Civic Center — Chattanooga Design Studio

Like all development, urban centers thrive on direction.

And the best people to give it direction are members of the local community.

 
 

Like all development, urban centers thrive on direction.

And the best people to give it direction are members of the local community.

    • The Civic Center is the downtown district between 4th Street and 13th Street and between Highway 27 to Houston Street.

    • Notable landmarks in the Civic Center include the TVA campus, Dome Building, Miller Park, EPB Building, Tivoli Theatre, and West Village.

    • A collective vision that guides critical opportunities for the future of Chattanooga’s Civic Center District.

    • The focus is on the heart of the city, delivering visions for key sites and blocks within the 17-block district. 

    • The plan will be advocating for a downtown where people connect.

    • A long-term trend in downtowns across America has been to evolve these spaces into mixed-use areas where people can live, work, and play.

    • Downtown Chattanooga stands on the cusp of dramatic changes that will alter the physical structure of significant portions of the Civic Center District. Now is the time to create a vision for how it will look and feel in the future.

    • The Civic Center District Plan will ensure that local environments are built according to what local people desire. This includes everything from the use of buildings and style of streetscapes to the width of sidewalks and types of public transportation.

    • Timeline: 6 months to complete and deliver a wide range of urban design recommendations and visions for key sites and blocks within the district

    • Phasing: three phases with phase 2 underway (July 2024)

    • The Lyndhurst and Benwood Foundations are generously supporting the development of the Civic Center District Plan.

    • You! Downtown is for everyone! Scroll down to share your perspective.

    • Chattanooga Design Studio will solicit public input and incorporate feedback into the urban design process.

MEET THE TEAM

Chattanooga Design Studio, along with an eleven-person steering committee, unanimously selected the consultant team above.

The team is led by Sasaki, a global integrated design firm; Tinker Ma, a local architecture, interior design and planning firm; Erika Roberts, a local creative strategist and community healer; and James Lima Planning + Development, an urban economic strategist firm.

So many people shared their perspective!

Thanks to everyone for attending the Public Charrette at the Downtown Public Library on Monday, August 12. The feedback received that evening is a critical part of the continued planning process.

Led by Sasaki, the consultant team presented their current findings, as well as some Big Ideas for Chattanooga’s Civic Center.

Many thanks to County Mayor Weston Wamp and the City of Chattanooga Chief of Staff Jermaine Freeman for opening the program and welcoming the community! Thank you to the hundreds of people who took the time to attend and share their input that evening.

Photo credit: Vityl Media Group

Learn ABOUT…

the Big Ideas and view the consultant team’s presentation.

Disclaimer: These are living documents that will evolve as the team takes feedback into account.

Direct your questions to Chattanooga Design Studio info@chattanoogastudio.com or 423.664.4837

 
 

Share your thoughts…

The feedback form closed on September 20th and the consultant team is working on a final draft plan.

Interact…

did you get to see the Big Map and share your feedback? Thanks to the Downtown Public Library for sharing accessible space in the heart of the Civic Center District.

Share your Experience…

Your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve and make your experience in the city even better! This survey closed on September 20.

 

In the past..

The Studio hosted an Open House for the public to meet the design team and give input on the Civic Center District. The event was held at the Waterhouse Pavilion on June 24th with roughly 200 local residents in attendance.