Memphis Teacher Residency
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Architecture
Interior Design
Programming
Signage Design
Wayfinding/Signage -
Adaptive Reuse
Carbon-Sequestering Biogenic Material
Low Maintenance Materials -
Completed May 2017
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Memphis, Tennessee
MTR was one of eight founding tenants in the transformed, one million square foot “urban village” of Crosstown Concourse which had sat empty for over 20 years. Their new space is positioned between a public, large central atrium and more intimate atrium increasing visibility of the organization and further defining its brand through spatial detailing in their new space.
A faith-based, non-profit organization required a new space to recruit, train and support teachers through an urban teacher residency graduate program.
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The project supports three functions: offices, large training rooms, and community areas for breaks and informal discussion, including a private terrace with outdoor seating. Wood space defining elements were used within the community spaces to encourage gathering. These components act as connective tissue between programmatic zones. At the entry, a sign and seating detail defines the entrance while offering spaces for conversation and waiting while warm tones establish nodal areas for collaboration. The client’s distinct use of book icons to express a source of knowledge was translated into an architectural language and spatial detailing that colors and meters the space. Their new home provides expanded opportunities to college graduates from across the country who are invited to train with a mentor teacher, receive coaching, and participate in a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) coursework through Christian Brothers University. Upon graduating from the program, residents agree to teach in Memphis under-resourced schools for three additional years.
