Page 20 - spaces4learning, January/February 2020

spaces4learning FACILITY FOCUS
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
University Center Bridge
Outdoor Spaces
Photos courtesy of Belgard
WHEN THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE IN Knoxville (UT) began upgrades on the university center
— including a new student union and outdoor plaza — it was vital that the space be aesthetically pleasing while addressing the stormwater drainage issues that had plagued the campus for decades. The new Student Union project is organized around major circulation routes into and through the campus.
“Our campus is close to the Tennessee River, so we have
to mitigate stormwater runoff before it gets to the river,” Dan Smith, P.E., project manager at UT told the Interlocking Con- crete Pavement Institute. To accomplish this, the university and project team installed permeable pavers manufactured by Belgard.
The project, dubbed the University Center Bridge, features an eco-friendly, durable concrete paver that reduces water run- off. The Bridge connects the campus classrooms on “The Hill” with the library and UT’s Neyland Football Stadium, creating a picturesque scene.
Naturally, the new Student Union complex is a high- traffic area when class is in session and on game days,
while also acting as a special events space for gatherings, including live broadcasts. The University Center Bridge creates a strong visual connection between the east and west sides of the campus, using a basket-weave paver pattern
that blends design, craftmanship and functionality. In fact, the permeable surface of the new installation enabled the university’s compliance with local stormwater regulations.
Completed in 2017, McCarty Holsaple McCarty Architects & BarberMcMurry Architects teamed up on the design of the project. Rentenbach Constructors, Inc. was the general con- tractor, and Belgard Master Craftsman, Hickory Hardscapes completed the installation.
20 JAN/FEB 2020