Johnson Architecture names Staats as partner

Joseph “Joey” Staats has been named a partner at Johnson Architecture, a firm founded in 1994 that provides architecture, planning and interior design services for facilities of all types.

“Our firm is better positioned to provide outstanding service with Joey among our leadership,” said Daryl Johnson, founder and president of the Knoxville-based firm. “He embraces the complexity of each project, has an advanced skill set that makes him an asset across many types of projects and has strong project management abilities, as well.”

Staats joined Johnson Architecture in 2015, bringing nine years of experience working on commercial office, religious, medical and senior living projects. Since joining the firm, he has contributed to multiple designs and projects, including Kern’s Bakery, an adaptive reuse project for a food hall, residential, hotel, retail and office space in South Knoxville.

Other notable projects include Lakeway Christian Academy, a state-of-the-art middle and high school campus completed in 2020 in White Pine, Tennessee, and the affiliated Tri-Cities Christian Academy in Jonesborough, an ongoing project that also will serve middle and high school students. Staats also provided his expertise for Zoo Knoxville’s Tiger Forest and renovation and expansion of the Anderson Training Center for Tennessee Athletics, which is part of the University of Tennessee Haslam Field expansion project.

“I am honored to help lead Johnson Architecture as a partner as we continue to serve our clients through beautiful and functional spaces,” Staats said. “Every person at Johnson Architecture has taught me something valuable, and I thank the entire team for their support, especially Daryl, who leads well and makes it possible for us to succeed together.”

Staats earned a Bachelor of Architecture from The University of Tennessee in 2009 and studied architecture abroad at Politechnika Krakowska im. Tadeusza Kościuszki (Krakow University of Technology) in Krakow, Poland, in 2008. He is a registered architect (RA) and certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).

Staats, and his wife, Melissa, have two sons, Camden and Avery. In his spare time, Staats enjoys spending time with family, playing with his sons, riding motorcycles, playing guitar, kayaking, fixing cars and playing volleyball in City of Knoxville and Town of Farragut recreation leagues. The family also supports East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and participates in March of Dimes events.

About Johnson Architecture Inc.
Founded in 1994, Johnson Architecture is a design firm that provides architecture, planning and full in-house interior design services for facilities of all types. Johnson Architecture has designed various sized projects for numerous purposes, including commercial, educational, healthcare, residential, restaurant, tourism and spiritual. Notable clients include Blackberry Farm, Clayton Homes, First Presbyterian Church, Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation, Covenant Health, DENSO, Zoo Knoxville and The University of Tennessee. For more information, visit jainc.com.