JAI has named three new partners: Emily Haire, Heather Overton, and Kelly Reynolds. “Planning for the future is essential for any business, not just in how we work, but in how we lead,” said Daryl Johnson, founder and president of Johnson Architecture. “The depth and diversity of experience that these three bring to our leadership team is truly remarkable. I’m …
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. …
Four students in the University of Tennessee College of Architecture and Design have received a scholarship from Johnson Architecture for the 2025-26 school year to help enhance their educational experiences. Architecture students Maya Donahue and Madelyn Neidhart and interior architecture students Hannah Bullen and Jaelyn Mendoza are this year’s recipients. The firm established the Johnson Architecture Scholarship in 2021 …
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 …
Katelyn “Katie” Johnson has joined Johnson Architecture as an interior designer. “Katie brings great experience in creating and executing interior design for commercial spaces, as well as the ability to elevate design with the eye of an artist,” said Daryl Johnson, founder and president of Johnson Architecture. “We’re so glad to welcome her to our team.” Johnson earned a bachelor’s …
From Atlanta Style & Design, Summer 2025. For years, Susan and Bill Varner had been keeping an eye on idyllic land on the Tennessee River. Formerly farmland, Arcadia Peninsula had been divided into a small number of unique estate lots in Knoxville, Tennessee. “We used to boat by the tract of land; Bill really wanted to build there,” says Susan …
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 …
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 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 …
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 …
