Daylight Building (Knoxville, Tennessee) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Daylight Building
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | 501-517 Union Ave., Knoxville, Tennessee |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Architectural style | Early Commercial |
| NRHP reference No. | 09000956 |
| Added to NRHP | November 25, 2009 |
The Daylight Building is a two-story office and shop building in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. It was finished in 1927. This special building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important part of history!
Contents
A Bright Idea: How the Daylight Building Got Its Name
The Daylight Building was built by Benjamin Howard Sprankle, a person who developed buildings. It has light-colored bricks. The name "Daylight" comes from its clever design. It was made to let in lots of natural sunlight.
Sunlight Inside
The building has a special glass roof section called a clerestory. This lets sunlight stream into the middle of the building. Offices inside have windows that look either outside or into this bright central area. This design made sure that almost every room got natural light.
Home to the TVA
For many years, the Daylight Building was home to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The TVA is a big government agency that helps manage rivers and provides electricity. From 1933 until the early 1980s, many TVA workers were in this building.
What the TVA Did Here
A lot of the TVA's engineers worked in the Daylight Building. Staff who trained new workers and those who focused on soil conservation were also there. The TVA moved out in the 1980s to a new office tower.
A New Chapter for the Building
After the TVA left, another company called Whittle Communications used the building for a while. But then, for many years, most of the building was empty. There were even ideas to tear it down.
Saving a Historic Place
In 2008, a developer named David Dewhirst bought the building. He wanted to bring it back to life. In 2009, he started to fix it up. He restored the glass clerestory and the special daylight features. His plan was to have shops on the first floor and apartments above.
Hidden Treasures Revealed
During the restoration, some cool original details were found. For example, copper window frames had been hidden under yellow paint for years! People started moving into the 36 apartments in August 2010.
Becoming a Historic Landmark
To help pay for the restoration, Dewhirst wanted the building to be on the National Register of Historic Places. It was added to the list on November 25, 2009. This recognized its important role in the early history of the TVA. It also showed that the building had not been changed much since the TVA used it.
