CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Tennessee Valley Authority's largest office building, at the Market Street site in Chattanooga, was built in the 1980s when TVA had more than 50,000 employees.
TVA said its nearly 1.4 million-square-foot space is now too large for its needs, and it is seeking feedback.
"It's time for something more modern and something smaller and better sized for TVA," said Tricia Roelofs, the Senior Director of Facilities Transformation.
The property sits on eight acres of land, covering 1.4 million square feet. The space and location could bring more opportunity to the area.
"It was built in the 1980s when our workforce was much larger, but now after the pandemic people are working more flexible," said Roelofs. "And we think that eight acres could be put a lot better use."
TVA has four options for the office complex: Keep the building as is, renovate it, sell it or demolish it. The agency wants everyone's input for ideas.
"Our father was an electrical engineer worked with capacitors for the substations," said Jeanne Hanks-Balsam & Judy Hanks.
They hope leaders will look at workforce trends and weigh the needs of everyone.
"How much office space is used downtown, that it seems to be really quiet during the day," said Hanks. "So, our tourism seems to be healthy, I'm not sure about the downtown workforce."
Some of the uses being considered for the building are a federal courthouse, hotel and apartments.
The TVA has an online form for you to provide feedback.
