Real Estate Advisors & Property Strategy Consultants
J. Richard Hill was retained in 2007 by a consortium consisting of the City of Alcoa, City of Maryville, Blount County, Knox County, and the Economic Development Board to create a development strategy and master plan for a town center to serve as a new research and development campus connected with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The development of a new neutron particle accelerator at the National Laboratory was spawning new industries and technical research facilities centered on this evolving technology. To accommodate an influx in new people and to assist in recruiting the best minds in the world a new type of a community was envisioned as the focal point of the Oak Ridge area. International land planner Hart Howerton was engaged to create a master plan for this new town center.
We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the target market of family households headed by highly educated scientists. The research concluded that a very unique environment was required that was highly wired and connected to the world along with real world places for art production, indoor and outdoor activities, and places for shopping, dining and entertainment.
Hart Howerton developed a master plan around a canal waterway system that served as a focal point for the entertainment and shopping precinct. The canal waterway was integrated with the new water treatment plant and also served as a sustainable component for heating and cooling adjacent buildings. Architectural design, master plan layout, civil engineering grading concepts, and urban open space design were all integral to the master plan.
J. Richard Hill created the ground breaking market research, economic strategy and overall use plan. His research, strategy and plans called for a large assortment of human enrichment and knowledge development facilities including recording studios, continuing education classrooms and workshops for the arts, production studios for pottery and glass making, a large screen video gaming center, an outdoor adventure center including an outdoor equipment and apparel retailer, an technical white water kayaking stream and plunge pools, a bike center and an indoor ice climbing wall.
