June 6, 2023

TennGreen Hike-a-Thon

As a firm with a passion for sustainability and a commitment to preserving natural landscapes, HK Architects eagerly embraced the opportunity to sponsor and partake in the TennGreen Hike-a-thon. TennGreen, a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving Tennessee's natural beauty, organizes this annual event to raise awareness and funds for their conservation efforts. The Hike-a-thon serves as a rallying call, encouraging outdoor enthusiasts to explore the state's stunning trails while supporting a worthy cause.

Youngeun Joung hiked in her home country of Korea. She won best photo for this snap of her and her mother in Bukhansan National Park in Seoul.

 

This event was a fun way for our team to connect, stay motivated, and provide some healthy competition. In total, our team completed 136 adventures in the month of April. We walked away with some pretty awesome stats:

- Most Miles hiked: Youngeun Joung - 2nd Place (197.1)⁠

- Most Miles Trail Run: Clif McCormick - 3rd Place (49.4)⁠

- Most Miles Mountain Biked: Charles Barlow - 3rd Place (58)⁠

- Most Feet Climbed: Tiffany Murphy - 3rd Place (18,158)⁠

Tiffany Murphy won third place for most feet climbed in Tenn Green's Hike-a-Thon 2023.

Tiffany Murphy, interior designer, won third place for most feet climbed.

 

As the Hike-a-thon came to a close, our team realized that our involvement in such events goes beyond the act of hiking and adventuring; it is a symbolic gesture of our commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable design practices. Our involvement in this event helped reignite our passion to continue incorporating sustainable design principles into our projects, ensuring that the built environment coexists harmoniously with the natural world.

April 10, 2023

Nick Messerlian – Principal at HK Architects

HK Architects is proud to announce that Nick Messerlian, AIA, has been made Principal at the 29 person firm; bringing over 16 years of experience in architecture and interior architecture to the leadership team.

Nick joined HK Architects in 2014 as the lead in the Interior Design Studio. He has played a vital role in the firm's success, managing, coordinating, and presenting complete architectural projects. He has a passion for creative problem-solving and is dedicated to finding the best possible design solution in every project he undertakes. Nick is an adept project manager, forming meaningful relationships with clients across the residential, civic, and commercial/industrial fields. 

Nick graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and spent a year studying at the Danish Institute for Study Abroad in Copenhagen. Nick spent seven years in New York City with Axis Mundi, a boutique architecture firm focused on residential interiors. 

Nick's work at HK Architects has been instrumental in the firm's success, and we are thrilled to have him as a Partner. His commitment to excellence and dedication to his craft have made him an invaluable member of the team. Nick is a family man, and he, and his wife, Barbara have two sons, with a third on the way in June. 

Please join us in congratulating Nick Messerlian on his promotion to Principal at HK Architects. We are excited about the future of the firm with Nick's leadership and expertise.

April 11, 2023

March 21, 2023

HK Interiors: Our Studio

The Interior Design Studio at HK Architects aims to always represent the principle our company was founded on - improving the quality of life for those we serve through outstanding design. Our design team offers comprehensive, professional services where the client is the top priority. Our team works diligently to anticipate the needs of the project, create spaces that withstand the test of time, source sustainable materials, and successfully articulate the aesthetic desires of the project.  Through our collaborative process, meticulous coordination, and combined 75 years of experience, we are able to formulate spaces that are a mix of art and design, form and function. 

A modern bathroom with concrete, walnut, and tile finishes.

HK Architects Interior Design Studio designed this modern bathroom for clients in Elder Mountain, TN.

Interior Design Services

Interior design plays a crucial role in the development of a space. We offer services in both residential and commercial projects, no matter the project size. Our team’s approach is defined by years-long, industry proven methods and through our own unique experiences. We believe that successful projects are built around the same core principles: communication, collaboration, problem solving, and implementation. From big visions to minute details, we are able to design thoughtful interiors, manage projects, and find impactful resolutions. 

We aim to seamlessly coordinate design needs between our architectural and interior teams and to exceed expectations.  We offer services to clients nationwide, with extensive expertise in communicating with clients remotely. Services include and are not limited to:

  • Fully digital floor plans, elevations, and details
  • Custom millwork design and coordination
  • Pre-construction and project management services
  • Sustainable product recommendations
  • Lighting, plumbing, and appliance specifications
  • Finish selection for every surface in the design
  • 3D renderings and digital walk throughs
  • Furniture and equipment selection

One of the most valuable services that HK Architects Interior Design Studio offers is the digital renderings and walk throughs. When the space is fully rendered, all finishes, furniture, art, and fixtures are represented so that nothing is left to the imagination. When you work with us, you know the end product will meet your expectations.

