The downtown YWCA Nancy J. Land Center was built 100 years ago, exactly. Prior to that, YWCA Knoxville & the Tennessee Valley—founded in 1899, making it one of the oldest organizations in the region—was housed in a former doctor’s house on the same site that packed in about 15 women. The big brick building that opened its doors in November 1925 was a monumental upgrade, soon housing nearly 200 women in need.
Over the decades, countless women have passed through its stately 420 W. Clinch Ave. entryway, seeking sanctuary and support. The building aged, gracefully at first, and then less so. Eventually it became clear that a major overhaul—including a full gutting of electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems, plus updates to make the facility safe, energy-efficient and ADA accessible—would be necessary for its continued use.
The Keys of Hope Capital Campaign has been in the works for about 10 years; the board started talking about it in earnest around 2015, followed by a feasibility study in 2016. The campaign to raise $11.5 million officially launched in 2019 and its final threshold was crossed this April thanks to a $1.5 million grant from the State of Tennessee, funded through the 2025–26 fiscal year budget. The grant is earmarked for the building renovation and the expansion of the Jenny Boyd Keys of Hope Women’s Program, which also receives support from the City of Knoxville, Knox County, the U.S. government and a mix of private donors, corporations, and foundations.
The Keys of Hope Program provides housing for women for up to two years. Previously it could accommodate 58 residents; after the renovation, that number will increase by 20%. With a 90% success rate, the program helps women reenter the workforce, find permanent housing, regain self-sufficiency and reclaim roles as contributing members of their communities. And its wraparound services benefit many more than just the women physically housed here. As Interim CEO Natalie Stair puts it: “You’re always going to be limited by the number of rooms you’ve got, and the need is so much greater.”
A Work in Progress
The renovation is a yearlong project, and we’re now at about the halfway point. While the building remains fully in construction mode, a little imagination is all it takes to picture what’s soon to come. IOK’s last report on YWCA was about 11 months ago, and it feels right about time for an update.
Even filled with construction detritus, the first floor still feels almost cinematic, with its museum-grade moulding, stately arches and majestic chandelier. Case in point: it was featured as a ’50s-era hotel lobby in the 1999 film October Sky, starring a then-17-year-old Jake Gyllenhaal.
From the floors up, efforts have been made to preserve as much of the building’s historic value as possible. The deteriorated circular stairwell that opens onto Walnut Street will serve as a residential entrance and is being restored to match the original, thanks to funding from Downtown Knoxville Alliance. Everywhere you look are “they just don’t make ’em like they used to” relics—grand fireplaces, massive accordion doors, interior transom windows and a dumbwaiter that Stair says she’d love to seal behind plexiglass, allowing a glimpse into the layered tiramisu of the building’s antique walls.
Elsewhere on the first and second floor, there are common areas, meeting and therapy rooms, offices, a conference room, a kitchen and dining room, computer lab, clothing boutique and outdoor community area. The expansive former gymnasium, with its soaring ceilings and windows that drink in the sun, will be reimagined as an open community and events space.
“The organization is looking at how we can expand services beyond just the people who live here,” says Stair. “We’re asking: how can we reach people who could benefit from our programs, but don’t live in this building?”
That includes expanding class sizes, offering more group sessions, and creating flexible, multi-use spaces that serve both residents and the broader community. Having adaptable space allows the YWCA to extend its wraparound services to a wider audience.
“Whenever I see these open spaces, I think about flexibility,” Stair says. “For 125 years, the YWCA has adapted to meet the moment. We don’t know what the next 50 years will bring, but we want to make sure this building can evolve with the needs of the community.”
The half-basement floor includes a gym space, Club W. It’s had some new exercise equipment come in and has hosted group fitness classes, a tradition the YWCA intends to circle back to: “We want to make sure as many people from the community who want to are able to come back in and use the space.”
There’s also an indoor pool that was open until COVID. Restoration of the pool isn’t part of the current renovation—anyone who owns even a basic backyard pool knows the headache, let alone an antique one—but it’s on their wish list. “People tell me all the time they learned to swim in this pool and have all kinds of memories,” Stair says. “So it means a lot to a lot of people.”
Back upstairs, the third and fourth floors are home to resident rooms, each with its own character. “No two rooms are exactly the same,” Stair says. Before the renovation, bathrooms were limited, and most in-room sinks didn’t work. The updated rooms will have working sinks, vanities, desks, modern outlets, individual temperature control and, for some, an iconic view that can’t be beat. The laundry access now includes multiple communal units on every floor, which is an improvement from the single laundry room on the second floor previously.
What’s Next & Why It’s Important
When the building reopens later this year, there won’t be a rush to fill all 70 rooms at once. “We’re going to phase it in,” Stair explains. “It’s all brand-new systems, security, access control. We’ll need to work out the kinks and make sure everything’s ready to really welcome people home.”
That word—home—isn’t used lightly. “Imagine you’re a woman coming out of a crisis, walking into a space that’s clean, beautiful, modern and safe,” Stair says. “It restores dignity.”
Many of the women who come to the YWCA have experienced profound instability—unsafe relationships, evictions, homelessness or the slow erosion of self-worth that happens when there’s no safety net. “A lot of people we serve have had their confidence completely deteriorated,” Stair says. “They’ve been abandoned, sometimes by family or partners, and they’re coming to us in a moment of real crisis.”
That’s why the goal of the program isn’t just to provide shelter. “This isn’t just a housing program,” Stair emphasizes. “It’s comprehensive. The housing is essential, yes, but it’s the wraparound services that make it transformational.”
Residents meet regularly with case managers and participate in programming that includes workforce development, financial literacy and help navigating complex systems—whether that means opening a bank account or recovering a long-lost Social Security card. “There are so many resources out there, but navigating them can be a real challenge,” Stair says. “That’s where we come in.”
As the building celebrates its 100th birthday, YWCA Knoxville & East Tennessee is poised to serve the next 100. “It feels like everything’s kind of coming together here,” Stair says. “Just in time.”
Learn more about YWCA Knoxville & the Tennessee Valley and how to get involved here.
