East Tennessee Community Design Center

East Tennessee Community Design Center To Envision, Inspire and Improve East Tennessee through Design

We are proud members of the following organizations:

Alliance for Better Nonprofits -
https://www.betternonprofits.org/

Arts & Culture Alliance - https://www.knoxalliance.com/

Knoxville Chamber of Commerce - https://www.knoxvillechamber.com/

North Knoxville Business & Professional Association - https://northknoxvillebpa.wordpress.com/

Tennesseans For The Arts - https://www.tn4arts.org

Urban Land Institute - https://uli.org/

Looking for an opportunity to get more involved with the Design Center? Consider volunteering to help at the Celebration...
08/27/2026

Looking for an opportunity to get more involved with the Design Center? Consider volunteering to help at the Celebration of Design! Sign-ups for volunteer shifts are now open at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0444A5A929A0FBC52-64960180-celebration #/.

Anyone is welcome to volunteer--no design experience required! Each volunteer will receive a free ticket to attend the Celebration of Design.

ETCDC is proud to recognize Shora Foundation as the 2026 recipient of the Annette Anderson Directors’ Award for their pl...
08/25/2026

ETCDC is proud to recognize Shora Foundation as the 2026 recipient of the Annette Anderson Directors’ Award for their planned Five Fourteen Mulvaney Youth and Garden Center.

Founded in 2008, Shora Foundation exists to provide a safe place for those in under-resourced areas by creating opportunities and transforming communities. Through its vision for the Five Fourteen Mulvaney Youth and Garden Center, Shora is creating a transformative community hub that will support East Knoxville’s young people, strengthen local entrepreneurship, promote urban agriculture, and foster greater opportunity and connection. This work embodies Annette Anderson’s enduring legacy of community-centered leadership, meaningful collaboration, and quality design in service to a better East Tennessee.

Professional volunteers Brandon Pace, FAIA; Caroline Lezon, ASLA, PLA; and Claire Shue, AIA of Sanders Pace Architects provided the initial conceptual design work for this project. Shora is now contracting with Sanders Pace to create construction-ready documents and bring this project to life.

Please join us in honoring Shora Foundation at the Celebration of Design on October 14, 2026! Tickets are available now at communitydc.org/celebrate.

ETCDC is proud to recognize L. Duane Grieve, FAIA as the 2026 recipient of the Bruce McCarty Community Impact Award. ⁠⁠F...
08/22/2026

ETCDC is proud to recognize L. Duane Grieve, FAIA as the 2026 recipient of the Bruce McCarty Community Impact Award. ⁠
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For more than five decades, Duane has helped shape a stronger and more vibrant East Tennessee through architecture, historic preservation, civic leadership, education, and public service. ⁠
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Whether as an architect, Knoxville City Council member, vice mayor, or past executive director of the East Tennessee Community Design Center, Duane has championed thoughtful design, preserved treasured places, and expanded access to professional design and planning assistance throughout the region. ⁠
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His enduring commitment to collaboration and community exemplifies the spirit of the Bruce McCarty Community Impact Award.⁠
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Join us at the 2026 Celebration of Design as we celebrate Duane's remarkable legacy and the countless ways he has strengthened our profession and our region.⁠ ⁠
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Get your tickets today at communitydc.org/celebrate!

Express yourself and show your support for the arts in Tennessee with a Tennessee Arts Commission Arts Plate!⁠The sale o...
08/20/2026

Express yourself and show your support for the arts in Tennessee with a Tennessee Arts Commission Arts Plate!
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The sale of each specialty arts plate allows the Tennessee Arts Commission to fund arts programs across the state, including community arts groups, art education, museums, and arts-based nonprofits like us!

Learn more and get your arts plate today at https://tnspecialtyplates.org/.

We’re proud to recognize FirstBank as a sponsor of ETCDC’s 2026 Celebration of Design! Founded in Tennessee more than a ...
08/19/2026

We’re proud to recognize FirstBank as a sponsor of ETCDC’s 2026 Celebration of Design!

Founded in Tennessee more than a century ago, FirstBank
combines the resources of a full-service financial institution with the personal relationships and local decision-making of a community bank. From personal banking to business services and lending, their team helps individuals, entrepreneurs, and organizations turn plans into progress while staying connected to the communities they serve.

We’re grateful to FirstBank for investing in East Tennessee and for supporting ETCDC’s work to create stronger, more thoughtfully designed communities. Thank you for helping make the 2026 Celebration of Design possible!

