University of Tennessee, Knoxville Honored With Awards for Beautification Efforts

KNOXVILLE, TN – The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT) has been honored for its efforts to beautify campus by the 2019 Orchid Awards, a Keep Knoxville Beautiful program that celebrates Knoxville and Knox County’s most attractive properties.

Awards were presented in seven categories. The Ken and Blaire Mossman Building won in the new architecture category, while UT Gardens received the Mary Lou Horner Beautification Award.

Named for the late Ken and Blaire Mossman, the 221,000-square-foot, six-floor Mossman Building opened in September 2018. The building houses microbiology, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, psychology, and nutrition. It features interactive classrooms, gathering spaces and study areas throughout the building, and a checkerboard theme on the exterior. The building’s collegiate Gothic style links it thematically with other new campus buildings.

Recognized in 2013 as the official botanical gardens of Tennessee, the UT Gardens function as an outdoor laboratory to evaluate the performance and landscape use of every type of plant, from trees and shrubs to annuals and perennials to ornamental grasses and aquatic plants. The gardens are a part of the UT Institute of Agriculture.

The Orchid Awards have been held annually since 1979.

Featured

  • ECM Technologies Wins ‘Most Innovative Business of the Year’ Award

    HVAC preventative maintenance and efficiency solutions provider ECM Technologies was recently named the “Most Innovative Business of the Year” at the 2025 Champions of Change Awards, according to a news release. The program recognizes Arizona business leaders and organizations taking steps to make a positive impact on the state through innovative thinking and philanthropy.

  • Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine has been recognized with an EDS 2025 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • University of West Florida Opens New Laboratory Facility

    The University of West Florida recently announced that renovation work is complete on a new lab building for its campus in Pensacola, Fla., according to university news. Building 80 will serve as the home to the university’s civil engineering program and the Tyler Chase Norwood Construction Management Program.

  • Designing Learning Spaces that Support Student Mental Health and Wellness

    In today’s education landscape, schools are more than just centers for learning; they are integral to the holistic development and well-being of students. The global pandemic underscored the importance of addressing mental health in schools, as productivity dropped, stress levels rose and students faced challenges managing emotions.

Digital Edition