June 1, 2025
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 16-county region.
Historic Kern’s Bakery also earned an Award of Excellence from East Tennessee Historical Society on May 31 for significant contributions to the preservation, promotion and interpretation of the region’s history.
“We are honored to be recognized with East Tennessee Preservation Awards and an East Tennessee Historical Society Award of Excellence for our efforts in preserving three local sites,” said Daryl Johnson, founder and president of Johnson Architecture. “Historic Kern’s Bakery has been an iconic landmark in our community for nearly 100 years and now has a bright future, welcoming new generations. Our entire team gets the benefit of a restored century-old building, which now serves as our design studio. The Vose School, which opened in 1918, is a historically significant site.”
Johnson Architecture provided master planning and architectural design services for Historic Kern’s Bakery, reimagining more than 70,000 square feet to become Kern’s Food Hall, where visitors can shop, dine and gather. The space celebrates the building’s rich history by preserving the original Art Deco design and other key elements while incorporating modern features.
The Johnson Architecture design studio at 2018 Davenport Road in South Knoxville holds a rich history. Constructed in the 1920s, it previously housed Advance Metal Fabrication and has served various industrial and storage purposes over the decades. The site was in severe disrepair and is now a modern and functional workspace for the Johnson Architecture team, while showcasing and preserving the building’s original industrial aesthetic.
The Historic Vose School in Alcoa also received preservation recognition for its restoration and transformation into residential units. Constructed in 1916, the Vose School is the oldest schoolhouse in Blount County and one of the first schools in the area to have indoor plumbing and electricity. After sitting vacant for decades, the property fell into disrepair. Johnson Architecture partnered with Reagan Design and Construction to create a reimagined floor plan that maintained the sense of space of the original four-square school rooms and expansive central hallway.
“New designs are exciting, but I think historic preservation and reuse projects are the ones that reside in our souls because they’re so important to the fabric of our community,” Johnson said. “We’re so appreciative for the opportunity to have a role in bringing these historic places back to life and protecting them for the future.”
