McMahan Law Firm

The McMahan Law Firm project consisted of the full renovation of an existing 12,000 square foot structure and a 1,200 square foot addition. This large local law firm specializes in personal injury and social security law, so accessibility and life safety design was of utmost concern.

The law firm purchased an existing structure that was viewed by many as unsalvageable due to its unsightly appearance. The project sought to unify the 1970s, two-story, multi-tenant office building by creating a new double-height lobby addition that provides a cohesive architectural language, provides internal vertical circulation, celebrates the sequence of entry with daylight, and strengthens programmatic adjacencies for a previously separated tenant building. 

The new building serves the client’s team by creating a single-occupant building providing them with a bright and open facility, ample conference space with sound privacy for depositions, and room for future expansion as the firm grows. 

Located along a main thoroughfare of North Chattanooga, the site provides increased visibility, parking, and ease of access for clientele. The renovation project increased the safety and walkability of the area. The design team worked hand-in-hand with the client to demonstrate to appraisers that this area of the community was worthy of investment, and the project encouraged future investment as the commercial corridor continued to expand along Cherokee Boulevard. 

*Photo Credit - Philip Slowiak & Brad Shelton

The existing building presented numerous complexities. The floor levels differed by up to eight inches, and the individual offices provided poor air quality. The exterior stairwell was crumbling, and the LULA lift was inoperable. The challenge was to address these issues and unify the building programmatically for a single tenant with a single, cohesive design expression. The design team was able to accomplish the project objectives while preserving the entirety of the building and minimally changing the existing shell.

Tinker Ma was able to successfully work within existing conditions constraints to create a floor plan that not only meets all current building code requirements but also functions well for the daily business workflow. While all Tinker Ma projects are designed to meet or exceed current building codes, special attention in this project was paid to the egress components, travel distances and pathways, and occupancy loading since this multi-level renovation included a large floor-plate and was restricted to the use of existing vertical egress locations.

Additionally, a thorough evaluation of existing mechanical equipment allowed the project to save costs by reusing several existing units. Updated ductwork was included in the project to enhance the efficiency and longevity of the existing units. New exhaust and HVAC were integrated into select locations to meet the new needs of the building.

Before and after imagery is included below.

*After Photo Credit - Philip Slowiak & Brad Shelton