KNOXVILLE — Mark M. Schimmenti, a University of Tennessee associate professor of architecture, is the recipient of a newly established faculty award from the Nashville-based architectural and engineering firm, Hart Freeland Roberts Inc.
Schimmenti, who specializes in urban design architecture, has served as design director of the Nashville Civic Design Center since its founding in 2001. He has been a UT faculty member since 1995.
“The Hart Freeland Roberts Faculty Scholar Award will help expand the national image of the UT College of Architecture and Design as a leader in community design initiatives,” UT Provost Loren Crabtree said.
Jeff Holmes Hart, president of Hart Freeland Roberts, said the firm established the Faculty Scholar Award in UT’s College of Architecture and Design to provide annual funding over five years and support a distinguished faculty member in the college.
“Mark Schimmenti meets the high standards set for a faculty leadership role,” Holmes said. “Not only has he demonstrated outstanding teaching ability and scholarship, including nationally recognized research, but also he has been instrumental in designing the core curriculum for architecture and design students at UT.
“It is gratifying to know that the Award will support him in his curriculum development efforts over the next five years.”
The Nashville Civic Design Center helps promote quality urban development by providing open planning sessions, a database for public and private use, open courses in community building, and other services for community and government organizations.
“The Nashville Civic Design Center is an ideal way in which we can apply faculty expertise and student involvement for the direct benefit of the community,” Marleen Davis, UT dean of architecture and design, said. “Thus, the Hart Freeland Roberts Faculty Scholar Award helps Nashville, our faculty, and our students.”