Covenant Health Park — the new downtown Knoxville home for the Tennessee Smokies and One Knoxville SC — is the first mass timber project ever completed in Knoxville. 

Mass timber is a highly sustainable building material, generated from a renewable resource that not only reduces emissions but sequesters carbon. Additionally, mass timber allows for faster construction time, structural advantages, and adds a living warmth to the stadium design itself. 

Covenant Health Park uses exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) in its roofing system, spanning approximately 36,500 square feet. The CLT was crafted from 10,950 cubic feet of Southern yellow pine, saving a whopping 55 tons of steel production. According to the Woodworks Wood Products Council, North American yellow pine forests regenerate roughly this amount of lumber in a single minute. 

“Mass timber and CLT are a sustainable and efficient building solution,” said Kelly Headden, AIA, NCARB, Executive Vice President & COO at BarberMcMurry Architects. “At Covenant Health Park, using mass timber shaved two months off the construction schedule, saved money and energy, and is absolutely beautiful.” 

BarberMcMurry, in collaboration with Design Innovation Architects and Populous, were the design team for Covenant Health Park. The use of mass timber was further supported by Walter P. Moore Structural Engineers and Denark Construction. 

The timber used in the CLT roof at Covenant Health Park stored approximately 313 metric tons of carbon dioxide and avoided an additional 121 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions — for a total carbon benefit of 434 metric tons, equivalent to removing 92 cars from the road or operating 46 homes for an entire year. 

The natural aesthetics of the exposed timber are an example of biophilic design, or design that connects building occupants to nature by incorporating natural elements. Various studies have shown that biophilia has measurable positive impacts on wellbeing, cognitive function, and physical health. 

“We’re immensely proud that Covenant Health Park is the first mass timber project ever completed in Knoxville,” Headden said. “Mass timber is part of the future of design due to its sustainability, versatility and beauty — and we’re grateful to Boyd Sports and Randy Boyd for leading the way in sustainable design in Knoxville.”

Read more about Covenant Health Park

BarberMcMurry Architects has promoted Katie Lowery, NCIDQ, RID, and Abby Farr, NCIDQ, RID, WELL AP, LEED GA to Associate. 

Katie joined BarberMcMurry in 2014 and has become a senior interior designer, leading multiple efforts within the firm to strengthen our design process and culture. Lowery is a graduate of the University of Tennessee. She and her husband, Brad, have three children. She serves on the firm’s branding and design committees. 

Abby has been with the firm for five years, first as an intern and then interior designer. She graduated from Auburn University and is a WELL Accredited Professional and LEED Green Associate. Abby is a member of the Appalachian Mountain Biking Club. She has championed initiatives in the office including Black Turtleneck Sessions, a monthly design dialogue, and is a member of the firm’s culture committee.