Join us for an evening of great design and local flavors in South Knoxville! We’ll begin on the outdoor patio of Johnson Architecture with drinks and a tour of their new headquarters, an impressive adaptive reuse project that breathes life into an existing structure. From there, we’ll take a leisurely walk down Sevier Avenue, stopping at 70s-themed bar Fly By Night - and may have a few SoKno surprises along the way! #architecturelovers #knoxheritage #historicpreservation #tennesseehistory #historicbuildings #historicproperties #historymatters #suppersandsuch #thingstodoinknoxville #knoxvilleevents #flybynight #southknoxville #southknoxrocks #FlyByNight #johnsonarchitecture #sevieravenue #flybynightknox (fb)

Every May, the National Trust for Historic Preservation celebrates Preservation Month. 2025's theme is ✨ The Power of Place—the ways that preservation creates, revitalizing neighborhoods, supporting a healthier planet, and building a more just and connected society. The Sterchi-Audigier House at 2651 E. Magnolia Avenue is a rare local example of the Spanish Eclectic style. Today, it consists of the front “house” portion, which dates back to the 1920s, and an annex, which was added behind in the 1950s. The home was built for one of the Sterchi Brothers Furniture Company founders, W.H. Sterchi, and his wife, Nina. It later housed Louis B. and Eleanor Deane Audigier, who are remembered for the collection of antiques and artifacts they donated to the University of Tennessee. Unfortunately, the building was damaged—by both the passage of time and a fire that destroyed much of the second floor in 2022, leaving the home threatened with demolition. Luckily, due to the efforts of Knox Heritage and other concerned citizens, this did not come to pass, and in 2024 The Courtland Group acquired and stabilized the building. ❤ More great news came when River & Rail Theatre Company, a local nonprofit, announced they would be renovating and adopting the Sterchi-Audigier House as their new office and performance space. There will also be room for other tenants to utilize the building when a theatre production isn’t taking place—the current plan is for a café, as well as office and worship space for Crossings, a local faith community. While an accessible ramp and elevator will be added to the property, they intend to keep the entrance to the building where it is and hope to preserve a functional fireplace as well. Ultimately, not only will a piece of historic beauty be preserved, but under its roof will be new opportunities for community members to connect and foster creativity. 👏🥰 Photo Credit 📷 (Slides 3-4) Urbano Group #historicpreservation #architecturelovers #knoxheritage #tennesseehistory #historicproperties #historicbuildings #preservationmonth #historymatters #communitysupport #PreservationMonth #CommunityImpact #eastknox #eastknoxville #eastknoxrocks (fb)