The Red Bank Middle School gymnasium is in a separate building from the school and faces Dayton Boulevard. Local architects have proposed that the building be converted into a new Red Bank city hall.
When students head out of Red Bank Middle School’s current building for summer vacation next year, it will be for the last time.
Weeks later, crews will descend upon the campus to tear down the over-70-year-old structure on Dayton Boulevard, which has long been at the heart of the Red Bank community.
Unless architect Vance Travis’ idea takes root.
Travis, whose Chattanooga firm TWH Architects has designed the new middle school on Morrison Springs Road, is casting a vision to repurpose two of the old school buildings into municipal buildings that he sees as a hub for a new town center.
“Red Bank is an island in the middle of the city of Chattanooga,” said Travis, who grew up in the small town. “Even though it’s been perceived as ‘slowing down,’ this is an incredible opportunity for them to have some vision about maybe getting Red Bank to become more progressive, similar to what’s happened in North Shore and St. Elmo. This could be a catalyst.”