There's still time to register as a sponsor! Visit communitydc.org/celebrate for more information and to secure your sponsorship today.

One of the most anticipated parts of the Celebration of Design is our silent auction. Take a look at a few of the items ...
08/16/2026

One of the most anticipated parts of the Celebration of Design is our silent auction. Take a look at a few of the items from last year's auction, and it's easy to see why!

This year's auction will feature a vibrant collection of original artwork, handcrafted pieces, special experiences, local gifts, and one-of-a-kind items generously donated by artists, businesses, and community supporters from across East Tennessee.

Whether you're searching for a distinctive piece of art, a unique experience, or the perfect gift, you'll find something worth bidding on—all while supporting ETCDC's mission to envision, inspire, and improve East Tennessee through design.

We're accepting auction donations and would love to feature your artwork, handcrafted item, experience, or business contribution. Every donation helps expand the auction while directly supporting ETCDC's programs throughout the coming year.

Tell us about your donation here: https://form.jotform.com/261394861769170

Thank you to the incredible organizations already supporting this year’s Celebration of Design.Your generosity allows ET...
08/10/2026

Thank you to the incredible organizations already supporting this year’s Celebration of Design.

Your generosity allows ETCDC to continue providing planning, design, and technical assistance to nonprofits and communities throughout East Tennessee.

There's still time to join this outstanding group of sponsors! Head to communitydc.org/celebrate to learn more about the available sponsorship packages and to register today. The deadline for sponsor registration is Friday, September 25, 2026.

(Note: sponsor logo image reflects sponsors as of August 4, 2026)

Every thriving community starts with thoughtful design.Attending the Celebration of Design directly funds ETCDC’s effort...
08/06/2026

Every thriving community starts with thoughtful design.

Attending the Celebration of Design directly funds ETCDC’s efforts to continue providing design assistance to community groups and nonprofits throughout East Tennessee, like the Union County Farmer's Market and Heritage Park.

Using design plans produced by ETCDC and volunteers Oren Yarbrough, AIA (Design Innovation Architects) and Randy Merritt (formerly of The Christman Company), the Farmer's Market received a grant from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to fund the construction of a Farmer's Market pavilion extension, commercial and culinary arts learning kitchen, and outdoor stage. Future development phases will focus on construction of a parking lot and heritage music wall construction.

The pavilion has been completed and in operation since Spring 2025, and the stage area is in the final stages of construction. The area designated for the teaching kitchen is about 70% complete; the team is currently working to raise funds to purchase and install the necessary remaining commercial kitchen equipment.

Come celebrate with us, and help us continue to make projects like these possible! Tickets and sponsorships are available at communitydc.org/celebrate

Congratulations Legacy Parks Foundation and Knox County Government! We are grateful to to have been part of bringing thi...
07/28/2026

Congratulations Legacy Parks Foundation and Knox County Government! We are grateful to to have been part of bringing this wonderful community amenity to life.

📣 Help us spread the word: ETCDC is accepting applications for two paid Fall 2026 fellowship opportunities!Through the E...
07/28/2026

📣 Help us spread the word: ETCDC is accepting applications for two paid Fall 2026 fellowship opportunities!

Through the ETCDC Community Design Fellows Program, emerging professionals can gain hands-on experience, mentorship, portfolio-building opportunities, and meaningful connections while contributing to community-centered design work across East Tennessee.

🏛️ Annette Anderson Fellowship: DesignWorks Archive & Storytelling Fellow
A strong opportunity for students interested in storytelling, communications, history, photography, journalism, nonprofit management, architecture, planning, or related fields. The fellow will help document and share the long-term impact of ETCDC’s work through research, interviews, photography, video, writing, and archive management.

📐 DesignWorks Fellowship: DesignWorks Project Support Fellow
Designed especially for students in architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture, urban planning, or related fields. The fellow will support active DesignWorks projects through research, client interviews, site visits, photography, pre-design assessment, project briefs, and conceptual documentation.

Fellowship details:
📅 September 8–December 4, 2026
⏱️ Up to 20 hours per week
💵 $15 per hour
📍 Knoxville-based with regional travel
📝 Applications due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on Friday, August 14

Please share this post or tag a student, faculty member, emerging professional, or community partner who may be interested.

Application materials and questions may be sent to [email protected].

Address

1300 N Broadway Street
Knoxville, TN
37917

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18655259945

Website

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