A Enscape rendering for a open office area in a large office.

A rendering of an office common area for a client for a tenant build out.

The finished office space from the rendering above.

Our Process

Our process begins with an initial consultation where we meet with the client to assess the project scope, necessities, and potential wants. We then develop a plan of action that achieves the goals in place, strategizing ways to bring sustainable principles into the design. From initial design to construction, each client is assigned a dedicated project manager who knows every detail of the project.  The project manager works with the rest of the studio to bring a design to life that meets all qualifications set forth in initial meetings, works with the client to finesse the project, and finalizes construction documents.

We create spaces with meaning and connect our designs with the architectural form and the surrounding community, ensuring that every design serves a purpose. We would love the opportunity to transform your space. Please contact us at contact@hkarchitects.net to schedule a consultation. 

An office build out in Midtown Atlanta.

March 3, 2023

Building a Custom Off Grid Home

A family from Michigan bought land in Tellico Plains, TN with the intent to build a custom off grid home along the Appalachian Mountains. The custom 4 bedroom and 3 bath  home is located outside of Tellico Plains, a small rural town positioned on the famous Tail of the Dragon Scenic Highway bordered by the Great Smoky Mountains and Cherokee National Forest. The area is also home to the Tellico River, which is a popular trout fishing destination in the region and valued for its scenic beauty. Although this location is remote and about 2 hours from Chattanooga, the area is stunning and the intent of a new construction off the grid project intrigued us.

Four images displaying the beauty of Tellico Plains, Tennessee where the HK Architects off grid custom home is built.

Tellico Plains is a rural area of Tennessee full of natural beauty, adventure, and not a lot of humans.

 

This intriguing project also came with challenges. In addition to the project happening in a remote location it also happened during the pandemic. The supply chain was a challenge across the construction industry and unfortunately, the south as a region is behind on sustainable building methods so assisting in finding a contractor for this project was difficult. One of HK Architect’s founding principals, Heidi Hefferlin, received her General Contractors license and started Wheelhouse Construction in 2019. Given this unique capability, the client decided to move forward with a design/build approach. Construction started August of 2021 with the move-in date set for late Spring of 2023.

 

To be a fully off grid, the house has to be completely self sustainable meaning there is no connection to common utilities such as electricity, gas, and water. This house is fully powered from a solar grid, which is positioned facing south between the house and the shed. Water comes from a 1500 foot deep well on the property. The heating and cooling system is unconventional, minimizing the need for electricity for climate control. To provide efficient, comfortable heat and negate the need for natural gas, the owners opted for radiant heated floors. Radiant heated floors work by pushing hot water through a system of piping in the subfloor. In the case of the Tellico house, the water is heated by a dedicated boiler.

The house is clad in low maintenance materials and is entirely slab on grade, minimizing environmental impact. Currently, rough in electric, plumbing and heat and air is being completed. In the coming months, our team will finish installation of drywall, radiant heat connection, solar array, and finish trim out. Once these tasks are complete, the next focus will be to build the outdoor pergola, hot tub and screen the porch.

Building an off-grid home is not only an environmentally conscious decision but also a unique and fulfilling experience. With careful planning, execution, and the right team, an off-grid home can be a comfortable and sustainable way of living. The Tellico Plains house project is an inspiring example of what can be achieved with the right mindset and approach to off-grid home building.

An Enscape rendering of a side porch with white wood fire hot tub.

A rendering of the mountain top house's side porch with wood fired hot tub, outdoor shower, and a Smoky Mountain view.

February 6, 2023

Historic Preservation: Architecture for the Future

Historic preservation architecture is the practice of protecting and preserving buildings and structures of cultural and historical significance. It involves the careful restoration and rehabilitation of historic properties to retain their original character and integrity while making them functional for future use. 

A large white historical building at Chickamauga Battlefield. Canons ad canon balls, tall white columns, and a grey roof.

HK Architects modernized the porch and roof of the Chickamauga Visitor Center at the historic Chickamauga Battlefield in Fort Oglethorpe, GA in 2014.

HK's History with Historic Preservation 

HK Architect’s core belief in sustainability and timelessness plays heavily in our historic work. We strive to create spaces that will stand the test of time.  Clif McCormick, principal architect at HK Architects, is a recognized expert in the field of historic preservation architecture. With over 20 years of experience, he has a deep understanding of the unique challenges and complexities involved in preserving and restoring historic properties.  Since 2012, Clif has served the state of Tennessee as the Historical Architectural Consultant. He is well versed in the National Park Service Guidelines for Historic Preservations and serves on the Chattanooga Historic Zoning Commission.

