The Tennessee Valley Authority announced Wednesday plans to keep its current headquarters at the Knoxville Office Complex across Market Square. The federal energy agency says it plans to at least partially consolidate functions from more than 50 Knoxville-area structures into the KOC’s West Tower.
In 2016, the agency announced it would consider selling both towers of the KOC and nearby Summer Place Complex, though it has now determined that finding a new building wouldn’t be cost effective. They cite their current plan as a means to downgrade operating and maintenance costs across the Knoxville area.
Currently, TVA only occupies around 40 percent of the KOC, with the East Tower portion of the complex standing largely vacant. The federal corporation is looking into selling, vacating or even demolishing its more than 50 Knoxville area structures, many of which are under used and in deteriorating condition.
The TVA is still looking to dispose of both the Summer Palace Complex and the East Tower of the KOC despite its plans for consolidation in the structure’s west tower. These decisions are subject to appropriate environmental reviews and TVA Board Review. Improvements to the KOC could begin as early as this summer.
Tanner Hancock is native Nashvillian and 2016 graduate of the University of Tennessee, a little-known school located in Knoxville, Tenn. He spent several years working at the university's student newspaper The Daily Beacon in differing capacities. When not pushing deadline, Tanner enjoys watching obscure samurai flicks or playing Go.
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