Mughelli Foundation Promotes Sustainability in POC Communities

Ovie Mughelli

Climate change affects people of color and low-income communities in a massively disproportionate way. Think about Katrina, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and inner city populations affected by drinking water and air pollution and asthma issues.

SimmonsSTUDIO chatted with keynote speaker and 2X All-Pro NFL fullback Ovie Mughelli at the Living Futures Product Expo on his foundation’s mission to engage and empower the next generation of sustainability leaders.

Ovie’s Mughelli Foundation has created innovative programs to engage youth in the sustainability conversation. From creating the Gridiron Green graphic novel series distributed to elementary schools, where a black superhero stars in green missions to protect the environment, to partnering with collegiate athletic departments for green tailgating events, Ovie is empowering the future.

SimmonsSTUDIO calls you to inclusive ACTION on climate diversity by having your higher education institution or athletic department partner with his organization. Learn more at: https://www.omfgreen.org/

#GridironGreen #mughellifoundation #OvieMughelli #greendiversity

West Campus Dining Commons at UT Knoxville to Open Soon

SimmonsSTUDIO Architects of Boston, MA and Johnson Architecture, Inc. of Knoxville, TN are thrilled to announce that construction on 81,700 SF of new construction for the West Campus Dining Commons will soon be complete.

The centerpiece of the six acre West Campus Redevelopment at UT Knoxville, the project will provide an innovative 1,300-seat dining venue offering a state-of-the-art exhibition cooking experience, designed by Ricca Design Studios, for the campus. The project will include a campus convenience store and an in-house bakery offering fresh baked goods, and a venue for late night service.

The dining spaces will focus outward toward views of the Smokey Mountain skyline on the horizon. The Johnson Ward Mall project, designed by CRJA/IBI landscape architects, will green the boulevard along the front of the building, incorporating water garden bioswales to calm and filter storm water.

The building itself will act as a connector for the campus as well, bringing the upper and lower parts of the steeply graded hilltop site together, with ADA access by elevator that is open 24/7 as well.