News
The Tombras Group featured in Adweek article calling Knoxville the next Boulder of the Agency World.
The article cites similarities between the two cities who host large advertising agencies who operate outside of traditional hubs. We’re proud of our work with The Tombras Group, learn more about their Knoxville headquarters we completed for them in 2018 HERE.
Link to the full Adweek article HERE.
City of Knoxville hosts ribbon cutting at Augusta Quarry
The Augusta Avenue entrance to Fort Dickerson Park and Augusta Quarry is now open, following a $1.77 million project that has greatly improved quarry access while enhancing design and landscaping of one of the City’s most beautiful natural spaces.
On Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, Mayor Madeline Rogero, City Council members, City Parks and Recreation staff, project funders and members of the construction team cut the ribbon and officially dedicated the new entrance to Fort Dickerson Park and the quarry.
Among the attendees were representatives from the Aslan Foundation and project team members Sanders Pace Architecture, PORT Urbanism, Vaughn and Melton Consulting Engineers, and Design and Construction Services Inc. The Aslan Foundation funded the Augusta Avenue entrance’s expansive design and contributed $330,000 toward construction.
“Augusta Quarry provides an opportunity for our community to get outside, walk, bike and just enjoy the area,” said Sheryl Ely, Parks and Recreation Director. “The project provides great infrastructure with the beautiful backdrop of the quarry and trails. It is another connection to the urban and wild of the Urban Wilderness.”
The Augusta Avenue entrance provides easy access to Augusta Quarry, where swimming is permitted.
Improvements include a gateway with stone walls, a paved parking lot and infrastructure to support future phases that improve the quarry lake. Construction crews also planted native trees, shrubs and perennials that complement the existing forestry.
“This project makes a significant improvement in aesthetics, safety and experience for park users,” said Rebekah Jane Montgomery, Urban Wilderness Coordinator. “We appreciate the partnership with the Aslan Foundation and the thoughtful work of the design team to enhance such a special place in our community and the Urban Wilderness.”
The Aslan Foundation funded the Augusta Avenue entrance’s design and collaborated with the City on the construction. The final design was the result of creative, interactive public meetings that Sanders Pace Architecture, PORT Urbanism and the City of Knoxville hosted.
“The Aslan Foundation supports the City of Knoxville and the Urban Wilderness Alliance through funding for parks such as Fort Dickerson,” said Andrea Bailey, Executive Director of the Aslan Foundation. “The new design of Augusta Quarry creates additional access to the community and honors the extraordinary beauty of this special place. It was an honor and a pleasure to work with the City of Knoxville, Sanders Pace Architecture and PORT Urbanism on this project.”
The 91-acre Fort Dickerson Park, a landmark feature of the Battlefield Loop portion of Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness, features a historic Civil War fort at its highest point and a 350-foot-deep quarry at its lowest. The high vantage point provides full vistas of the downtown skyline as well as high peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains.
The Urban Wilderness outdoor adventure area includes 1,000 forested acres and the South Waterfront. More than 50 miles of trails connect multiple parks and cultural sites within the Urban Wilderness.
Brandon Pace presents keynote at 2019 AIA Iowa Convention
Brandon Pace presented the work of the firm in a lecture on Friday, September 27th as part of the 2019 AIA Iowa Convention in Des Moines. In a lecture titled In Context, Brandon explored how the varied historic, social, and cultural circumstances of his City has helped to establish the foundation and framework for the Firm’s design process. Brandon shared the stories of several active and recently completed projects to illustrate how this process plays out in ways which challenge local convention in ways which raise expectations and heighten awareness of important issues within the City.
Urban Wilderness Gateway Park Groundbreaking
The City of Knoxville held a groundbreaking for the new Urban Wilderness Gateway Park on Wednesday September 11th at Baker Creek Preserve. The new Gateway Park will serve as a grand “front porch” entrance to the Urban Wilderness at the southern end of James White Parkway.
The Gateway Park will introduce visitors to Knoxville’s 1,000-acre Urban Wilderness recreation area, offering self-guided information and mapping that will give people all kinds of outdoor options, depending on which adventure they choose.
The new park is also envisioned to be a catalyst for continuing to revitalize the South Waterfront and as a connection between East and South Knoxville and downtown through greenways and parkland.
Sanders Pace Architecture is proud to be involved in the project, stay tuned for more updates on the project!
Gateway swings open to a ‘front door’ to Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness
The city wants to make the Urban Wilderness a regional (or even national) attraction and leaders think it needs a “front door” to make it more attractive.
A “front door” for Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness won’t be long in coming, following the rezoning of 108.66 acres as parkland.
“We’re actually going to be starting work on transforming the end of James White Parkway into a park that connects to the end of Baker Creek Preserve this fall,” said Urban Wilderness Coordinator Rebekah Jane Montgomery.
Knoxville-Knox County Planning commissioners approved the rezoning on Thursday, Aug. 8, of a long, irregularly-shaped tract at the end of James White Parkway, south of Sevierville Pike, on the west side of East Red Bud Road and on the northeast side of Cruze Road. Until now most of it has been marked out in residential lots, planning documents say. The rezoning, which also requires Knoxville City Council approval, will make the site consistent with other parks, Montgomery said.
Years ago a local family donated the land for Baker Creek Preserve, and a few years ago the state handed over right-of-way from James White Parkway, she said.
