Renovation of the historic Alumni Memorial Building won the University of Tennessee an Orchid award from Keep Knoxville Beautiful.
The university’s recycling program, “UT Recycles, UT Cares,” also won the organization’s Environmental Achievement Award for 2004. Both awards were presented Tuesday.
Orchid awards are given to recognize beautification projects in the city. “Onions’ are handed out to those businesses as an incentive to improve their appearance.
Alumni Memorial, build in the 1930s and reopened last year after an $11 million renovation, received the People’s Choice Award. The 18-member board of KKB votes on the people’s choice winner.
The building, once home to the UT basketball team, now has a 900-seat auditorium, classrooms and office space. It was dedicated in 1934 as a memorial to those who died in war.
Many outstanding artists performed in Alumni Memorial, and Sergei Rachmaninov gave is last concert there.
KBB’s environmental award is presented to an organization that improves the community through clean up, beautification or recycling efforts. Over the past year, UT has doubled its recycling rates, Michael Sherrell, director of facilities services, said.
The focus of the recycling program is to educate students to be environmentally conscious while they are students and to take and apply this knowledge after they graduate.