Following our previous visit to New York-based BMA Architects, we are moving our Meet Your Next Employer series to Tennessee this week to explore the work of HK Architects.

From their office in Chattanooga, the firm has built a twenty-strong team of architects and interior designers developing a portfolio ranging from adaptive reuse to private residences and school campuses. “We hold dear existing spaces through restoration and renovation,” the firm says about its approach. “We plan every building around natural daylight and the land the building will inhabit. We delight in using sustainable materials that respect the environment they’re built into and that last for generations to enjoy.”

Over on Archinect Jobs, the firm is currently hiring an Architect to join their Chattanooga office. For candidates interested in applying for the position or anybody interested in learning more about the firm’s output, we have rounded up four unique Tennessee projects by HK Architects that exemplify the firm’s ethos.

Chattanooga Visitors Center, Chattanooga, TN

The Chattanooga Visitors Center was created through the revitalization of an under-used storage building on the Tennessee Aquarium plaza along Chattanooga’s waterfront. The renovation of the existing space sought to pay homage to the industrial history of the city through the use of “honest materials,” including cypress, painted steel, and concrete, while respecting the surrounding setting.

“Approaching the visitor center, guests are led down a gentle slope into the 193-square-foot hub,” the firm describes. “Once inside, they can shop official Chattanooga merchandise and explore the city through the interactive touchscreen kiosk loaded with all the eateries, activities, and events in the area. A large steel pivot door creates a bridge between the indoor space and the large outdoor area, with another interactive kiosk and plenty of room for large groups to gather. On the roof, a photo opportunity is perfectly framed with the glass peaks of the Tennessee Aquarium and infographics detailing the aquarium plaza’s history.”

Montessori Elementary School at Highland Park, Chattanooga, TN

The 51,000-square-foot Montessori Elementary School at Highland Park was designed with reference to a former grammar school that occupied the site. The resulting scheme is clad with “subdued brick and limestone” with colorful metal accents and sunshades. The soft palette is further contrasted through a wayfinding orange accent color on the railings, entry portals, and stairways.

Inside, the scheme is designed to bring a “connection to the natural world from every room.” Each learning space offers views of the sky, while two stories of classrooms and common spaces surround an atrium with cascading wood tiers that connect the two levels. Classrooms within the atrium contain skylights while each of the building’s 21 total classrooms looks out onto the hallway, lit with clerestory windows with natural light spilling over from the exterior-windowed rooms along one side of the hall.

Barhaus, Elder Moundatin, TN

The design of the Barhaus home was informed by its challenging compact cliff edge site, with primary materials including shou sugi ban, steel, pine, glass, and concrete. The resulting scheme consists of two ‘bars’ paralleling the cliff bluff, separated into private and public spaces with a connected outdoor living area. The private ‘bar’ consists of a master suite and open-concept living space, while the public ‘bar’ consists of two guest suites set further out above the cliff with a cantilevered walkway and sweeping views.

“Stemming from the firm’s core belief that the most sustainable design is simple, long-lasting, and durable, this house was built from hearty, honest materials,” the firm explains. “From the street view, the structure’s locally sourced stone pavers, patinated steel fascia, and cascading concrete entryway blend into the forest lot. Upon entry, there is a moment of compression before the space rapidly expands to a wall of windows framing the panoramic view, and furthering the feeling of living above the clouds.”

Tellico Cabin, Tellico Plains, TN

The Tellico Cabin was designed for a client who had a lifelong connection to the Tellico Valley. The scheme’s two steeply pitched roofs are supported by heavy oak timber and were influenced by the client’s Christian faith, with the roof’s perfect isosceles triangle referring to the Holy Trinity. The steep roofs also give a cathedral-like atmosphere to the interior volume while providing sleeping lifts for the guest beds. A sky-lit screened porch at the entry separates the bedrooms from the living areas.

“The cabin is clad in mountain stone and dark stained cedar,” the team adds. “The windows are bronze aluminum clad wood by Marvin. The floors and foundations are conventional with a foundation drain conducting water away from the foundation. The master bedroom and living room have exposed red oak timber rafters with a tongue and groove deck stained and sealed.”

Meet Your Next Employer is one of a number of ongoing weekly series showcasing the opportunities available on our industry-leading job board. Our Job Highlights series looks at intriguing and topical employment opportunities currently available on Archinect Jobs, while our weekly roundups curate job opportunities by location, career level, and job description.