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

The adaptive reuse project for Old Brainerd Junior High School aims to transform the historically significant building into a space that better serves the community, as it once did. The goal of this project is to create a space that meets the community's current needs while preserving the building's historical significance. ​ Research methods, such as interviews and surveys, showed that preserving and reusing the building is important to the community because the space holds many memories. When asked, the community mentioned the lack of arts and crafts centers available to Brainerd. With this information, the proposed use of the space will be Brainerd Makers Collective, which fosters creativity through exhibition galleries, art studios, performance art spaces, and work-live apartments, and has additional spaces that support the community in other ways, such as a restaurant, cafe, and gym. ​ Preservation was a priority, so many of the materials in the space were preserved or reused, such as the wall tiles, red clay flooring, and hardwood flooring. Architectural features and details were preserved to ensure the building remains a historic landmark; some were even reinstated in the space after being removed. The outcome is a revitalized space that honors the past while providing a functional environment that supports the future.

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; Historic buildings--Remodeling for other use; Art centers--Design; Adaptive reuse of buildings; Interior architecture

Keyword

Adaptive reuse; historic preservation; arts center; interior design; sustainable design

Discipline

Historic Preservation and Conservation

Document Type

Theses

Extent

365 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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