2025 Texas & Southeast Best Projects
Award of Merit, Sports/Entertainment: Covenant Health Park
Covenant Health Park
Tenn.
Award of Merit
Submitted by Barton Malow
Owner/Developer City of Knoxville; RR Land Inc.; The Sports Authority of the County of Knox
Lead Design Firm GEMAA (Design Innovation Architects; Barber McMurry Architects; Populous)
General Contractors Barton Malow Builders; Denark Construction
Structural Engineer Walter P Moore
Civil Engineer Design Innovation Architects
MEP Engineer IC Thomasson & Associates
The $114-million public-private project’s mission was to spark reinvestment in East Knoxville, Tenn., and create a vibrant, mixed-use destination that anchors the eastern edge of downtown. Designed for year-round community use, the stadium serves as both a venue and a shared public asset.
The surrounding development includes infrastructure improvements, such as high-tension power that was re-routed into underground ductbanks, mixed-use high-rise condominiums and commercial space.
A pedestrian bridge, which was a critical design element, enables a full 360-degree concourse without compromising a neighboring creek or its existing culvert. Deep caissons were installed to support the 130-ft wide, state-of-Tennessee-shaped scoreboard along the creek wall, without loading the structure below.
Excavation revealed more than 6,200 tons of underground rock and culturally significant artifacts. Rock was recycled and reused on site for backfill. Artifacts were preserved to honor the heritage of the neighborhood.
The project was completed ahead of schedule in 22 months and below budget.
