Mobile Art Gallery Earns 2026 AIA Tennessee Merit Award

MHM is excited to announce that the Mobile Art Gallery received an Award of Merit for New Construction at the 2026 AIA Tennessee Design Awards.

Originally designed and built by MHM volunteers for PARK(ing) Day 2024 in partnership with Knoxville’s Arts & Culture Alliance, the Mobile Art Gallery began with a simple goal: bring local art beyond traditional gallery walls and directly into the community. Working with a budget of less than $500, the team created a modular, adaptable installation designed to maximize its usefulness well beyond the one-day event.

Constructed primarily from birch plywood, the gallery uses a flexible system of panels that can be quickly assembled, rearranged, disassembled, and stored. Its modular design allows it to function as a freestanding gallery, stage backdrop, space divider, or outdoor exhibition, with additional components serving as seating or pedestals for artwork. This versatility allows the Arts & Culture Alliance to continually adapt the installation for different artists, events, and spaces.

Sustainability and resourcefulness were central to the design. Rather than creating a temporary installation destined for disposal after PARK(ing) Day, the MHM team focused on developing a durable system that could continue supporting the Arts & Culture Alliance and its mission of connecting artists with the community.

“The constraints became the source of invention, producing a flexible exhibit system that brings art, dignity, and cultural access to broader audiences. It is a compelling reminder that architecture can be powerful, even when modest in size and cost.””

— Awards Jury

The AIA Tennessee jury praised the project for turning its constraints into opportunities for creativity, describing the result as a flexible system that expands access to art and demonstrates the impact architecture can have even at a modest scale and cost.

What began as a small volunteer effort has become an enduring platform for art, creativity, and community connection. MHM is honored to see the Mobile Art Gallery recognized at the state level and proud of the team members who volunteered their time and talents to bring it to life.

Celebrating MHM’s 2026 Summer Interns

As summer comes to a close, we want to recognize the talented group of interns who spent the season learning, collaborating, and contributing alongside the MHM team.

Representing architecture and interior architecture programs at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, our interns brought fresh perspectives, creativity, and plenty of enthusiasm to the studio. We’re grateful for everything they contributed this summer and excited to see where their education and careers take them next!

Standing, left to right: Ava Peavy, Tate Brock, & Krista Watts. Seated, left to right: David Dunn, Landon Parker, & Claire Williams.

Krista Watts

• School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville

• Program: Bachelor of Architecture, Fifth Year

• Fun Fact: Krista is an avid hiker and backpacker who also enjoys rock climbing, playing bass guitar, painting, and giving old clothes a second life through upcycling.

Claire Williams

• School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville

• Program: Bachelor of Science in Interior Architecture, Fourth Year

• Fun Fact: Claire practices yoga in her free time and hopes to eventually become an instructor.

Tate Brock

• School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville

• Program: Bachelor of Architecture, Fifth Year

• Fun Fact: On the weekends, you’ll often find Tate searching antique stores and woodshops for inspiration and materials for his next furniture-building project.

David Dunn

• School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville

• Program: Master of Architecture, Second Year

• Fun Fact: A former Stanford University rower, David remains active in the sport as an assistant coach for Atomic Rowing in Oak Ridge and a member of East Tennessee’s rowing community.

Landon Parker

• School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville

• Program: Master of Architecture, Class of 2027

• Fun Fact: Landon loves Knoxville’s outdoor scene and urban trails. His interests in travel and design have also taken him to places like Marfa, Texas, where he studied the work of artist Donald Judd.

Ava Peavy

• School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville

• Program: Bachelor of Architecture and Design, Rising Fifth Year, Minor in Interior Architecture

• Fun Fact: Ava studied abroad twice—spending three weeks in Italy and three months in Finland. She is also a member of Kappa Delta and an AOT!

Thank you, Krista, Claire, Tate, David, Landon, and Ava, for a great summer! We’ve enjoyed having you as part of the MHM team and appreciate the energy, curiosity, and creativity you brought to the studio. Best of luck as you head back to school—we can’t wait to see what you accomplish next.

Breaking Ground on Golden Age II in East Knoxville

MHM joined LHP Capital, community leaders, and project partners to celebrate the groundbreaking of Golden Age II, a new 90-unit affordable housing community in East Knoxville.

Located near the existing Golden Age Retirement Village, the four-story development will provide 86 one-bedroom and four two-bedroom apartments designed to offer safe, modern, and accessible homes for low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities.

The $31 million development is being made possible through a strong public-private partnership involving LHP Capital, the City of Knoxville, Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC), Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA), and additional financial partners. The community will also include an on-site Service Coordinator to connect residents with resources and support.

MHM is proud to be part of a project that expands access to affordable housing while continuing investment in the East Knoxville community. With construction now underway, Golden Age II is anticipated to welcome its first residents in November 2027.

