Passageways 2.0 was born out of River City Company and the AIA Tennessee’s initial 2016 alley activation program, which consisted of 5 small alleyways temporarily converted into pop-up art installations. The overwhelming positive response from the public encouraged River City Company to initiate Passageways 2.0 with the goal to commission a larger scale permanent installation in a more significantly-sized, unused and rundown alleyway in the heart of Downtown.

In 2017, River City Company organized a public design process with significant community input to activate a blighted 6200 sq ft. alleyway in City Center. The goals of Passageways 2.0 was to create a sense of place, enhance economic development of City Center, and to demonstrate the value and the potential of unused spaces in our urban core.

City Thread designed by SPORTS was ultimately selected as the winner of the Passageways 2.0 design competition. City Thread creates a space that builds upon the legacy of Chattanooga and the character of downtown by extending the attitude of adventure and exploration that the “Scenic City” is known for and bring a sense of discovery and stimulation to this unused downtown space. Consisting of a continuous linear volume constructed from a series of larger, simple steel tubes, the project physically connects visitors with a single gesture while also projecting a multitude of dynamic conditions. By virtue of its geometry and formal manifestation, the project possesses many potential conditions including lounging/sitting, mini-stages, framing community murals or art, large gatherings, farmers markets, and movie screenings, among others. The design is intended to allow both users and those in charge of programming activities to interpret the project and discover different ways to utilize the alley.

City Thread has created a new urban landmark in the downtown region. Several tenants along both sides of the alley have moved into these properties in hopes to take advantage of the adjacent space it provides for their customers. In Spring 2019, the space will also host community organizations’ public events and programming, offering opportunities for the public to connect and feel a sense of belonging downtown.