case study - Contract Furniture Alliance

case study
project
architect
general contractor
photographer
square footage
completion
university of tennessee, knoxville, ayers hall restoration
weeks, ambrose, mcdonald Inc. & ross fowler
southern contractors & johnson & galyon
jerry habrakin
88,256
january 2011
In keeping with the University’s decision to save as much of the original building’s materials as possible, slate blackboards
from 1921 were preserved to maintain the historical integrity of the building and integrated into faculty offices (shown
bottom left). Many classrooms received new chalkboards in custom designed mobile frames (shown above) to match
the original boards, as well as more modern wall-mounted glass boards.
dean’s office with
built-in storage wall
custom offices
restored chalk boards
knoxville | nashville | memphis | chattanooga | johnson city | www.contractfurniturealliance.com
clock tower logo on conference chairs
The original Ayers tower was prepped for
clocks, but due to financial constraints
the clocks were never installed.
The restoration funded new iconic clocks
and has added more nostalgia than ever.
challenge
solution
result
Ayers Hall, which houses the
College of Arts & Science, is the
most recognizable building on
campus. This 1921 building’s recent
restoration became the first on
campus to achieve LEED certification,
Silver level. Furnishings had to mirror
these sustainable design practices,
which focused on maintaining the
historical and architectural grandeur
of the building, while further
meeting the technology demands of
the 21st century .
There was nothing standard about
the furnishings for this building,
with nearly every piece of furniture
calling for special attention. Original
slate blackboards were removed, cut
down, and repurposed for faculty
offices and student commons areas.
Offices received custom desks and
built-in storage that mimicked
existing wood finishes and moldings.
New amenities, such as wood blinds
& custom logos, complimented it’s
old Gothic Revival charm.
With many of Ayers’ technology &
energy saving updates hidden from
sight, it’s ten classrooms, three
conference rooms, computer labs,
Dean’s office, meeting rooms, and
two specialized Math classrooms
for the are adorned with furniture
that is destined to catch the eye . CFA
account manager Pam Allen recalls,
“it was a remarkable privilege to
furnish the most iconic building on
campus. We spent countless hours in
the details of every piece to ensure
that the furniture becomes an
integral part of the overall story.
modern glass boards
admin offices
math study carrels
knoxville | nashville | memphis | chattanooga | johnson city | www.contractfurniturealliance.com