121 Tech Hub unveils basement level with new desks, mural, and event space
The grand opening celebration for the basement level gathered more than a hundred techies, founders, and partners in the ecosystem.
Since its crowded grand opening in early October of last year, 121 Tech Hub has strategically positioned itself as the “the place to be” for Knoxville’s tech entrepreneurs. Brandon Bruce, who co-founded the space with John Bruck, said the space was intended to be “a club for the club.” So far, that’s exactly how its panned out.
Currently, 121 Tech Hub has 35 members who can come to the space to work at any time. Many are launching tech-based start-ups, some freelance, and others work remotely for tech-enabled companies. Bruce said it’s brought together a mix of people who think alike and work alike.
“I think of the top floor as the bright, open, social hub for founders looking to connect and brainstorm,” Bruce said. “And I think of the lower level as being the space to lock in on a project and get work done.”
On Wednesday, 121 Tech Hub welcomed the community for the grand opening of the work space’s lower level. More than a hundred techies, founders, and partners in the ecosystem came out to celebrate.
The bottom level is complete with five orange phone booths, two dozen workstations, and a space for hosting events (as seen in the recent Morning Momentum). It will has a very long, very large custom mural painted by Megan Lingerfelt, who is best known for her murals downtown – and restoration of the iconic Dolly Parton mural outside of Market Square.
The mural was a brainchild of Bruce, Bruck, and Lingerfelt. It displays Knoxville’s innovation ecosystem through the decades.
“On the far left, you’ll see a brain scan. That’s because the PET scan was invented at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. It was commercialized by a company here called CTI, which then was acquired years later by Siemens for a billion dollars. It was one of the original tech transfer commercialization Unicorns of the Knoxville/ Oak Ridge region,” Bruce shared with attendees.
He proceeded to walk through the whole mural – pointing out the inventions of the N-95 Mask, the Frontier supercomputer, the dumpster, Mountain Dew, and the Pet Safe Invisible Fence. He also called out portions of the mural dedicated to other successful businesses and organizations, for example there is a homage to Innovation Crossroads, the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, the Spark Cleantech Accelerator, 100Knoxville, Cirrus Insight, Cirrus Aircraft, Tennessee Valley Authority, Pilot, Axle Logistics, Scripps, Discovery, Malibu Boats, Blackberry Farm, the new Multi-purpose Stadium, hosting both One Knox soccer and the Smokies baseball teams, Clayton Homes, Bush’s Beans, Benton’s Bacon, Sterchi Furniture, Jewelry TV, Textiles/ Composites, and of course, Pet Safe.
The piece is so vast, you could play scavenger hunt bingo and still not capture every mention and tie-back to the entrepreneurial community in Knoxville.
“We are thankful to Megan, we are proud of this mural, and proud to be in a community where people want to spend a couple hours hanging out at a tech hub,” Bruce said. “Knoxville is growing. We’re excited to be part of it.”
Learn more about 121 Tech Hub.
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