University of Tennessee Zeanah Engineering Complex

The site exists between Neyland Stadium, the historic campus on the Hill, and the Tennessee River. The project is designed to sit within the Collegiate Gothic style of the University of Tennessee’s campus while addressing its more modern neighbors and providing expansive views to the river to the south. The building utilizes materials such as brick and intricate limestone that celebrates the campus language and stitch into the existing campus fabric. With its unique sighting, the new building along with the site design works to create a thoughtful that provides not only a new gateway to the College of Engineering, but a new entrance from the Southeast side of the campus that engages Neyland Drive and the Tennessee River.

The interior of the building focuses on two main design ideas: Engineering on Display and Diversity and Inclusion. Through the use of materials, tectonic connections, layering of spaces, and transparencies, the concept of engineering on display is not only seen through the physical architecture of the space, but also truly highlights the incredible innovation happening within. The theming and branding focus heavily on displaying a diverse population and collaboration spaces are all designed to be universally inclusive to all, both top priorities for the College of Engineering which is working diligently to attract these underrepresented populations.

Framework for Design Excellence

Design for Integration – The Zeanah Engineering Complex is designed to be a gateway for the Tickle College of Engineering. The building aims to be the central home that brings all engineering disciplines together and captures the essence of engineering. The design captures all non-programmed space and creates multiple opportunities for different types of gathering. The dynamic energy of the collaboration is felt throughout the building as it radiates through five-story atrium. The true beauty of engineering is highlighted in both the materiality and tectonics of the building, but also in layering of spaces and transparency to celebrate the innovation happening within.

Design for Equitable Communities – The Zeanah Engineering Complex is design as an innovation hub where UT students come together and collaborate on research with academic communities on campus and research partnerships including several community entities such as Oak Ridge National Laboratories and Consolidated Nuclear Security/Y-12. In addition, the building frames three major public spaces: The north plaza becomes a resting place for those traveling to and from the historic campus on the hill, the south plaza opens up as the building splays to invite all students and guests through the gateway from the greenway, the river walk, and Neyland Drive, and lastly the space between the building and Neyland Stadium is carved into a tiered, grass amphitheater provides a beautiful space for public gatherings, especially on UT football game days.

Design for Ecosystems –
The team focused on native plantings to support the regional ecosystem:
• 10 out of the 12 trees planted at Zeanah are considered native cultivars including the Tulip Poplar which is also the state tree.
• 7 of 10 woody shrubs are native cultivars with 6 of them considered high-value pollinators
• 1 of 3 types of grass are native
• 1 of 2 ground covers are native and high-value pollinators
• 95% of the green roof is sedum which is both native and considered a pollinator.

Design for Water – The building houses the University of Tennessee’s first major green roof, not only to aid in reduction of the heat island effect, but also mitigate stormwater runoff.

Design for Economy – This building was designed as a 100 year building. The life cycle of all elements was a strong consideration for the design team. Natural materials are utilized such as brick masonry, limestone masonry, concrete, and fiber cement panels to withstand the lifespan of the building. Another consideration was on-going maintenance. This building is one of many large buildings on campus and providing the client with a building that they could service and maintain over the years was an important factor to the design team. Design elements such as lights within the atrium and the reach of the maintenance staff is just one example of many design drivers for the project and challenged the designer’s ways of thinking.

Design for Energy – The building was designed for maximum flexibility to meet the evolving needs of the College of Engineering. Many operable walls allow classrooms to be transformed into multipurpose spaces. Designing the building in this way helps the college to be able to grow and adapt in the building without the need for major renovation or demolition to accommodate their ever-changing needs. In addition, the university has a robust recycling program. Recycling niches are built throughout the project.

Lastly, the new Engineering Services Facility is designed to meet the State's High-Performance Building Requirements. Specific MEP related sustainable design features that will provide savings in life cycle costs are listed below.
- Mechanical Systems:
• Variable-volume air handling systems with variable speed fans.
• Variable primary flow chilled water system with a single set of variable speed chilled water pumps.
• Variable flow heating water system with variable speed pumps.
• Variable speed cooling tower fans.
• Demand controlled ventilation for high-occupancy spaces.
• Duct static pressure setpoint variation.
• High-efficiency chillers.
• Equipment and distribution systems selected for low air pressure drop.
• Reset of building temperature set points.
• Separate air handling systems for laboratories and non-laboratory areas.
• Alternate: Integrated, high-efficiency, runaround-type energy recovery system to recover heat between the laboratory exhaust and outside air streams.
• Alternate: Recovery of cooling coil condensate for reuse as cooling tower makeup.
- Plumbing Systems:
• Low flow toilets, urinals, and lavatory faucets.
- Electrical Systems:
• High-performance light-emitting diode (LED) luminaires.
• Occupancy sensors in enclosed offices, classrooms, lab support spaces, copying rooms, file rooms, storage rooms, and conference rooms.
• 10 CFR 431-2013 compliant dry-type transformers.

Design for Well-being – A decentralized floor plan utilizes transparency to bring daylight deep into the interiors of the building. Large expanses of glass at the ends of the building wings frame views of campus and the river. These areas provide places for pause and collaboration while creating a scenic experience from within the building. On the exterior of the building, there are many bike racks to encourage alternate routes of transportation. The building's adjacency to both the greenway and downtown, make this project the perfect gateway into the campus for those biking or walking to the University.

Design for Resources – This facility pushes the design of buildings on the University of Knoxville’s campus by incorporating sustainable elements such as its first major green roof; approximately 30% of the roof is vegetated/green roof. In addition, many local materials were sourced and utilized for this project. For example, custom wood collaboration niches were constructed by local fabricators using hickory wood.

Design for Change – The building was specifically designed for flexible and adaptable teaching and research needs. It features innovative learning spaces to support a variety of interdisciplinary projects and reconfigurable collaborative spaces for students. The design and function of the building focuses on hands-on learning, maker spaces, student and faculty research, technology-rich learning spaces, and long-term flexibility to optimize adaptation to emerging programs and technologies.

Design for Discovery – Our relationship with the University of Tennessee expands far beyond this project. We frequently meet to discuss lessons learned for projects after they are constructed and lived in for many years. Each project provides an opportunity to learn how we can improve and we attempt to solve the design challenge in a better way with each project that we have the privilege of working on with the University.