His historic preservation work ranges from preserving small buildings on state land to modernizing old Victorian homes to working with universities to modernize and restore buildings on campuses across the state. In some cases, this is a new roof or bathroom update, but in others it can be a complete renovation of the space. 

Bringing the Old to the New

At the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Clif was part of the design team that renovated historic Guerry Hall, home of the UTC honors college – modernizing for today’s students while preserving the rich history and tradition of the school's heritage.  The university wanted to update the flag room, create modern shared workspaces and classrooms for students, and upgrade faculty spaces in the building. HK Architects balanced the need to modernize the university space while retaining elements of the original design that hold significant history on the campus.  Check out more of the project here. 

A large room with traditional, carved wood wall paneling, concrete casted walls, modern furniture and light fixtures, stained glass, and students working. This photo is to demonstrate the preservation and modernization that HK Architects implemented in the Guerry Center at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

HK Architects updated the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Guerry Center Flagroom, modernizing furniture and fixtures, while preserving stained glass and carved wall paneling.

 

Clif is currently involved in a renovation and restoration project in Ducktown, Tennessee at the Ducktown Basin Museum comprising twenty-four historic structures from the original copper mining facility. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are eight large structures used by the museum; some of which include the museum and its offices, two event spaces with new public restrooms, a maintenance workshop, and multiple storage facilities. The purpose of this work is to make the property available to the community for private and public events. 

Small building at the Ducktown Basin Museum that HK Architects preserved for the State of Tennessee.

Small building at the Ducktown Basin Museum historically renovated by Clif McCormick.

About Historic Preservation

The purpose of historic preservation architecture is to ensure that future generations can appreciate and understand the cultural and historical context of the built environment. Though preserving old building certainly considers the past, historical preservation of buildings is focused on the future: preserving the property for future generations and modernizing the building for future use. The buildings and structures that are preserved serve as tangible reminders of the past and represent the cultural, social, and technological advancements of our ancestors.

Challenges in Historic Preservation Architecture

One of the key challenges in historic preservation architecture is balancing the need to preserve the original character of a building with the need to make it functional for contemporary use. For example, many historic properties need to be updated with modern amenities, such as plumbing and electrical systems, to meet current safety and accessibility standards. All updates and changes must not compromise the building’s historical significance. 

Another challenge in historic preservation architecture is funding. Restoring and preserving historic buildings can be costly, and many organizations and governments struggle to secure the necessary resources to support these efforts. Therefore, a lot of the jobs Clif performs for the State of Tennessee mainly consist of preplanning – he visits the site, assesses needs, and writes a program and budget for future work. Consequently, finding the funding would be the next step for the state. Often, properties receive funding long after the original preplanning was done due to complex state budgets. 

A photo from HK’s visit to the historic York Bible School in Pall Mall, Tennessee. An old stone and brick building with a pile of old wood from construction. This is an HK Architects Historic Preservation project under the State of Tennessee Historic Architectural Consultant.

A photo from HK’s visit to the historic York Bible School in Pall Mall, Tennessee. The state of Tennessee is in preplanning and already had some construction underway before Clif McCormick, State Historical Architectural Consultant, was brought in.

 

In conclusion, historic preservation architecture is a critical aspect of our built environment. It provides a connection to our past and helps us understand the cultural and historical context of the buildings and structures that surround us. Whether you are an architect, a history buff, or simply someone who values the beauty and character of our built heritage, historic preservation architecture is a field worth exploring and supporting.

January 9, 2023

2022: A Year in Review

HK: A Year in Review

What a year. 2022 was a year of growth, opportunity, and lots of design. None of this would have been possible without our clients pushing us to create creative  solutions to their design challenges, collaboration with our partners, and the steadfast dedication of our team. As we wrap up a phenomenal year of design, we look forward to everything 2023 will bring.

November 23, 2022

Happy Thanksgiving from HK

 “Appreciation can make a day — even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.”Margaret Cousins

 

We're grateful to you all: employees, clients, and partners. Together, we’ve turned visions into reality. We see our impacts in action all over the city, and we're so grateful for that opportunity. Our diverse group of partners, clients, vendors, and employees continue to turn challenges into successful projects and continue to show up time and time again willing and ready.  We're thankful to work with such a passionate and energetic group of people every day.  We truly couldn’t do it without you, and we're grateful to be able to work with you.