Knoxville Visitors Center Grand Reopening

MHM joined Visit Knoxville, Holston Construction Services, community partners, and guests to celebrate the grand reopening of the Visit Knoxville Visitors Center following a vibrant renovation designed to create a more welcoming and engaging “front door” to the city.

Located at 301 S. Gay Street in the heart of downtown, the Visitors Center serves both travelers discovering Knoxville for the first time and locals looking to experience more of their hometown. The renovation reimagines the first floor to better support that evolving role, creating a flexible destination for information, events, live music, shopping, and community connection.

Led by MHM, the refreshed interior introduces new casual seating and gathering areas, a meeting space designed for both private and public use, and updates to the retail area and WDVX Blue Plate Stage. A colorful new mural designed and installed by local artist Curtis Glover brings additional energy and a distinctly Knoxville identity to the lobby.

The transformation extends outside as well, with refreshed exterior finishes, new signage, and updates incorporating the green used in Visit Knoxville’s “Calling the Curious” brand. Together, the improvements create a stronger connection between the Visitors Center’s physical environment and the personality of the city it represents.

MHM Principal Nathan Honeycutt joined Visit Knoxville President Kim Bumpas for the May 13 ribbon-cutting, welcoming the community back into the newly transformed space.

MHM is proud to have partnered with Visit Knoxville and Holston Construction Services to create a fresh first impression of Knoxville, one that celebrates the city’s creativity, hospitality, and sense of place while providing a flexible home for the many experiences that bring visitors and locals together.

MHM Celebrates Preservation Honors at 2026 Knox Heritage Awards

It was a special evening for MHM at the 2026 Knox Heritage Preservation Awards, celebrating the people, organizations, and projects helping preserve the places that tell East Tennessee’s story. This year’s awards were especially meaningful, with four MHM projects recognized for their contributions to historic preservation and MHM Chairman Emeritus Douglas McCarty, FAIA, receiving the Spirit of Kristopher Award.

Together, the honors reflect a commitment to preservation that has long been part of MHM’s practice—finding new purpose for historic places while respecting the architecture, stories, and communities that make them worth preserving.

City of Knoxville Mayor’s Award | Historic Sanitary Laundry – 625 N. Broadway

Now home to MHM, the century-old Historic Sanitary Laundry Building was recognized with the City of Knoxville Mayor’s Award for its transformation from a long-vacant industrial landmark into a vibrant new workplace.

Originally constructed in 1925, the building’s rehabilitation preserves the character and history of the former commercial laundry while adapting it to support a modern architecture and design practice. The Mayor’s Award recognizes projects that make exemplary contributions to historic preservation within Knoxville.

Greystone Award | Mechanics Bank and Trust Building – Tennessee Theatre 612 Building

The historic Mechanics Bank and Trust Building at 612 S. Gay Street received a Greystone Award following its rehabilitation and transformation into the Tennessee Theatre’s new 612 Building.

The project gives the historic structure a renewed purpose as an expansion of the neighboring Tennessee Theatre, providing new spaces for patrons, performers, education, community engagement, and Theatre operations. The Greystone Award recognizes significant achievements in historic preservation through stewardship, restoration, and advocacy across the region.

Preservation Merit Awards | Historic Rule House + YWCA Nancy J. Land Center

Two additional MHM projects received Preservation Merit Awards, recognizing the sympathetic rehabilitation of architecturally significant properties.

The Historic Rule House, constructed in 1921 at 2445 E. Magnolia Avenue, has been thoughtfully restored and given new life as the home of Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville’s Anchor Program.

The YWCA Nancy J. Land Center, constructed in 1925 at 420 W. Clinch Avenue, recently underwent an extensive renovation that preserves the historic character of the century-old building while creating updated, accessible, and welcoming spaces to support the YWCA’s mission for generations to come.

Douglas McCarty Receives Spirit of Kristopher Award

The evening brought another meaningful honor as Douglas McCarty, FAIA, Chairman Emeritus, received the Spirit of Kristopher Award for his dedication and outstanding contributions to historic preservation across East Tennessee.

Throughout his career, Doug has championed the buildings, landscapes, and landmarks that give our region its character. His work and advocacy have demonstrated the value of preserving significant places while thoughtfully adapting them to remain active parts of their communities.

For MHM, seeing Doug recognized alongside four projects representing different chapters of Knoxville’s history made the evening particularly special. From a former commercial laundry and historic bank building to a neighborhood residence and century-old community institution, each project demonstrates how preservation can honor the past while creating meaningful opportunities for the future.

We’re grateful to Knox Heritage for these recognitions and for its continued work to protect and celebrate the historic places that make Knoxville and East Tennessee unique.

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