On February 20th , 2018 Keep Knoxville Beautiful will host its annual Orchid Awards dinner, honoring Knoxville’s most beautiful properties, public spaces, and public art.

Awards will be presented to winners in six different categories: Environmental Stewardship, New Architecture, Outdoor Spaces, Public Art, Redesign/Reuse, and Restaurant/Café/Bar/Brewery.

“We received a wide range of nominated properties that exemplify Knoxville’s continuous development”, stated Keep Knoxville Beautiful Executive Director Alanna McKissack. “Once again, the Redesign/Reuse category continues to be our strongest, with projects showcasing Knoxville’s value for historical preservation.”

The nominees for Environmental Stewardship are the City of Knoxville’s Public Works Building and the parking lots of Lakeshore Park.

The nominees for New Architecture are East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Scripps Addition, Gastrointestinal Associates Medical Building, KCDC’s Senior Living facility, the Knoxville Area Association of Realtors, South Knoxville Elementary’s Library Entrance, and the University of Tennessee’s Volunteer Boulevard Parking Garage.

The nominees for Outdoor Spaces are Baker Creek Preserve, the Cagle Terrace Garden, the Fulton High School Garden, Marble Hall and Pavilion at Lakeshore Park, St. John’s Cathedral Prayer Garden, and the University of Tennessee’s Volunteer Boulevard beautification.

The nominee for Public Art is Zoo Knoxville’s entrance sign.

The nominees for Redesign/Reuse are All Smiles Family Dentistry, Asheville Highway Animal Clinic, the Knoxville Botanical Garden Mule Barn, Market Square Parking Garage’s Restrooms, Master Dry, McMillan Flats, The Ely Building, The Park at Fountain City, The Prince Building, and The Tennessean.

The nominees for Restaurant/Café/Bar/Brewery are Elkmont Exchange, So Kno Taco Cantina, and Steamboat Central.

Additionally, The Mary Lou Horner Beautification Award will be granted to a former Orchid Award winner whose property remains Orchid-worthy.

Keep Knoxville Beautiful is honored to have a panel of judges from various outlets in Knoxville. The judges for the 2018 Orchids are Mary Campbell of the University of Tennessee, Leslie Fawaz of the East Tennessee Community Design Center, Alan Sims of Inside of Knoxville, City Councilman Marshall Stair, and Anne Wallace of the City of Knoxville Office of Redevelopment.

Keep Knoxville Beautiful will announce the winners of the beautification awards at the Orchids Awards Dinner on Tuesday, February 20, 2018, at 6:00 at The Standard, 416 W. Jackson Avenue. The evening will include live music, a silent auction with complimentary beer and wine reception, dinner, and the awards ceremony. Erin Gill, the Sustainability Director for the City of Knoxville, is the speaker.

For tickets, please visit www.keepknoxvillebeautiful.org/orchid-awards/.

All proceeds benefit Keep Knoxville Beautiful’s programs.


About Keep Knoxville Beautiful

Founded in 1978 to help “clean up” prior to the 1982 World’s Fair, Keep Knoxville
Beautiful is a local non-profit with a mission to promote a cleaner, greener, and more beautiful community.

We pursue this by:
• Educating students and the public about waste-prevention, litter, recycling, and
environmental stewardship
• Facilitating and supporting litter pickups that make our roads and local waterways
cleaner
• Creating and protecting murals and hosting beautification mobs to make
Knoxville a more beautiful and interesting place to live and visit

During the 2016- 2017 year, we:
• Facilitated or supported 61 litter pickups
• Collected 55,615 pounds of litter
• Planted 18,000+ daffodil and tulip bulbs
• Planted 100 crepe myrtle trees planted.
• Reached 1,255 kids with our presentations
• Used our recycling trailer and recycling bins to provide recycling for 10 events
• Worked with 1,542 volunteers
• Facilitated 4,108 volunteer hours

To learn more about Keep Knoxville Beautiful, visit keepknoxvillebeautiful.org.