Tune
Grows Architectural Firm
By
Mike Pare
Staff
Writer
After
three expansions at his suburban Chattanooga office, architect
Brian Tune decided it was time to move.
PERSONAL
GLANCE
Name:
Brian Tune
Born: lexinton, KY
Age: 48
Education: University of Kentucky
Professionanl: worked in Baltimore;
Washington, D.C.; New York; Raleigh, N.C.
Recent Firm Projects: Kenco Group
corporate offices, Galen Health Park East, Modular
Industrial Computers headquarters.
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Since
more of the work at the 10-year-old firm is local, he
wanted to be near downtown, he said.
Mr.
Tune, president of Tune Design Architecture & Interiors,
in April landed at the RiverMill complex off Riverside
Drive, owned by Kenco Group, which is a client.
"RiverMill
is a good fit," he said, adding his firm also designed
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant Group’s new offices
in the same building.
Mr.
Tune said business is up sharply and expects it to double
this year. Within three to five years, revenues are expected
to hit between $10 million and $12 million, he said.
"I
see growth in areas of specialization," he said.
Mr.
Tune’s design work includes the burgeoning medical office
segment, but he will continue to seek diverse projects.
Tune
Design Architecture, with 16 employees, is part of the
design team for BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee’s new
headquarters on Cameron Hill, he said.
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| Times
Free Press staff photo by J Stricklin |
Tom
Bartoo, the company’s vice president, said the business
has 50 to 60 projects in one phase of completion or another.
As Tune’s production coordinator, he keeps tabs on them.
"I make sure they’re getting done on time and on
budget," he said.
In
2003, Jane Grant joined the company full-time as director
of interior design, adding a new dimension to the firm,
Mr. Tune said.
Ms.
Grant said she is included in projects on the front end.
"I’m
folded in from the start rather than at the end,"
she said. "We help shape the final look, feel and
detail," she said.
Mr. Tune said interior design has an impact on the exterior
of a building.
"It’s
a symbiotic relationship. It has made the architecture
a lot better," he said.
Mr.
Tune’s firm is putting together the master plan for RiverMill,
located on the former Quaker Oats’ facilities at 2001
Riverside Drive.
Chattanooga-based
Kenco plans to redevelop nearly 30 acres of the riverfront
land, with officials of the warehouse and logistics company
saying it could hold commercial and light industrial space
as well as new housing.
©2006
Chattanooga Times Free Press
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