Meet Ken Buschle, FCSI, (Member Emeritus), LEED-AP

Posted: Fri, May 02, 2025

I am excited to introduce you to a new member to the Knoxville Chapter who has many decades of experience serving in CSI.  Ken Buschle has relocated from Southwest Florida to Loudon, Tennessee the week before Thanksgiving.   I saw Ken at our Product Show in March but I first reached out to him when I was serving on the CSI College of Fellows Nominating Committee. I was seeking CSI Fellows who had interest in serving as officers in the College of Fellows. Ken kindly declined, due to his upcoming commitment to serve as Chair of the Jury of Fellows. (you cannot serve on both concurrently) He shared with me that he was in the process of closing life in Florida and relocating to Tennessee to be closer to his children and grandchildren who live in West Knoxville and Maryville. The pull of grandchildren is impossible to resist! 

Ken’s journey into design and construction started when he obtained degrees in both Architectural Technology and Building Construction Technology from Saint Peterburg College in Clearwater, FL in 1988. He started working at GMA Architects and Planners (then Gora/McGahey Architects) as a Contract Administrator. GMA is a small architectural firm with a sole office located in Fort Myers, FL. They primarily serve commercial projects in several counties in SW Florida.

 “I took over the role of Specifier and QA/QC Coordinator two years later, while continuing to oversee the CA Department. I tried to ‘retire’ but I’m still ‘helping out’ on an on-call basis, primarily with Specification review and RFQ responses.” Ken currently holds CDT and LEED-AP certifications but has previously held his CCCA and CCS certifications. In addition to this he was licensed by the Florida Department of Professional Regulation as an inspector in Building, Plumbing, Mechanical and Commercial Electrical.

When asked about his CSI background he shared this. “I joined the CSI Florida Southwest Chapter in 1997. Like most of us ‘old-timers’ I have served in just about every capacity at the Chapter level at some point.” In addition to chapter service, he has been active at the Region and Institute levels also. He served as President of the Southeast Region for 2 ½ terms (5 years), stepping in when the then existing president abruptly resigned. He has been a two term member of the Institute Board, chaired both the Institute Awards and Nomination Committees and he does peer reviews for the CSI Convention presentations. He was elevated to Fellow in 2016. Currently he chairs the Jury of Fellows.

In Ken’s spare time, he loves to fish from his kayak. Now he needs a little advice on how to fish Watts Bar Lake. I’m sure Ken would love to hear from any of you fishermen. Please introduce yourself and welcome Ken to East Tennessee.

Historic Preservation and Adaptive Reuse 101 – Best Practices

Posted: Thu, Mar 13, 2025

Hollie Cook, Director of Preservation Services at Knox Heritage, will be our speaker at the June chapter meeting and will present an informative session that explores the rich history and core values of Knox Heritage. This overview will provide attendees with a foundational understanding of the organization's mission, goals, and the importance of preserving historic buildings.

In addition, the presenter will also provide a comprehensive overview of the various tools and resources available to architects, designers, and contractors for identifying historical significance in existing buildings and sites. This will include a detailed discussion on how to assess and document the historical value of structures, as well as the techniques and methodologies for conducting thorough site evaluations. The session will cover legal protections available to historically significant properties, including local, state, and federal designations such as landmark status and National Register listings.

Lastly, participants will explore preservation treatments and best practices for maintaining the architectural integrity of historical buildings while adapting them for modern use. The course will highlight the financial incentives available to property owners and developers working on preservation projects, such as tax credits, grants, and low-interest loans.

The presenter will examine the interplay between local, state, and federal regulations governing historical preservation, offering insights into how these laws shape design decisions and project timelines. By the end of the session, attendees will have a deeper understanding of the complex regulatory environment surrounding historical buildings and the tools they can utilize to navigate these challenges successfully.

Ms. Cook holds a BA in Art History from the University of Tennessee, which she earned in 2002. Hollie served on the Board of Directors for the East Tennessee Community Design Center from 2014 to 2020 and is presently a member of the Board of Directors for AIA East Tennessee.

Earns 1 hour AIA/CES credit.

We meet at the AGC Building at 3306 Ragsdale Ave. Lunch is served at 11:45 and the program begins at noon. Reservations are required. Register Here.

Welcome to New Member Joshua Hankins

Posted: Wed, Jan 15, 2025

Welcome to one of our newest members, Joshua Hankins. Joshua serves as a manufacturer's representative through Smart Roof Solutions, which is an independent rep firm primarily for GAF and Siplast roofing materials. He specifically supports the design community and specifiers to assist them with plans and specifications. “I regularly do plan and specification reviews (roofing specific) and assist to help obtain the higher quality finished product that is closer to what the specifier originally intended. I'm not a typical sales rep in that I don't quote jobs, I don't work with pricing, and I don't work with contractors. Again, my only job is to support the specifiers”.

Joshua became an IIBEC member in 2006 and obtained his RRO (Registered Roofing Observer) in 2009. For the past five years he has been a juror for the annual IIBEC project of the year awards and has served on several international IIBEC committees including Emerging Professionals and Bylaws, and multiple tasks teams.

Joshua had been a roof consultant with Roof Design and Consulting Services here in Knoxville. “I jumped the fence to the dark side and I've been a manufacturer's representative since May 2024. I'm specifically responsible for assisting the design community and owners as an enclosure consultant”.

Joshua's grew up immersed in design and construction, as his father, Sid Hankins, has practiced architecture in Knoxville for over 50 years. He said, “many family vacations were long weekends when my father would do site inspections, and I would tag along. I spent more hours than I can count after school in his office looking at blueprints and specifications.”

When asked why he joined CSI, he said, “I've long been aware of CSI, and at one point planned on obtaining my CDT, but never had the time or opportunity. Katherine Fuller Richardson invited me to attend the last meeting as her guest. I enjoyed the last presentation and look forward to being involved.”

Joshua has lived in Knoxville all his life and appears to be a fan of both the UT basketball and football. For the past 20 years, he has served as the backup for the scorer’s table (scoreboard operator, shot clock operator, game clock operator, and TV timeout coordinator) for UT men's basketball. He's also the spotter for the PA announcer (Jeff Jarnigan) at the UT football games. Currently he resides in the Fountain City area with his wife and 13-year-old daughter.

Please introduce yourself to Joshua at our next meeting. He has a lot to offer our design community!

Bag of Toys to Toys for Tots

Posted: Fri, Dec 13, 2024

The Knoxville Chapter collected toys at our annual Christmas Party for Toys for Tots. This has been a tradition in the chapter since Curtis Rosenbaun served as Chapter President from 1996 - 1998. A Santa bag full of toys was delivered to the Alcoa Hwy Marine Base to the arms of a grateful Marine. He said they will be distributing the toys to needy children the weekend of December 21. Thank you for helping make a child's Christmas a wonderful delight!

Come to the Chapter Christmas Party

Posted: Mon, Dec 02, 2024

Deck yourself in your favorite Christmas attire and join the Knoxville Chapter at our annual Christmas celebration on December 11, 2024. The party will be at Brent Williams' office at Advantage Solutions. Party starts at 6 PM. Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served.

Please bring an unwrapped toy for our Toys for Tots donations, a wrapped gift for the White Elephant Gift Exchange (one per attendee), and BYOB.

You must RSVP. There is no charge for the CSI member or their plus one.

You will receive a map by email from the Chapter.