MHM was honored to participate in the 2025–2026 East Tennessee Community Design Center (ETCDC) Community Collaborative, joining local design professionals, students, community members, and organizations to explore possibilities for the future of North Knoxville.

This year’s Collaborative focused on two longstanding sites: the former Knox Central site (1000 N. Central Street) and the Knox County Schools Maintenance & Operations site (900 E. Fifth Avenue), commonly known as the former Sears building, along North Central Street. Through community input and a collaborative design process, participating teams were challenged to envision how these significant properties could become catalysts for connectivity, reinvestment, and sustainable growth.

The Community Collaborative reflects ETCDC’s ongoing mission to bring design professionals and community voices together to envision what’s possible for East Tennessee. MHM is proud to contribute to that conversation and explore ideas that can help inspire thoughtful, community-centered growth for North Knoxville.

Explore MHM’s full Community Collaborative proposal and design concepts >