Transforming Western, a restorative vision for the ethically and culturally diverse Western Transforming Western, a restorative vision for the ethically and culturally diverse Western Heights community in North Knoxville, was launched by the Knoxville Community Development Corporation (KCDC) as a result of a $40,000,000 federal HUD Choice Neighborhoods grant and $26,500,000 commitment from the City of Knoxville in 2022. Through restoration, adaptive re-use, new infrastructure and new construction, Transforming Western will introduce over 400 new residential units to the Western Heights neighborhood, all within a 3-mile drive or bus ride from downtown.
Drawing from community engagement feedback and a rich history of education and manufacturing within the Western Heights community, KCDC commissioned Sanders Pace Architects to design a Connections Building programmed to host local businesses and organizations that focus on hands-on educational initiatives for youth and adult user groups. SPA was also asked to design a Destination Park adjacent to the Connections Building and teamed with Merritt Chase Landscape Architecture to do so.
The Transforming Western Connections Building and Destination Park are scheduled to open in the early summer of 2027.
Connections Building
The Transforming Western Connections Building embodies community activation through making and learning. The upper level of the 16,000 SF facility will host Real Good Kitchen, a woman-led, mission-driven shared commercial kitchen providing food entrepreneurs with the space, technical assistance and business development resources they need to start and grow their businesses. The lower level of the building will host Junior Achievement of East Tennessee, an organization that strives to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. As a community “hub” the Transforming Western Connections Building welcomes diverse user groups that span generations to develop advanced learning, making and entrepreneurial skills.
The design of the Connections Building plays a key role within the overall Transforming Western neighborhood planning initiatives. The building helps to organize interior and exterior programming within a sloped site while holding a key urban corner at the intersection of West Oak Hill Avenue and Reed Street. The crafted brick façade of the building speaks to dignified resilience and the upper level parking lot, designed with permeable pavers to additionally host weekend farmers markets and community festivals, speaks to programmatic flexibility and the continued, dynamic evolution of neighborhood’s identity. The design also provides a small market and restroom facilities within a gateway pavilion to the Destination Park from the upper level parking area.
Destination Park
The Transforming Western Destination Park works hand-in-hand with the Anchor Building to organize outdoor programming within the sloped contours of the site. The higher elevation of the park, fronting West Oak Hill Avenue, celebrates youth play through splash pads, sustainably crafted playground equipment and multiple theme-based play areas. The lower elevation of the park hosts a community green space and a community stage, ideal for neighborhood gatherings, performances and festivals. A sculptural accessible path up and down the sloped terrain, connects the upper play areas to the lower community spaces and provides integrated seating perfect for evening concerts.