On Thursday, February 28, 2019 Keep Knoxville Beautiful hosted the annual Orchids Beautification Awards at The Press Room, 730 N. Broadway, Knoxville TN.
The event honored Knoxville’s most beautiful properties by presenting Orchid Awards in seven different categories: Redesign/Reuse, Outdoor Space, Community Garden, New Architecture, Public Art, Restaurant/Café/Bar/Brewery, and Environmental Stewardship. These awards are given to individuals who are beautifying our dynamic city. Additionally, the Mary Lou Horner Beautification Award was presented, as well as the Felicia Harris Hoehne Award being presented for the third time.
The winner for redesign / reuse was The Tombras Group. The winners for Outdoor Space were Cumberland Avenue Corridor Project and Hyatt Rooftop Bar. The Christenberry Elementary Outdoor Classroom won Community Garden. The winners for New Architecture were KCDC Five Points Phase 2 and the Ken and Blaire Mossman Building. For Public Art, the winner was the Firefly Mural on the Downtown Knoxville Clinch Avenue Pedestrian Ramp. The winner for Restaurant / Café / Brewery was Kefi. Lastly, the winners of Environmental Stewardship were the Gastrointestinal Associates Medical Office Building and the Knoxville Convention Center.
The Mary Lou Horner Beautification award was given to University of Tennessee Gardens for their continued commitment to beautifying Knoxville.
City of Knoxville Public Service Director, Chad Weth, presented The Felicia Award Tom Salter. Tom Salter was KKB’s executive director from 1997-2007 and the Director of Knox County Solid Waste from 2007-2018. The Felicia Award is presented and was created to honor someone who exemplifies KKB’s mission of making Knoxville's a “clean, green, and beautiful” city.
Over 300 people attended the event, and guests enjoyed music from Old City Buskers, a complimentary beer and wine reception provided by Elkmont Exchange and Raddy’s Liquor Center. Post Modern Spirits also provided specialty cocktails for the guest. The night’s guest speaker was Mayor Madeline Roger with a special guest from Keep America Beautiful, Randy Hartman.
Keep Knoxville Beautiful announced the 2019-2020 “Community of the Year” will be Northwest Knoxville. Keep Knoxville Beautiful also announced plans to celebrate their 40th Anniversary with an Environmental and Sustainability Summit on November 8, 2019. Partners include the City of Knoxville and the Knoxville Utilities Board. More information will be announced in the coming months.
All proceeds from the Orchids Beautification Awards will go to benefit Keep Knoxville Beautiful education and beautification programs.
NOMINEES:
Redesign / Reuse
Knoxville High Senior Living, Cowan Cottage, Loch and Key Productions, The Tombras Group, The Press Room, Kefi, Cumberland Avenue Corridor Project, Hyatt Place, Downtown Knoxville, Chesapeake’s West, The Orangery Village, The Mill and Mine, Maple Hall and The Parlor, KYBRA Athletics, The Swift, Bliss Clothing Store & Cruze Farm Ice Cream (Miller's Building), KCDC Five Points Phase 2
Outdoor Space
UT Volunteer Blvd. Streetscape, Dogwood Elementary Nature Trail, Cumberland Avenue Corridor Project, Central Filling Station, Hyatt Place Rooftop Bar, The Mill and Mine, Waterfront Drive, Jackson Avenue - Old City Redevelopment, The Mabry Hazen House
Public Art
Firefly Mural Downtown Knoxville/ Clinch Avenue Pedestrian Ramp, KNOX Letters at the Knoxville Convention Center, Karns Senior Center - 1 Karns Mosaic Mural, State Street Garage Sculpture, Gay Street Viaduct to Jackson Avenue Steps, Right Angle Reply (Tall Grasses)
New Architecture
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hardin Valley Middle School, Gastrointestinal Associates Medical Office Building, Tate's School Multipurpose Building - "The Barn", Ken and Blaire Mossman Building, Regions Bank- Northshore, Tennessee Cancer Specialist, Gibbs Middle School, Greater Knoxville Dermatology, Hardin Valley Internal Medicine & Urgent Care
Community Garden
Christenberry Outdoor Classroom, New Hopewell Community School, Marble City Community Garden, All Saints Catholic Church Community Garden, Saint John’s Prayer Garden
Restaurant/Cafe/Brewery
Full Service BBQ, Kitchen 919, Kefi, Central Filling Station, Chesapeake’s West, Maple Hall and The Parlor, Bliss Clothing Store & Cruze Farm Ice Cream (Miller's Building)
Environmental Stewardship
Gastrointestinal Associates Medical Office Building, Cumberland Avenue Corridor Project, Knoxville Convention Center, Tennessee School for the Deaf High School and Dining Hall