Putnam School Board Selects Architect For New School

The Putnam County School Board has selected Upland Design Group as the architect for Cookeville’s newest school.

The board voted on Tuesday to begin contract negotiations with the Crossville-based firm.

Board Member Kim Cravens said she chose Upland because of their local ties.

“They’re local and they like to use local people. For me, that’s big as a school board member,” Cravens said. “If we can use people who are local, let’s do that. Let’s put the people around here to work in our school system.”

The firm conducted previous design work for Jere Whitson and Burks Elementary School. Upland has also designed several projects for Tennessee Tech University, including the Hyder Burks Pavilion and laboratory science building.

The board of education interviewed Upland and three other architectural firms during a Two hour meeting Tuesday evening.

Board member Lynn McHenry said Upland’s professionalism stood out among the other design teams.

“Kim [Upland Design Principal] just does such a great job of presenting everything that he plans to do,” McHenry said. “He puts everything on his shoulders, and I appreciate the fact that he owns up to everything. He takes charge of the whole process and that’s what we look for.”

The school system plans to build the school on a 45-acre tract of land on Lee Seminary Road. School board members have not yet decided if the facility will be designed as a K-4 or K-8 school.

A contract agreement with Upland could be voted on during the board’s Aug. 1 meeting.