John Shearer: UTC Campus Has An Improved Look

  • Sunday, August 5, 2018
  • John Shearer

About 20 or so years ago, UT-Chattanooga’s campus would have not been described as very attractive.

 

Sure, the older buildings alongside McCallie Avenue have always been considered nice, as have one or two others from the mid-20th century, like the Guerry Center.

 

And the no-longer-used Chamberlain Field grandstands joined to create one of the more historic and unique-looking college football stadiums in the country, even though it was dilapidated and UTC was already playing at Finley Stadium.

 

But some of the buildings constructed from the 1970s on were not overly inspiring visually, and UTC was known for having two or three small metal siding buildings around campus that were intended to be short-term.

Regardless, they were definitely short on appeal.

 

And then there was McKenzie Arena, which is uniquely round and has served UTC sports and local entertainment needs mostly well. But it perhaps should have initially had upgraded features, including brick instead of metal siding.

 

However, a person who has not been on campus in awhile might be in for a very pleasant surprise – even if the McKenzie Arena has basically only changed in name.

 

For starters, the site of the old Chamberlain Field appears to be nicely done, with the basic footprint of the old playing field still intact and some well-manicured grass that might cause the Honors Course greens keeper to seek some tips. Here, students and others can enjoy some light recreation or just enjoy the setting.

 

And on the old slope where the Oak Street grandstand sat, a giant replica of the school’s current slanted “C” logo sits to stir up pride. It will likely also create sentimental feelings to visiting alumni down the road.

 

And below it is a nice stage area complete with a bonfire pit for pep rallies or whatever. “Go Mocs Go!”

 

And on the east end is the Chamberlain Pavilion, which consists of three arches from the old stadium that were meticulously put together in a nice way. Actually, it looks like the arches simply walked away from the grandstand and huddled up with each other like a football team.

 

The only suggestion would be to have some kind of plaque or marker telling a little of the history of Chamberlain Field. If one is there, it was overlooked.

 

And kudos should go to those who did not want to simply put an academic building in the middle of the current green space in this area around the pavilion. Students and others now have a more panoramic view of the campus, including some nice perspectives back toward the historic Race and Hooper halls.

 

The openness also allows a “stand back and admire” view of the giant new UTC Library.

 

V-shaped like an open book, which is appropriate for a library, the building is one of those giant state university structures where no expense was spared -- in part thanks to state funding. It features that mostly appealing contemporary style that mixes brick, glass and exposed steel/metal and causes a viewer to look at it closely.

 

It appears to be inspired by the mid-century modern era, when glass buildings were the rage, and its irregular juts draw attention like the ornamentation on old buildings – without the need for artisan craftsmen.

 

One real eye-catching – but less serious -- piece of ornamentation on the library is the Starbuck’s logo, which is likely to draw the obvious attention of coffee lovers.

 

The under-construction West Campus student housing building at the corner of Houston and Vine streets is also quite impressive to look at. It also looks like a first cousin of the UTC Library with its modern regalness. Since it is so nice, maybe they should call it the Taj MocHall.

 

This move toward largeness – or academic supersizing -- is also occurring at UT-Knoxville. It has a half dozen or more giant academic or student support buildings recently completed or under construction.

 

The smaller Derthick Lecture Hall next to the UTC Library also has the nice and newer look of a very high quality building, as does the Aquatic and Recreation Center across East Fifth Street from the Arena.

 

And then there is the cute Visitor Center building nearby that has nearly as much charm as the costumed mockingbird mascot, Scrappy. It offers a much more welcoming look than does a modest guard shack with a gate, as can be found at some colleges or private schools.

 

The updates to the tennis facility also look nice, as do the athletic weight training and basketball practice complexes named for Chattem and the Wolford and Lawson famililes.

 

Due to all the contrasting new buildings and the way the campus has become more open due to the disappearance of the Chamberlain Field grandstands, each building from a different period of architecture is highlighted better. As a result, anyone taking an excursion through campus can appreciate the very eclectic layout that UTC definitely is more fully.

 

And that even includes enjoying somewhat the old 1970s-era Boling Apartments, which were historically known as the Village Apartments. They were never much to look at – despite the many stories of college fun inside them over the years – but now they are kind of more interesting to examine against the sleek new and large modern buildings nearby.

 

Among the other styles, the mid-century buildings like Grote Hall, the under-renovation Guerry Center, the Army ROTC building and Maclellan Gymnasium – with its endless glass on the side in the spirit of the 1960s -- have held their looks well. Also, in contrast to many buildings – and other things – Brock Hall even looks pretty good from its backside when seen from the open green space.

