Project Director

Etheredge, Jessica

Department Examiner

Hathcock, Sarah

Department

School of Professional Studies

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

This thesis explores the adaptive reuse of the historic Brainerd Junior High School in Chattanooga, TN, as a catalyst for community revitalization. Initially built in 1930, the building served generations of students for 75 years. Currently, the main building is closed, while the additional buildings serve as the Midtown Community Center. Its architectural character, accessible location, and nostalgia present an opportunity to reimagine its role in the current economy. Adaptive reuse offers more than architectural preservation, but is a strategy to address urban challenges such as housing affordability, lack of amenity access, and cultural erasure. Through this project, the aim is to develop a comprehensive design proposal that respects the building’s history while responding directly to the community’s needs and investigating the psychological impact of historic architecture– particularly nostalgia, sense of place, and memories. Research in environmental psychology suggests that historical architecture can provide both identity and stability within neighborhoods like Brainerd. These responses can be intentionally harnessed into design strategies. By examining the history of Brainerd Junior High, this research seeks to understand how reimagining older buildings can foster emotional connections and encourage specific kinds of community engagement, ultimately leading to a more successful project than those achieved through new construction alone. The questions posed are: What psychological responses do people have in preserved versus newly constructed buildings, and how do these responses affect the project’s purpose and success? What design strategies can be implemented to evoke a sense of place while integrating more modern functionality? How can adaptive reuse projects become sparks of community and economic revitalization?

Acknowledgments

We want to thank Jay Mace for providing us with the original construction documents and for allowing us to visit the school. We would also like to thank the public library for providing us with research information, rather than through old pictures or articles about the building. We would like to thank Sarah Hathcock for helping us through the research process, and lastly, we want to thank the students from the IARC 4100 class for providing any additional information or photos they may have of the building.

Degree

B. S.; An honors thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Science.

Date

8-2026

Subject

Historic preservation--Tennessee--Chattanooga; Environmental psychology; Architecture--Psychological aspects

Keyword

historic preservation, environmental psychology, interior architecture

Discipline

Historic Preservation and Conservation

Document Type

Theses

Extent

177 unnumbered leaves

DCMI Type

Text

Language

English

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

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