The Tennessean

Knoxville, Tennessee

Storybook River Design

Repositioning office properties is a current trend in the marketplace. Such is the case for an existing 1960’s office building in downtown Knoxville which was re-imagined as a boutique hotel. Located across the street from the convention center, the property is well positioned for high profile visibility and accessibility.

The 70-key hotel includes a private bar, conferencing accommodations, and a fitness center. The mixed-use development also features 12 luxury condominiums positioned on the top two floors. The ownership group christened the hotel The Tennessean, reflecting the locale, but also implying a sense of uniqueness and character.

The thematic vision for the hotel was inspired by the owner’s own residence which is positioned on the Tennessee River. Thus “the river” became the springboard for imagery that would populate the design in its many forms. A storybook was developed of antique river maps, aerial views of the rivers and abstract imagery of water in its many incarnations.