Proposed conceptual design solutions for the open space and immediate context of UNUM headquarters building. The team was tasked to re-think the car-parking lot,road layout and traffic patterns with specific attention to pedestrian safety and towards the goal of enhancing aesthetics and branding the emerging corporate giant by lending a strong contextual Chattanooga identity to the through design.

1. UNUM Design Charette
Built environment improvement through landscape design
Mar. 19-20, 2010, Chattanooga, TN
University of Tennessee Knoxville, College of Architecture and Design
Team member:
Faculty:
Dr. Archana Sharma, Assistant Professor, Architecture and Design
Cutis Stewart, Associate Professor, Plant Sciences
Students:
Brandon Smith
Meghann Gregory
Nathan Oliver
Yilin Shi
Hongtai Yang
Michael Payne
Sushant Verma
The project will examine design options to renovate Unum’s Parking Lot A, narrow Walnut Street (between the East
and West buildings) and integration of the South Plaza landscape.
Objective:
Provide schematic design options to integrate Unum’s multi-block facility into a unified master campus plan. The
project should reflect Unum’s corporate social responsibility goals of promoting green and sustainable design and enhance Unum’s place in the community.
Project Description:
•
Address is 500 Walnut Street, Chattanooga
•
Parking Lot A is one city block, 2.2 acres, 270 parking spaces, bounded by 4th and 5th St. and Walnut and
Lookout St.
•
Walnut Street is one way north bound with parallel parking on the west side
•
South Plaza is on the south of the East Building, 500 Walnut St., and has a one way drive controlled by bollards
•
See Site plan attached from April 2009
Program Requirements for New Green Space and Visitors Parking on Lot A:
1.
100 parking spaces for visitors with controlled access
2.
Guard Shack at parking entrance for 1 employee
3.
Maximize green space
4.
Compliment views to Unum’s East Building and main entrance from 4th Street
5.
Convert E. 5th Street into part of the green space.
a.
E. 5th Street between Walnut and Lookout St. will be closed to local traffic
b.
Provide fire truck access to main entrance per City of Chattanooga requirements
c.
This space will used for maintenance vehicles/fire trucks only
6.
No water fountain is requested
7.
A memorial tree is to be placed in honor of employee Susan Wood.
Front view of UNUM building
Program Requirements for the narrowing of Walnut Street:
1.
Walnut Street will be narrowed to slow down and discourage non-local traffic. It will remain one way.
2.
Improve safety for pedestrians crossing between building
3.
No on-street parking allowed
4.
Increase green space and provide outdoor seating
Program Requirements for South Plaza:
1.
Integrate South Plaza landscape design with Lot A and Walnut St. upgrades
2.
Determine if current driveway is to remain or be removed
Desired Output:
Schematic design options (2) for a unified master campus plan. Sketches with plans and design ideas that can be exhibited at Unum Chattanooga.
aerial view of project site
site photos
E 5th Street
Lookout Street
UNUM parking lot A
Walnut Street
team 2: Sushant Verma, Michael Payne
Team 3: Brandon Smith, Meghann Gregory
Team 4: Yilin Shi, Hongtai Yang
Pin up
Workshop
team leader: Prof. Archana Sharma
bridge and Tennessee River
modern
traditional
conceptual plans
team 1: Nathan Oliver, Prof. Cutis Stewart
workshop in UNUM office
Input from Mike Fowler
evening in Chattanooga
view to the river
post editor: Yilin Shi

2. UNUM Design Charette
Built environment improvement through landscape design
Mar. 19-20, 2010, Chattanooga, TN
University of Tennessee Knoxville, College of Architecture and Design
Team member:
Faculty: Prof. Archana Sharma, Prof. Cutis Stewart
Students: Brandon Smith, Hongtai Yang, Meghann Gregory, Michael Payne, Nathan Oliver, Sushant Verma, Yilin Shi
Chattanooga city images
Chattanooga street view
park
constructed wetland
riverfront, modern sculpture
riverwalk
bluff
earth mound in Renaissance park
stained concrete
discussion
characters of Chattanooga city
combine strength of all the design schemes
group work
team 1: Nathan Oliver, Prof. Cutis Stewart
team 2: Michael Payne, Sushant Verma
Team 3: Brandon Smith, Meghann Gregory
Team 4: Hongtai Yang, Yilin Shi
team 2: Sushant Verma, Michael Payne
Team 3: Brandon Smith, Meghann Gregory
Team 4: Yilin Shi, Hongtai Yang
Michael and Sushant
Meghann and Brandon
Input from Linda
bridge between UNUM buildings
corridor of UNUM building
refined plan
team 1: Nathan Oliver, Prof. Cutis Stewart
presentation
Input from Paul
wrap up and leaving for UT
back view of UNUM building, English garden
Court inside UNUM building
post editor: Yilin Shi