Johnson Architecture has earned a 2025 Keep Knoxville Beautiful Orchids Award for the adaptive reuse of its headquarters, transforming a fading industrial building into a striking, purpose-built office space. Located at 2018 Davenport Road in the South Knoxville Waterfront District, the design of the restored building honored the original industrial character of the structure, while modernizing it for contemporary office …
JAI intern architect Debbie McCarter has successfully completed the Architecture Registration Examination (ARE) to become fully licensed, earning the title of project manager. “Since Debbie joined our team in 2023, she’s worked diligently to pursue the extended process of obtaining licensure while supporting our project managers across all phases of architecture,” said Daryl Johnson, founder and president of Johnson Architecture. …
Johnson Architecture earned two awards from the American Institute of Architects’ East Tennessee chapter for new housing construction for Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC) and a design project for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina. “It is always an honor to be recognized by our peers for our vision and efforts,” said Daryl Johnson, founder, president and …
Johnson Architecture has been named to the inaugural 2025 Forbes America’s Best-in-State Residential Architects list. The full-service architecture and interior design firm is among just ten architectural firms in Tennessee that made the list and one of only 400 recognized across the United States out of 20,000 evaluated. “It’s always rewarding to realize a client’s distinct vision for their home …
From VIP Knoxville, September 2025. As Director of Administration at Johnson Architecture, Inc., Heather Overton plays a pivotal role in ensuring the firm runs with precision and a people-first mindset. Overseeing business operations, human resources and accounting for a talented team of architects and designers, she focuses on streamlining processes so her colleagues can devote more time to their craft. …
Johnson Architecture has hired John Koelsch as a project manager with a focus on the firm’s healthcare projects. “John’s experience with the intricacies of healthcare facility design will prove beneficial to our team as well as existing and new healthcare clients,” said Daryl Johnson, founder and president of Johnson Architecture. “His skill in listening to client needs, then navigating through …
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 …
From Retrofit Magazine, May 13, 2025. Generations of locals fondly remember the scent of fresh-baked bread wafting from the facility, where Kern’s iconic yellow-packaged loaves were baked daily. Founded by Peter Kern in the 1860s, the bakery relocated to South Knoxville in 1931 where it operated as a regional powerhouse for more than 60 years. As time passed, the factory …
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 …
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 …
