MITCHELLVILLE WELCOME CENTER

STATUS: Complete

The design of this 7,000 square foot welcome center and that of its sister project in Ardmore was based on a typical 1800’s Tennessee log cabin home. The Ardmore Welcome Center was voted Welcome Center of the Year in 2013. The use of rough-hewn logs, wood shake roofing, a fieldstone fireplace and heavy timber beams along with cozy rocking chairs creates a warm and very inviting setting for 1-65 travelers. The facility’s restrooms and lobby were sized to accommodate the high volume of these visitors. The center is located on a scenic park-like site featuring covered picnic shelters (two of which are ADA Accessible), walking paths and pet walking area with nearby vending areas and spacious parking lots. The facades of the multiple maintenance buildings echo the rural theme. ADA standards for these sites and facilities were very stringent and met Tennessee and Federal Guidelines.

Low energy usage, durability, and low-maintenance were all design priorities for the owner (Tennessee Department of Transportation). Extremely durable and maintenance-free materials and assemblies were successfully incorporated into the project. Geothermal HVAC systems with 300 foot deep wells were integrated into the design and all HVAC equipment was brought inside the building envelope. In addition, a solar panel array was installed on site and foam insulation was installed between the concrete block and stone of the exterior walls. Energy usage has dropped by a third compared to earlier welcome centers and the historic look of the facility was not compromised by these energy saving measures.