MARY WALKER TOWER
Renovation
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Architects: Heidi Hefferlin, Principal; Clif McCormick, Principal
Photography: Harlan Hambright
Composed of one 8-story and one 10-story building, Chattanooga’s Mary Walker Towers provide subsidized efficiency apartments for the elderly. We modernized the taller of the two towers, along with the single-story community room that connects them. A carefully staggered scheduled allowed the building to remain occupied throughout design and construction, minimizing disruption to residents. We carefully estimated construction costs and performed cost-benefit analyses throughout the project. When it became eligible for stimulus funding, we upgraded amenities but left rooms and layouts as they were to maintain the building’s eligibility. Cooling and heating issues led to the addition of exterior sun shades, but much of the existing building elements were retained, making this an efficient and economical project.
