“Cities, like forests, are in a constant state of renewal.
While forests recycle in rhythm with natural laws, the city is recycled by the collective will and conscience of its citizens.”
J. Stroud Watson
Urban Design Studio Retrospective Timeline
Click each year for a link for more information.
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The Urban Design Studio begins in a storefront located on Vine Street in downtown Chattanooga.
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The Design Studio offers a civic focus in an architectural education remotely with the University of Tennessee School of Architecture.
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The Urban Design Studio initiates and begins to sustain a significant dialogue within the community.
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The Moccasin Bend Task Force and Miller Park Commission begin to advance visions for the City Center and Riverfront.
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The Urban Design Studio initiates and presents the Miller Park District Study.
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The Urban Design Studio advances planning for the Miller Park District, and explores student led visions for the Riverfront.
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1987
The Urban Design Studio advances design for the Miller Plaza, and continues to explore student led visions for the Riverfront.
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The Urban Design Studio initiates planning and design for Ross’s Landing in the Riverfront.
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The Urban Design Studio hires staff through RiverCity Company and continues to engage with Riverfront District Planning, serving a lead role in Ross’s Landing Park and Plaza Design.
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The Studio renames and relocates as Riverfront / Downtown Planning and Design Center, with new staff.
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The Design Center continues to engage with Riverfront District Planning as well as streetscape standards for downtown.
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The Design Center continues to engage with Riverfront District Planning with the RiverCity Company.
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The Design Center published the Downtown Plan, and leads an international architectural competition for a new Tennessee Aquarium IMAX Theater.
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The Design Center plays a crucial role with the RiverCity Company in the South Central Business District Plan.
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The Design Center plays a crucial role with the RiverCity Company in the South Central Business District Plan.
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The Design Center begins studies for Frazier Avenue and initiates planning for the South Main Neighborhoods.
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The Design Center continues to advance planning and design for the South Main Neighborhoods.
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The Design Center plays a crucial role with the CNE in the creation of the Rustville, Fort Negley, and Jefferson Heights Neighborhood Plan.
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The Design Center plays a crucial role with the RiverCity Company in the US-27 corridor study as well as several key public realm improvements throughout downtown.
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The Design Center plays a crucial role with the RiverCity Company in the Riverfront Parkway Plan as well as several key public realm improvements with Public Works throughout downtown.
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The Design Center plays a crucial role with the RiverCity Company in the creation of the 21st Century Waterfront Plan, and the center’s director is awarded the 2001 AIA Thomas Jefferson Award for award Public Architecture.
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The Design Center continues to aid implementation of key sites throughout downtown and adjacent neighborhoods.
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The Design Center continues planning for downtown adjacent neighborhoods.
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The Design Center continues planning for downtown adjacent neighborhoods.
Today’s Chattanooga Design Studio builds upon the rich legacy of the community’s former studio that operated from 1980 until 2005. While there is no formal connection between the two iterations, they are linked by consistent funding partners, shared personnel, and philosophical alignment.
The Design Studio Retrospective takes a look back at more than 20 years of urban design and visioning for downtown Chattanooga. In the Summer of 2012, the collected works of the Studio were archived and selected pieces were a part of this temporary exhibition. The exhibition followed the work of the Studio chronologically as it progressed from general downtown structure studies to work on some of Chattanooga's most beloved places.
Please use the timeline below to access archived images and publications from the Urban Design Studio Retrospective. The catalogue contains an overview of the twenty-plus years of pioneering urban design work of the former studio, as well as a chronologically categorized archive of project imagery.