Now the Urban Wilderness covers more than 1,000 forested acres south of the Tennessee River, most of it in two major areas:
South Loop, which includes a 12.5-mile trail connecting seven recreation areas: Ijams Nature Center, Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area, Anderson School Trails, William Hastie Natural Area, Marie Myers Park, Baker Creek Preserve, and Baker Creek Play Forest; and
Battlefield Loop, 600 acres connecting two Civil War forts, a battlefield site, two natural lakes, a quarry lake and a 200-foot bluff overlooking the river.
What it lacks is a defined main entrance, and strong link between the loops.
Jim Gaines, Knoxville News Sentinel
Published 5:00 a.m. ET Aug. 12, 2019 | Updated 8:13 a.m. ET Aug. 12, 2019
Western Carolina Admissions headed to ‘new’ location with renovations, construction
It’s all about making a good first impression.
As such, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Western Carolina University will be in a different ― but not altogether new ― location beginning in October, with a return to the H.F. Robinson Building.
Revamped to the point of being completely new, the first floor of Robinson is expected to be operational for undergraduate admissions and recruitment functions following the fall break.
University architect Javier Torres surveys ongoing construction on the first floor of H.F. Robinson Building.
Currently, the Admissions Office is located in the Cordelia Camp Building, where it has been since 2008, when staff was relocated from the Robinson Building, citing the need to accommodate demands on space.
“The amenities, decor and layout, combined with a prominent location near the university entrance, will make this an ideal first impression for visitors and working environment for staff,” said Javier Torres, WCU architect. “I think this will be especially conducive for prospective students and their families.”
When the relocation is complete, visitors who enter through the main first-floor entrance will be greeted with a “Western Carolina University” logo on a purple wall. Parking for guests and future Catamounts will be in the existing side lot adjacent to the entrance.
“What the staff and I are most looking forward to is a more welcoming environment to greet our guests as they begin to experience WCU,” said Mike Langford, the university’s director of undergraduate admissions. “The new space will have a more up-to-date feel while celebrating the richness of the natural landscape and cultural heritage that makes WCU unique among our competitors. We will greet families in the main lobby, which has an open reception area with benches and couches. We can meet in our collaboration/family meeting rooms where we can work in small groups on admission issues or speak with families so we don’t have to bring them back to our offices.
Image courtesy of Sanders Pace Architecture.
“Most importantly, we have better presentation space to start the campus tour experience before they begin our walking tour of campus,” he said.
Construction began in January. The former auditorium has been converted to a conference space, while additional family conference rooms for smaller group consultation are nearby. Other infrastructure work is nearing completion, with fixture installation and moving new furniture expected in coming weeks.
Phil Cauley, assistant vice chancellor for undergraduate enrollment, said the first-floor space will accommodate the needs of a 21st-century admissions operation, taking into consideration both current necessities as well as probable future expansion as WCU continues to experience heightened interest.
“As the old adage goes, ‘you never get a second chance to make a first impression,’” and a visit to the Office of Admissions is often a prospective student’s first visit and establishes the tone for the overall impression,” Cauley said.
GEOFF CANTRELL for Western Carolina University
JULY 24, 2019
Sanders Pace Architecture honored at this year’s AIA Tennessee Conference on Architecture.
Knoxville played host to this year’s AIA Tennessee Conference on Architecture. we were excited to show our city off to our colleagues from around the state and visitors from around the country. The well attended conference included tours, lectures, and workshops. At the Design Awards Gala were proud to receive an AIA Tennessee EP Friendly Firm Award celebrating efforts we have made to support our young staff as they pursue licensure. We were also honored to receive an AIA Tennessee Award of Excellence for our Calloway Ridge House. Congratulations to all of the winners and kudos to all of those involved in planning the wonderful convention!
Sanders Pace Architecture receives 4 awards at the annual AIA East Tennessee Design Awards Gala
The Tombras Group and The McIlwaine Pavilion at the University of Tennessee Gardens were both recipients of Honor Awards, the highest honor given for the night. The Press Room was the recipient of a Merit Award and Loch & Key Productions received an Honor Citation.
The Tombras Group awaded an Orchid Award from Keep Knoxville Beautiful
On Thursday, February 28, 2019 Keep Knoxville Beautiful hosted the annual Orchids Beautification Awards at The Press Room, 730 N. Broadway, Knoxville TN.
The event honored Knoxville’s most beautiful properties by presenting Orchid Awards in seven different categories: Redesign/Reuse, Outdoor Space, Community Garden, New Architecture, Public Art, Restaurant/Café/Bar/Brewery, and Environmental Stewardship. These awards are given to individuals who are beautifying our dynamic city. Additionally, the Mary Lou Horner Beautification Award was presented, as well as the Felicia Harris Hoehne Award being presented for the third time.
We were proud to learn that The Tombras Group received the Orchid Award for Redesign/Reuse. Congratulations to all of this years winners!
Brandon Pace elevated to Fellowship in the AIA
The 2019 Jury of Fellows elevated 115 AIA members and nine
international architects to its prestigious College of Fellows for
achieving a standard of excellence in the profession. Brandon was
elevated in Object One, Design.
Fellowship in this category is
granted to architects who have produced distinguished bodies of work
through design, urban design, or preservation.