KUB Engineering Building

To meet the needs of a growing engineering staff and attract young talent, a local utility recognized the need to expand out of their undersized and dated facility. Rather than building a new larger building on an existing green field site, the project team took an innovative approach adding a modern, glass building on a parking area, expanding the capacity of the existing building and creating a more formal outdoor area for employees to enjoy. A new glass entrance delicately connects the addition and existing building, a move that respects and celebrates the relationship between old and new.

The existing campus has a very recognizable language characterized by finned, precast concrete panels on a repetitive 5’ rhythm, prevalent among public service architecture throughout the Tennessee Valley. This iconic language was reinterpreted in the new structure, replacing the precast rhythm with finned, aluminum curtain wall on the same module, maximizing day lighting for all occupants. To help define a new culture of collaboration for the company, all support spaces were consolidated to a support core, maximizing open office space and views. The light-filled, open office is wrapped by various highly transparent collaboration spaces to encourage project teams to connect regularly, formally, and informally.

The project was recently awarded LEED Certification in 2021. In sync with the company’s forward focus on stewardship of our natural resources, the project’s sustainable design strategies are a visual testament to modern resource systems and model responsible leadership toward the environment for the entire community.