In the design business, we have the privilege and opportunity to listen, take into account available resources, and really understand our clients wants and needs. This video of Montessori Elementary in Highland Park is one of many examples of why we do what we do. This project embodies the whole design process and most importantly provided an opportunity for HK to design a building with meaning – with purpose.

We wish you a happy Thanksgiving from all of us at HK Architects.

October 26, 2022

We’re Hiring a Project Architect

Join us! HK Architects is now hiring a project architect. Our team is the foundation of our business and is made up of passionate employees who are team players, hard workers, and innovators. 

Our firm is hiring a Project Architect that manages multiple small/medium projects, coordinates all aspects of assigned projects, and estimates scope of work.  Prepares strategic plans for project success. Responsible for the coordination of all project efforts, administrative and technical, to ensure the most efficient and cost-effective execution of assigned projects. Serves as the primary client liaison to bring the schedule, budgets, and scope of work to completion and to the client's satisfaction. Actively manages client budgets, schedules, and programs; project communications and documentation; office administrative tasks; and project team assignments. Estimates fees, determines scope of work and prepares proposals and contracts.

HK is a fun and collaborative place to work. We are looking for a project architect that wants to do great work and have fun in the process!

If interested, please email resume and portfolio to contact@hkarchitects.net.

August 3, 2022

Floor Daily: Montessori Elementary at Highland Park

Montessori school’s design mirrors the principles of the education method through a focus on natural materials.

By Heidi Hefferlin

The design of the new Montessori school in Chattanooga, Tennessee reflects the tenets of the education method employed within. Natural materials and an uncluttered aesthetic hint at the student-driven experience that is a hallmark of Montessori’s exploratory approach to learning. While the facade and interior spaces may seem simplistic, they were guided by very purposeful choices, which netted design firm HK Architects (formerly Hefferlin + Kronenberg Architects) an AIA Design Award of Merit.


MIRRORING THE MONTESSORI METHOD
The Montessori Elementary School at Highland Park is housed in a new, state-of-the-art facility that expands the Young Women’s Leadership Foundation’s mission of educating at-risk youth. Designed to meet the specific requirements for education in the Montessori method, the 51,358-square-foot building features a streamlined color and materials palette, large classrooms with designated learning areas, and a connection to the natural world from every room. The school replaces a grammar school from the early 20th century, which was beloved by the neighborhood. Initially, the design team labored to preserve the former structure, but it was ultimately decided that a new building served the Montessori objectives better.

The new school recalls the old in form and scale. It is clad in subdued brick and limestone, with colorful metal accents and futuristic sunshades. The wayfinding orange accent color of the railings, entry portal and stairways stands out against the soft palette, guiding students and visitors into and through the building.

The sunshades serve as the main focal points, drawing one’s eye with their almost-stark, post-war modern aesthetic, though they purposely prevent the eye from traveling too far. In addition to adding interest to the façade, the second-story sunshades offer privacy, while also reducing glare and heat gain.

It was important that, in every room, the children be able to see the sky and have a connection to the outdoors. The building plan is a disciplined, efficient square that minimizes costly exterior walls while maximizing access to plentiful daylight, employing clerestory roof windows that fill the interior of the building with natural light. The two stories of classrooms and common spaces surround an atrium with cascading wood tiers that connect the two levels. (The monumental staircase, which leads students up to their classrooms, also serves as auditorium seating for presentations.) Ensuring that every habitable room gets natural light, classrooms within the atrium have skylights, and each of the building’s 21 total classrooms looks out onto the hallway, lit with clerestory windows and natural light spilling over from the exterior-windowed rooms along one side of the hall. The design invokes a language of transparency that is surprising for such a large, seemingly solid, building.

Modern security concerns created the need for intense discussion regarding the balance between providing natural light into the spaces and maintaining a sense of openness while blocking direct sightlines from the neighborhood into student areas. Thanks to the innovative system of sunshades and light shelves, each classroom was provided a very large window, lending expansive views into the surrounding neighborhood or the school’s outdoor play areas, while also maintaining the required privacy.


CREATING A FOCUSED ENVIRONMENT
The interior palette aligns with the Montessori belief in authentic materials and restrained, undistracting colors, which also help to refract light and brighten the space. The muted color palette creates a neutral, peaceful setting for the energetic Montessori program. Independent and self-guided learning is a major tenet of the method, and the architecture should encourage and inspire this, making the flooring choices a fundamental part of the design.

