On Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 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 Space, New Architecture, Public Art, Restaurant / Café / Bar / Brewery, and Environmental Stewardship. These awards are given to properties and artwork that 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 fourth time. 

The winners for Redesign / Reuse were The Press Room and the new Embassy Suites on Gay Street. The winner for Outdoor Space was the Augusta Quarry at Fort Dickerson Park.  The winners for Community Space were the Birdhouse and the Marble City Community Garden.. The winners for New Architecture were the University of Tennessee Student Union and The Crozier. For Public Art, the winner was the Market Square garage mural Cassiopeia. The winner for Restaurant / Café / Brewery were Oak Room by Abridged and Chesapeake’s West. Lastly, the winner of the Environmental Stewardship award was the new KUB Engineering Building. 

The Mary Lou Horner Beautification award was given to KUB’s Miller Building for their continued commitment to beautifying Knoxville by opening their lower level as a storefront. This award is given to a previous Orchids winner that has maintained or enhanced their orchid-worthy status. 

Retired Knox County Solid Waste Director Tom Salter presented The Felicia Award to Knox County Community Development Director Dwight Van de Vate.  This award is given to an individual that has exemplified the mission of Keep Knoxville Beautiful. Dwight has served in numerous capacities with Knox County. During his time as the Director of Engineering and Public Works, Dwight played a key behind-the-scenes role in making sure Knox County was combating litter. 

Over 300 people attended the event, and guests enjoyed music from Old City Buskers, a complimentary beer and wine reception provided by the Brewing Distilling Center, Elst Brewing, and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. Post Modern Spirits also provided specialty cocktails for the guest. The night’s guest speaker was Mandi McKay, the Sustainability Manger for Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.

Keep Knoxville Beautiful announced its plan to build the first environmental education mobile-classroom in Knoxville, The Earth Explorer.  Over the next year, Keep Knoxville Beautiful hopes to raise $75,000 to provide Knox County students with a new and enhanced way to learn about being good environmental stewards.  For more information and to donate, www.keepknoxvillebeautiful.org/earth-explorer.

All proceeds from the Orchids Beautification Awards will go to benefit Keep Knoxville Beautiful education and beautification programs. 

The nominees were:

Redesign / Reuse
• 822 Sevier Avenue, Chesapeake’s West, Commerce Building- Downtown Knoxville MIG, Cowan Cottage, Elst Brewing + Taproom, Embassy Suites, First Presbyterian Church, Full Service BBQ, Knoxville High Independent Senior Living, KYBRA Athletics, The Press Room, Maple Hall and The Parlor, Market Square Public Restrooms, Park City Improvement Company, SmartBank, The Daniel, The Orangery Village, The Mill and Mine, and The Swift.

Outdoor Space
• Augusta Quarry at Fort Dickerson Park, Jackson Avenue- Old City Redevelopment, Jewelry Television Entry Plaza, Randy Tyree Performance Lawn at World’s Fair Park, Suttree Landing Pavilion and Kayak Launch, UT Volunteer Boulevard Streetscape, and Waterfront Drive.

Public Art
• Cassiopeia-Market Square Garage Mural, Visit Knoxville’s KNOX Letters, and the Karns Senior Center- 1 Karns Mosaic Mural.

New Architecture
• Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart Jesus, Hardin Valley Middle School, KCDC’s Five Point Phase 3, Regions Bank- Northshore, Summit Corporate Headquarters Office Building, Tate’s School Multipurpose Building- “The Barn”, The Crozier Condominiums, The University of Tennessee Golf Facility, The University of Tennessee Student Union, and the Volunteer Boulevard Parking Garage.

Community Space
• All Saints Catholic Church Community Garden, Birdhouse- Porch Restoration, New Hopewell Community School, Marble City Community Garden, and Saint John’s Prayer Garden.

Restaurant / Cafe / Brewery 
• Bluhen Botanicals Wellness Center, Central Filling Station, Full Service BBQ, Chesapeake’s West, Maple Hall and The Parlor, The Oak Room by Abridged, Elst Brewing + Taproom, and Fin Two.

Environmental Stewardship 
• Shelton Group and the new KUB Engineering Building.