The United States is facing a significant housing crisis characterized by a shortage of affordable homes and high housing costs. Research estimates there is an insufficient supply of up to 4 million homes and half of renters pay more than 30 percent of their income on rent and utilities, which is considered cost-burdened.2 Focusing locally, Knoxville, TN has had the fastest-rising property prices in the country over the last five years, with median home listing prices rising 83%. 1
Knoxville has been taking a multifaceted approach to addressing these housing issues both through progressive zoning reform and most recently, through updated code adoption. Late in 2024, Knoxville City Council adopted the 2024 International Building Code with local amendments and, opting in to state law, legalized ‘Single Stair’ multifamily buildings. Also known as ‘Point Access Blocks’, this middle housing typology is an apartment building that can serve up to six stories with a single egress stair rather than the typical dual egress stair multi-family building. Single Stair Housing can be a potent option in addressing present-day housing shortages effectively on urban infill sites.
National Crisis – Local Reform
The United States is facing a significant housing crisis characterized by a shortage of affordable homes and high housing costs. Research estimates there is an insufficient supply of up to 4 million homes and half of renters pay more than 30 percent of their income on rent and utilities, which is considered cost-burdened.2 Focusing locally, Knoxville, TN has had the fastest-rising property prices in the country over the last five years, with median home listing prices rising 83%. 1
Knoxville has been taking a multifaceted approach to addressing these housing issues both through progressive zoning reform and most recently, through updated code adoption. Late in 2024, Knoxville City Council adopted the 2024 International Building Code with local amendments and, opting in to state law, legalized ‘Single Stair’ multifamily buildings. Also known as ‘Point Access Blocks’, this middle housing typology is an apartment building that can serve up to six stories with a single egress stair rather than the typical dual egress stair multi-family building. Single Stair Housing can be a potent option in addressing present-day housing shortages effectively on urban infill sites.
AIA East Tennessee’s Mission
With the mission to lead East Tennessee in developing the cities, communities, and built environment of the 21st Century, AIA East Tennessee is hosting a free-to-enter design competition that seeks to investigate how unique multifamily projects can address the housing crisis thought the recently codified Single Stair typology. In a time of extant climatic issues, lack of housing access, and a high demand for walkable neighborhoods, we have the chance to be thought leaders of housing progress through design. By curating what is possible with these new codes, we hope to share a vision of development that is more approachable, sustainable, accessible, and beautiful for all.
AIA East Tennessee’s Mission
With the mission to lead East Tennessee in developing the cities, communities, and built environment of the 21st Century, AIA East Tennessee is hosting a free-to-enter design competition that seeks to investigate how unique multifamily projects can address the housing crisis thought the recently codified Single Stair typology. In a time of extant climatic issues, lack of housing access, and a high demand for walkable neighborhoods, we have the chance to be thought leaders of housing progress through design. By curating what is possible with these new codes, we hope to share a vision of development that is more approachable, sustainable, accessible, and beautiful for all.
An alternative construction strategy to help increase affordable housing supply in communities is the accessory dwelling unit (ADU), a smaller, independent residential dwelling unit on the same lot as a stand-alone, detached single-family home. Commonly referred to as a guest home, accessory apartment, and granny flat, an ADU can have the potential to increase housing affordability (both for homeowners and tenants), create a wider range of housing options within the community, enable seniors to stay near family as they age and facilitate better use of the existing housing fabric in established neighborhoods.3
Why Accessory Dwelling Units?
An alternative construction strategy to help increase affordable housing supply in communities is the accessory dwelling unit (ADU), a smaller, independent residential dwelling unit on the same lot as a stand-alone, detached single-family home. Commonly referred to as a guest home, accessory apartment, and granny flat, an ADU can have the potential to increase housing affordability (both for homeowners and tenants), create a wider range of housing options within the community, enable seniors to stay near family as they age and facilitate better use of the existing housing fabric in established neighborhoods.3
Anyone and everyone interested is invited to submit detached ADU designs that meet the design criteria here. A jury will review submissions and select finalists. Finalists will be announced before the 2024 AIA East Tennessee Design Awards Gala. The finalist’s design submissions will then be printed and displayed at the awards event for public display and voting for a “People’s Choice Award.”
After reviewing all of the submissions, our three-person jury had this to say: “Missing middle housing is a critical issue that architects can play an important role in addressing in their communities. Seeing all the different creative approaches and concepts to designing ADUs was quite refreshing and will hopefully spark further conversations in the Knoxville and East Tennessee communities. We selected [six] submissions in the two categories for their design merits.”
Click the buttons below to go to our Flickr albums with the design boards.
Designers have up to 8 weeks to submit once the portal opens.
June 28, 2024
August 23, 2024
Submissions Due
Submissions are due by 5 pm via the portal.
August 23, 2024
September 20, 2024
Finalists Announced
The finalists will be contacted via email and announced via AIA East Tennessee’s newsletter and social media.
September 20, 2024
October 3, 2024
Finalists recognized at the 2024 AIA ETN Design Awards Gala
Finalists will be invited to attend AIA East Tennessee’s 2024 Design Awards Gala on October 3rd at the Jackson Terminal and will be recognized during the awards ceremony.
