About Our Building
FIND YOUR FUTURE IN KNOXVILLE’S PAST.
On the corner of 5th Avenue and Central Street, the elegant old Knoxville High School building is a well-known landmark to those who love the city of Knoxville — and a cherished memory for those who studied within its walls.
Famous alumni of Knoxville High include actors Patricia Neal and John Cullum and author James Agee. The school officially closed its doors to students in 1951, but it remained a part of city life through various uses until 2015.
That’s when local firm Dover Signature Properties saw incredible potential in the bones of the place. Owner Rick Dover and his team planned a thorough restoration effort that would bring back life to the old classrooms by turning them into luxury senior apartments. The layout and design of the former school building were a natural fit for creating living spaces, and its appealing architectural details gave the new space a personality and character you simply can’t find in new construction.
THE OLD AND THE NEW
As a building in the Classical Revival style that appears on the National Register of Historic Places, Knoxville High was restored with faithful attention to historic detail while also meeting stringent LEED environmental standards. The result is a building that’s beautiful to look at — and comfortable to live in.
AWARDS
2018 SHN Architecture & Design Award
Winner for Renovation
Best Repositioning of 2018: From Endangered
High School to Celebrated Senior Housing
Some of Knoxville High’s most interesting historical features
- The Doughboy Statue on the lawn, which was dedicated as a memorial to World War I veterans in 1922.
- An attic that once included an indoor rifle range for Army R.O.T.C. training — but is now home to six studio apartments.
- An on-site museum that honors the history of the school and those who studied here.
Our favorite modern additions
- Solar panels
- High-efficiency LED lighting
- Locally sourced hardwood floors and marble