JAI mentors next generation of architects and designers

At Johnson Architecture, mentorship is more than a buzzword – it’s an intentional investment in the future of the profession. This summer, two talented interns, Cameron Nelson and Tiffany Meek, are gaining hands-on experience while contributing meaningfully to the firm’s continually growing portfolio of projects. Cameron Nelson A rising fourth-year student in the University of Tennessee’s College of Architecture and …

WATE: Groundbreaking for Grace Performing Arts Center

Construction is underway for Grace Performing Arts Center (GPAC) after a groundbreaking celebration June 8.  JAI is proud to partner with Grace Baptist Church to design the multi-functional facility that will offer arts education in music, dance and visual arts for Grace Christian Academy and Grace Baptist Church. WATE highlighted plans for the facility, designed to nurture creativity, education and …

Three JAI projects earn preservation awards

Three Johnson Architecture projects have been recognized with four 2025 preservation awards – the firm’s new South Knoxville headquarters, Historic Kern’s Bakery and the Vose School in Alcoa. All three projects received East Tennessee Preservation Awards on May 22 in the Preservation Merit Award category. The awards are presented annually by Knox Heritage and recognize excellence in historic preservation in a …

Design a school. Build a community.

By Jeff Williamson When I was a student, our cafeteria doubled as a stage, assemblies were held in the gym, and everyone had a locker—along with a combination they struggled to remember. Those spaces were purely functional, offering little more than a place to learn the basics and move from one class to another. Fast forward to today, and the …

McMorrow Reports: Intentional healthcare design improves patient and provider experiences

From The McMorrow Reports, March 31, 2025. When it comes to healthcare facilities, great design is more about the experiences of those who interact within the space than about an innovative façade. My healthcare clients include two major health systems and seven hospital campuses, and I have concepted plans for freestanding facilities like orthopedic and urgent care clinics.  Despite the …

First Creek at Austin wins two prestigious ULI awards

Johnson Architecture is proud to announce that First Creek at Austin – Phase 1, a project by Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC), has received two distinguished awards from the Urban Land Institute (ULI). The honors were presented on April 30 during a ceremony in Nashville. Transforming community through vision and design As Knoxville’s first mixed-income community, First Creek at Austin …

Retrofit Magazine: Dilapidated structure becomes architecture office

From Retrofit Magazine, Feb. 26, 2025. Johnson Architecture has opened its new headquarters in South Knoxville, Tenn.’s waterfront district amid a community of parks, restaurants and other local businesses. “We look forward to contributing to the vibrant business district in South Knoxville,” said Daryl Johnson, founder and president of Johnson Architecture. “Thanks to the loyalty of our clients, our firm …