunteer: Angie Lyon, AIA

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14

The Change Center

Vision plans for a multi-use space including a skating rink and game room County: Knox || Volunteers: Damon Falconnier, RA / Graham Fox, RA

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15

Arrowmont School

Master campus plan creating new entrance, event space, hiking trails, & new buildings County: Sevier || Volunteers: Brandon Pace, AIA / Bill Bruce, MLA

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16

Delaney Museum at Beck

Renovation plan for the historic family home of artist brothers the Delaneys County: Knox || Volunteers: Cara Knapp, AIA / Mary Beth Robinson, ASID

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17

Wesley House

Campus plan and interior renovations for a community center County: Knox || Volunteer: Ric Mixon, AIA

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18

Caryville Park

Community park plan including playground, dog park, and sports area County: Campbell || Volunteer: Nathan Hunter, LA

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19

The Next 50 Years In communities across our region there are countless nonprofits and organizations that need the Design Center’s volunteers.

Each one of them is actively improving our society but they need the ETCDC in order to grow, change, or serve their mission in the most effective way. These organizations are working to address homelessness, child abuse, racial Inequality, and major health issues, and the ETCDC will be there to help them all succeed.

But the Design Center’s responsibility is greater than any one of these single topics. In addition to helping other nonprofits with their facility needs, our mission is also to look to the horizon and promote the positive design and physical development of our communities in order to create a more holistic, long term cure for these individual problems. No one business, firm, or organization can do this alone. But together, working through the Design Center, we can accomplish great things and lay the foundation for a brighter future.

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The

20s And Beyond

BMA Sutherland Ave. Collaborative Submission - 2020

PARKING DAY PARK(ing) Day is an international event where citizens, artists and activists collaborate to temporarily transform metered parking spaces into “PARK(ing)� spaces: temporary public parks or parklets. The project began in 2005 when Rebar, a San Francisco art and design studio, converted a single metered parking space into a temporary public park in downtown San Francisco. Since 2005, PARK(ing) Day has evolved into a global movement, with organizations and individuals (all operating independently of Rebar) creating new forms of public space in communities around the world.

THE COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE The Community Collaborative is a focused effort between multiple organizations on the challenges facing our communities. The goal of the Collaborative is to highlight an area’s history, bring awareness to its future potential, and then promote sustainable growth. Each year a focus area or issue is established, community input is gathered, and multiple studies and efforts are performed.

The collaborative concludes each year in a public event and a publication that summarizes the research, designs, concepts, and efforts performed that year. This discourse in turn begins to shape public policy and private development strategies. The Collaborative is the vehicle for our community to envision the possibilities of our region and shape our collective aspirations for the future.

Burlington Community Input - 2018

Burlington Vision Plan - 2019

01

TOWNHOUSE 01 (21 UNITS)

04

RETAIL / COMMERCIAL

(60,000 SF)

02

TOWNHOUSE 02 (41 UNITS) 3 BEDROOMS + ROOF TERRACE

05

UNDERGROUND PARKING

(650 SPACES)

03

APARTMENTS

06

COMMUNITY GARDEN

1 BEDROOM + ROOF TERRACE

(180 UNITS) 1 BEDROOM + BALCONY

The 9.88 acre site has been divided in half by retaining Cary Street as a shared corridor for pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicles. A series of courtyards create community gardens to be shared by residents and farm-totable restaurants located along Sutherland Avenue and Division Street.

03 06 01 02 05 04

NORTH

Sutherland Avenue Community Input - 2020

Sutherland Avenue Charrette Example - 2020

0

100 FEET

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Executive Director

L. Duane Grieve, FAIA

Board Officers

Nathan Honeycutt, AIA, Scott Busby, AIA Kristin Lee Grove Dr. Dasha Lundy Nathaniel Shelso

Directors

Lucinda M. Albiston, Esq. Phil Bernard Bill Bruce, MLA Hollie Cook Dwane Dishner Alicia Griego Mary Wells Holbrook Mary Kathryn Kennard Maggie Kornahrens Shana Love Peter Ludman, AIA Lane E. McCarty, Esq. Randy Merritt Alli Montgomery, Assoc. AIA Carey Parker Mary Beth Robinson, CIDQ, CAPS Charley Sexton

STAFF

L. Duane Grieve, FAIA Jan Mosadegh Charis Kraski Leslie Fawaz, AIA Perry Childress Dustin Durham

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, CONTINUED

Ex-Officio Directors Ken McMahon Jeff Welch Jason Young, AIA

Emeritus Directors

Dr. Joseph E. Johnson Douglas H. McCarty, AIA Dr. Gideon Fryer* Bruce McCarty*, FAIA John A. Walker, Jr. Esq. * *in memoriam

FOUNDERS & FIRST BOARD MEMBERS John Anderson, Jr. Gene Burr Charles ‘Pete’ Drew Dr. Gideon Fryer Will Griffin Donnell Hurley Bruce McCarty, FAIA William Moorefield, RA William Oliphant Jerry Risenhoover Bill Shell Lewis Sinclair Ravendoor Sood John Walker William Earl White Danny Whittle Woodrow Wilson

BOARD PRESIDENTS William Oliphant Gideon Fryer Gene Burr, AIA Robert Wilson Bob Netherland John Walker Hugh Neil L. Duane Grieve, AIA Dr. Gideon Fryer Gerry Eastman Bill Lauer Doris Scott Crawford Mike Parker Doug McCarty, AIA Mark Mitchum Betsy Quinn Beth Phillips Faris Eid, AIA Curtis Catron Frank Sparkman, AIA Sharon McKee Chuck Morris Brian Ewers, AIA Ric Mixon, AIA

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS Ed Dusek William Oliphant Annette Anderson Terry Shupp Tim Ledford Gideon Fryer David Watson John Merino Mary Linda Schwarzbart

Wayne Blasius L. Duane Grieve, FAIA

BOARD PRESIDENTS, CONTINUED Jason Woodle Mary Holbrook Jan Evridge Rick Blackburn Nathan Honeycutt, AIA

AWARD WINNERS BRUCE MCCARTY COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD 2013: Carol Evans / Paul James / Randy & Jenny Boyd 2014: David Dewhirst 2015: Ashley Capps 2016: Faris Eid, AIA 2017: Natalie Leach Haslam 2018: Pat & Joe Johnson 2019: Mayor Madeline Rogero

ANNETTE ANDERSON DIRECTORS’ AWARD

2016: Tanner Preservation Alliance 2017: Good Shepherd Center 2018: Delaney Museum at Beck 2019: The Change Center

Thank You to all of our volunteers and supporters who have made our work possible for the past 50 years. We look forward to the next 50 years!

1300 N. Broadway Knoxville, TN 37917 ................ *Note: anywhere in this book where a project volunteer was not listed, it indicates that the work was done completely in-house by the ETCDC Staff of the time. We wish to also thank our various Staff members over the decades for the work they did to further our mission.

865.525.9945 ................ communitydc.org

1300 N. Broadway Knoxville, Tennessee 37917

BETTER COMMUNITIES BY DESIGN ENVISOIN - INSPIRE - IMPROVE