Knox County Rescue Headquarters
Project overview
YEAR: 2022 CLIENT: Knox County Rescue LOCATION: 512 N. Chilhowee Drive, Knoxville, TN 37924 VOLUNTEER(S): Ric Mixon, AIA
  • Existing Rescue Squad HQ gets interior and facade renovations to allow for more sleeping and gathering spaces
  • Additional building with more offices and community/conference space built to the right of the existing building
  • Site improvements including more green space, a front flag court, and a back patio

In October of 2021 the ETCDC was contacted by Mohamed Abbas, a volunteer for Knox County Rescue asking for assistance. The Rescue is a nonprofit providing rescue services for car wrecks and small plane crashes, ‘heavy rescues’, cave and vertical rescues, large community event support, and assisting Rural Metro at fire scenes. They respond to over 2,000 calls per year … Read More

Read more

In October of 2021 the ETCDC was contacted by Mohamed Abbas, a volunteer for Knox County Rescue asking for assistance. The Rescue is a nonprofit providing rescue services for car wrecks and small plane crashes, ‘heavy rescues’, cave and vertical rescues, large community event support, and assisting Rural Metro at fire scenes. They respond to over 2,000 calls per year and operate solely upon donations.

Mr. Abbas requested we look at their existing building on Chilhowee Drive and design a plan for renovations, as well as design a new, additional building elsewhere on their site. Ric Mixon, AIA, of Wystwynd Designs, served as the volunteer.

The renovation program for the existing building included more sleeping spaces for overnight volunteers (including an inter-agency suite that KCR can rent out), a restructuring of the kitchen and living spaces, and several other new spaces for storage. Also, all existing vehicle bay doors will be replaced. The new building program included: conference room space, new offices for several staff, storage space for equipment and files, a large training room for volunteers that would double as a space for public classes such as CPR training, a new covered space for a large rescue boat, and an outdoor patio space along the hillside. As well, the overall site was looked at for potential improvements.

The facade of the existing building is to be remodeled with wood paneling (or hardy board panel) near the entrance, and a similar material will wrap around portions of the front of the new building as well. The new building will largely be painted block but will also utilize corrugated galvanized aluminum panels along the front facade with a brick veneer along the first two feet in height from the ground up. The same is true for the existing building’s front facade.

Read less

The ETCDC is excited to learn about your nonprofit or community driven project
and determine if we can provide assistance.

Contact Us