From The Archives: Building the TVA Office Complex in 1980

Chattanooga (WDEF) – 35 years ago, the big downtown makeover was coming on the border of what we now call the Southside.

TVA workers were scattered in offices all over the city.

But now they would be brought into a new state of the art building that would straddle Broad Street.

It not only would have a modern look for Chattanooga, it would also point the way to future energy sources, like solar power.

First, they had to clear several blocks of the old downtown buildings and warehouses to make room.

Here is a look at the area before construction.

But before they could begin construction in late 1980, they brought in urban excavators to dig deep into Chattanooga’s past.

Here is that story from the summer of 1980.

Finally, the work could begin by the end of 1980.

The project wouldn’t be completed for another couple of years.

Here is our coverage from the groundbreaking.