 

It definitely looks nice from the front with its turrets that are an obvious nod to the older Gothic buildings on campus.

 

And both Fletcher Hall – originally the library when built about 1940 – and the 1950s Hunter Hall probably have among the best windows on campus the way they protrude while surrounded by ornamentation.

 

The honor for the prettiest campus building – and maybe best windows, too -- would likely go to Patten Chapel.  It and Race, Hooper and Founders Hall – all designed by W.T. Downing of Atlanta -- are still magnificent buildings after about a century and should continue to be embraced through recognition as well as just admiration.

 

The long Race and Hooper halls – which are connected by the central tower – almost give a unique feeling of being outside on the inside, and several doors seem to lead to out-of-the-way corners and create plenty of curiosity.

 

The grass quad along McCallie Avenue is also one of the great academic green spaces in Tennessee. Who would not want to sit down on the grass under a tree with a textbook or a laptop and enjoy the moment as a college student – or maybe as an alum or visitor?

 

One drawback to the historic area, though, is that the clock on Founders Hall did not appear to have close to the right time Friday afternoon. Any giant clock should always keep accurate time.

 

The historic and small Bretske Hall near the Chamberlain Pavilion is also nice.

 

Among the other older buildings, the former president’s home – now the Development House – is also nice, although something other than a paradise-paving parking lot should be next to it.

 

The Victorian style alumni affairs structure across Douglas Street from the Development House is one of the prettiest older homes or former homes in Chattanooga. A folk singer might hum, “Where have all the other Victorians gone,” though, after seeing it surrounded by parking lots where other similar houses likely once sat.

 

The mid-century Gordon Davenport Hall – not originally a UTC building – is a nice contrasting companion nearby with its interesting concrete wall façade next to the brick. The façade wall has 1960s written all over it, and it seems to become more unique with each passing decade.

 

The very flat Challenger Center – which ironically is intended to help people soar high in more ways than one -- has a unique enough look to work. 

 

On the other hand, some of the buildings from more recent decades after the 1960s do have a “simple community college” look to them and do not draw a head-turning look the way a pretty girl might have to a World War II soldier on leave. The Administrative Services Building, Frist Hall, the UTC Fine Arts Center and Holt Hall are examples of that, as are the Collins Street Annex buildings, the latter of which have an obvious portable, or “temp,” look about them.

 

They are apparently not intended to be as long term as Patten Chapel.

 

Some of the housing across McCallie Avenue -- with their pseudo stucco looks -- also do not look super pretty.

 

And it might have been better if the former Metropolitan Building on McCallie Avenue kept its mid-century look instead of being changed, even though it was done well.

 

One other minor campus drawback is the gate blocking traffic from going down Vine Street. That is obviously done to protect the numerous walking students, but perhaps it could be opened during weekends or days when school is not in session to let those in an automobile see more of the campus.

 

As a result, the only way some older alumni with walking issues might get to see the changes to campus -- unless given a golf cart VIP tour by university officials -- is to possess their own mobility scooters like those advertised on TV.  

 

Other nice amenities at UTC in addition to the buildings are the nice greenway and amphitheater. Also, the way the benches completely surround some trees along Oak Street near Douglas Street is unique and seems to invite friendly social conversation and interaction. Whether students get away from their smart phones long enough to enjoy them is another question, though.

 

And almost inconspicuous, despite their large size, are the numerous giant trees dotting different parts of campus in a beautiful manner. An old tree was even preserved along Vine Street in front of the new West Campus building.

 

Of course, some of the old oaks date back to before the UTC campus had even expanded to where they are now, but the school deserves credit for preserving them.  

 

Another nice series of features on the UTC campus are the various brick and mortar entrance and welcoming gates. UTC knows how to do open brick and mortar gates, dating to when the University of Chattanooga one was put up alongside McCallie Avenue.

 

They have welcomed students for generations, and now they also hint even more of the mostly nice and attractive campus that lies beyond them.

 

Is UTC up to par with Sewanee, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, or the universities of Alabama or Georgia in terms of being described as a mostly beautiful campus? Not quite, but it looks a lot better than it might have, say, in the 1970s.

 

But as they used to say in that decade, and which might be appropriate for the UTC campus today, “You’ve come a long way, baby!”

 

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Note: This is another in a series of stories looking at, analyzing and critiquing Chattanooga’s architectural, urban and pastoral landscape.

 

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Jcshearer2@comcast.net

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