Concrete anchors the majority of the space, hearkening back to the exterior concrete construction method through a polished concrete floor topper. As a durable material, concrete can stand up to decades of student processions and horseplay, with reduced maintenance. Throughout the building, hard flooring indicates areas for furniture and circulation. Carpet is used within the classrooms to denote open seating and play space.

The classrooms are larger than in traditional schooling methods, and differentiation within the space is key. Open floor space takes up a large amount of the room for children to choose where to sit, either on a mat or on furniture. Lessons are scattered throughout the classroom. Flooring was used to help distinguish the various spaces, with tufted area rugs to identify the open spaces for seating, learning and playing. Elsewhere, the team turned to Shaw Contract’s Tru Colours carpet tile in Saxony Blue, Orange and Paprika to infuse warmth.

The classroom materials used in the Montessori method are very colorful, and lessons for the students are displayed on open shelves for easy access and visibility. Because of the tendency for the classrooms to appear cluttered, the team decided to use a muted color palette to highlight and feature the natural color of the class materials. Shaw Contract’s

Arrange carpet tile in Reflection was used to introduce a measured infusion of color and pattern, mixed in with the Tru Colours tiles to keep the design fresh and invigorating.

It was the color selection and variation-along with the price point-that made the brand’s carpet tile the material of choice for this particular design. With kids being the central users of the flooring, the ease of replacement of carpet tile was also a deciding factor.

The only other flooring materials in the building are found on the main staircase and in the bathrooms. To offer some sound mitigation and a more inviting place to sit, the team chose white oak hardwood on the stairs/stadium seating, with a matte polyurethane finish.

In the bathrooms, the designers opted for porcelain tile from Crossville, drawn not only by its durability, cleanability and price point but also by its relatively local point of origin, less than two hours from Chattanooga. Crossville’s Simpatico collection of field tile mirrors the school’s muted aesthetic while also offering the opportunity for fun splashes of color and patterned texture, and the line’s neutral palette has warmth in its undertones, keeping the installation from looking austere. To keep the design streamlined, the team went with a standardized 12”x24” selection.

CONTENDING WITH A TIGHT TIMELINE
The design team’s primary objective was to make a cheerful, harmonious environment, but the material choices also served the project’s strict timeline. The design contract was signed in January 2020 and classes began at the end of August 2021. To accommodate the tight schedule, a general contractor was brought on board to review and verify price and schedule viability while drawings were in progress. The team issued the site grading and land disturbance package only three months after beginning design work, and the nearly $11 million build was under construction two months after that. Despite the pandemic and encountering deep foundry sands on the site, HK Architects completed the project on time and under budget, with change orders resulting in a net credit back to the owner.

Copyright 2022 Floor Focus

Related Topics: FuseFuse AllianceCrossvilleShaw Industries Group, Inc.The American Institute of Architects

July 6, 2022

Alex Reyland – Principal at HK Architects

HK Architects announces the promotion of Alex Reyland to Partner, joining Heidi Hefferlin and Clif McCormick to lead the growing architecture and interior firm.

Chattanooga, TN – July 5th, 2022 – HK Architects is pleased to publicly announce the promotion of Alex Reyland to the position of Partner with the firm. HK Architects, formally known as Hefferlin + Kronenberg Architects is a full service architecture and interior design firm based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The firm’s breadth of work runs the gamut from historic and modern properties to ground-up new construction as well as interior renovations and additions. 

Reyland’s project experience spans many industry sectors and states, including Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri, Texas, and Pennsylvania. Alex has worked at HK Architects since 2015 and has been a principal of the firm since 2019. He believes communication and collaboration are the key to successful projects. Collecting information, understanding the issues and pain points, and identifying solutions allow Alex and his team to execute a successful project. 

Alex graduated from Drury University with a Bachelors of Architecture where he focused on the implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM) BIM into the architectural workflow. 

Heidi Hefferlin, Co-founder and Partner, said, “Alex fits the partner role well. When he first started working with HK, Alex worked hard to integrate BIM into our workflow. We now work with consultants and contractors who all utilize BIM which provides the opportunity for our clients to walk through the design before we break ground. In 2019, Alex became a partner right before a global pandemic. We weren’t sure how we would weather it all, but Alex helped us through constantly pushing the firm for more efficient workflows and communication. Our firm has grown, in large part, due to his leadership.”

Reyland lives on Signal Mountain with his wife and two dogs. He is an active member of his community and serves on the board of the local AIA chapter as vice president.

July 6, 2022

1216 East Main Street
Chattanooga, TN 37408

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