Offering a fresh take on the traditional shopping and dining experience, the Pinnacle Plaza in Farragut, Tennessee was transformed by Hedstrom Landscape Architecture from a dated suburban shopping center courtyard into a modern community-centered space rooted in place, program, and people. Drawing from the natural beauty of the surrounding environment, the site elements evoke the character of East Tennessee.
Influenced by the regional landscape, the design addresses programmatic goals with site elements, materials, and organization that are an abstraction of the East Tennessee landscape. The space is organized around a central gathering and activity area, a green valley of open lawn and gently rolling berms. Water spills over a fieldstone fountain wall and patterned paving simulates a flowing river winding around the berms. Tiered wooden platforms surrounded by native trees and shrubs form mountain ranges flanking the open space. In plain view, the plaza becomes a microcosm of the city's surroundings. In practice, it is an engaging public space that gives subtle nods to a landscape that visitors may not interact with daily.
To maximize space for people, the design opens the plaza with a central accessible gathering and activity lawn reminiscent of the Tennessee Valley's rolling hills. Gentle berms and fieldstone boulders create a subtle play space for children to run and climb. A level area comfortably accommodates seasonal programs including a 60' tall Christmas tree, and a synthetic lawn provides year-round green space for gathering, games, and events.
A homage to a mountain waterfall, the plaza backdrop is a monumental boulder and stone flatwork fountain bordered by berms planted with shrubs and evergreen trees. The wall-like fountain creates both a visual and audible buffer from the interstate, with cascading water softening the sounds of traffic. Water pools in a stone covered basin that conceptually flows out through the river valley.

 
An intentionally arranged blend of light and dark pavers winds around the lawn, approximating the form and movement of a river. The paving extends the accessible open space while delineating a zone for pedestrian circulation, site furnishings, and food truck parking. A mix of movable furniture options supports flexible use of the space, allowing various planned and unplanned activities to occur simultaneously.
The paver field widens toward the front of the plaza where a structured boulder "dam" forms a flat area for the performance stage and a low buffer from the entrance drive. Surrounded by native perennials, grasses, and evergreen shrubs, the boulder border subtly defines the stage area without limiting use of the space during non-performance times. A wide, gently sloping sidewalk replaces the former stairs, creating a welcoming pedestrian entry and discrete access for food trucks.
Two custom wooden platforms frame the plaza and provide stadium seating overlooking the central lawn. Inspired by silhouettes of the Smoky Mountains, the angular platforms project in and out of the central space. Like the mountains themselves, the platforms are softened by vegetation with fastigiate tulip poplars, magnolias, and native shrubs and perennials filling the space between the platforms and buildings.
While the hardscape forms allude to the regional landscape, the plant palette introduces a tangible connection with species native to the hills and mountains of East Tennessee. The tulip poplar, Tennessee's state tree, is the predominant tree species, and American holly, winterberry, and inkberry offer year-round interest. Two specimen maples create a shady environment around the fountain, and one growing from the large platform introduces shade and a vertical element in the center of the plaza. Flowering shrubs form a lush understory, and a mixture of sedge, blue-eyed grass, and perennials provide an evergreen border to
the paving.

Landscape Architect: Hedstrom Landscape Architecture
Sara Hedstrom Pinnell, RLA, ASLA
Andrew Spatz, RLA, ASLA
Pamella Selby, RLA, ASLA
Contractor: Hickory Construction, Alcoa, TN
Lighting Designer: Lighting Trends, Knoxville, TN