Dover Signature Properties Wins Award–Again

It’s gone from abandoned urban blight to an inviting home for dozens of seniors in Knoxville. And now it has won the highest local award given for historic preservation.

The old South High School, now reborn as South High Senior Living, was chosen for the Mayor’s Award for the top historic preservation project in Knoxville by Knox Heritage.

“It’s a great building and an honor to win this award,” said Rick Dover of Dover Signature Properties, which has won multiple local and national historic preservation awards. “Every building is unique and offers unique opportunities to create something new and useful from something old and often forgotten.”

Dover shares the award with Barber McMurray Architects, which first designed the building more than 80 years ago. Dover selected them for the project, knowing they would honor the history of the school.

“Our residents love being in an old school,” says Heather Haley, Director of Sales and Marketing. “There’s a higher level of familiarity, comfort, and security that comes with a sense of knowing the surroundings, whether they actually attended here or not.”

South High features everything a senior might want, including an excellent chef, on-site physical therapy if needed, wellness classes, complimentary transportation, 24-hour nursing. It’s also pet friendly.

“When I walk through it now and see it so full of life, it is hard to remember that just a few years ago it was falling apart and much of the roof was missing,” said Dover. “it’s amazing what a great team and hard work can accomplish. It’s a joy to see it now just filled with people, but filled with smiles,”