Blog: Safety Complex Updates

Week 125: Heading into Long Final Home Stretch

Since the transformation of the vacated St. Mary's Hospital into a new Public Safety Complex began in North Knoxville nearly 2.5 years ago, there have been plenty of milestone moments: Obsolete buildings razed. Historic artifacts saved. Tons of dirt and debris moved. New foundations poured. New walls erected. Unneeded walls taken out.

As the $63.7 million project nears its long home stretch, there's still plenty of work to be done before the Public Safety Complex is substantially completed late this year. But it's more about finesse and finishing touches at this point rather than major building blocks.

That means, as examples, crews installing tile in the fifth-floor bathroom of what had been the former Professional Office Building (and what soon will be office space for the Knoxville Police Department). Or ceiling tiles being installed on the seventh floor. And flex drops are going in on the eighth floor. (See photos below.)

Crews this month have been installing tile in a bathroom in what will be the new KPD office space.

Crews this month have been installing tile in a bathroom in what will be the new KPD office space.

7th floor ceiling tile is being installed.

Water pipes are being insulated, and thermostats and light fixtures are being installed. Wiring is going in, and fireproofing protections are being done. Painting is underway.

And along Huron Street, Messer Construction is continuing to install a sidewalk.

In the end, the former hospital site will be a mix of government offices, college classrooms, private redevelopment and public green space.

The City started off by tearing down the old buildings that could not be repurposed and reconstructed three empty buildings - the former Professional Office Building, Central Wing Annex and Women's Pavilion - to serve as a combined complex for the Police and Fire Departments, Pension System, and City Court and E-911 backup operations.

At the former Magdalen Clarke Tower next door, Lincoln Memorial University is privately investing $40 million to create educational opportunities for hundreds of nursing and dental students each year.

The historic 1929 Building was carefully preserved and protected, and it will anchor the north end of the site, which the City cleared as a precursor for future private development. New housing is envisioned on some or all of the site.

In the near future, the City and County also will be jointly converting the 25,000-square-foot former St. Mary's Ambulatory Surgery Center on the south end of the site into an urgent care and behavioral health facility.

Posted by evreeland On 18 July, 2022 at 2:50 PM