Modern conference room with a long wood table, black swivel chairs, and a large flat-screen monitor mounted on a light wood wall. The space features overhead slatted ceiling panels, exposed blue ductwork, and glass walls leading to an adjacent corridor. Contemporary office lounge with built-in banquette seating, white chairs, and wood tables. The space includes a casual gathering area by large windows and a variety of work and social zones under white acoustic ceiling fins and exposed blue ducts. Interior view of a concrete atrium with a glass-fronted office suite. The visible rooms include meeting spaces and work areas, all illuminated by natural light. Bold blue ducts run across the ceiling, adding contrast to the neutral materials and exposed structure.

UT COAD Administrative Office

The University of Tennessee enlisted Smith Gee Studio to reimagine the College of Architecture and Design administrative offices in the beloved, iconic 1981 Art and Architecture Building on the Knoxville campus. The goal was to transform the space into a dynamic, modern workplace that reflects the current culture and the leadership’s vision for the College across its four disciplines: architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture, and graphic design. The design embraces contemporary office strategies prioritizing collaboration, transparency, and adaptability.

By reducing dedicated personal space and expanding shared areas, the renovation introduces flexible environments for meetings, virtual calls, and informal gatherings—supporting a range of collaborative interactions with varying degrees of privacy. Formerly internal-facing, the space introduces a central hub and reorients users to the outdoors, introducing natural light and campus views. The hub welcomes staff, faculty, students, and visitors to interact and collaborate.

The renovation strips the 1970s-era design back to its original cast-in-place concrete shell, exposing its raw architectural character. Floating sculpted wood masses organize the space and house support functions, while modular glass systems define private offices and touchdown rooms. Positioned along the building’s atrium with a striking new curtainwall, the suite is visible from numerous levels, offering a welcoming beacon and a transparent public interface between the administration, students, and the wider college community.

Year:

Ongoing

Location:

Knoxville, TN

Client:

University of Tennessee

Services:

Interior Design