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Murals of former and present University of Tennessee basketball players and coaches decorate the concourses of Thompson-Boling Arena and Pratt Pavillion. The large graphics are done on canvas and stretched over a frame for a seamless look.

University of Tennessee basketball players of note are immortalized in artwork as part of a $475,000 project by ZE Design of Centerville, Ohio, to decorate a remodeled Thompson-Boling Arena and the new Pratt Pavilion.

The writing is on the wall. But it's the pictures that grab your eye.

The history of University of Tennessee basketball has a new canvas in the concourses of Thompson-Boling Arena and the new Pratt Pavilion.

When UT decided to remodel the arena and build an adjacent practice facility, decorating both with basketball graphics was an obvious opportunity.

The work is just about finished, and the results are impressive. Giant graphics, complemented by smaller illustrations, grace the arena concourses and appear throughout Pratt Pavilion.

"When we started the renovation process, we wanted to add color and pageantry,'' said Mike Hamilton, men's athletic director. "One way to that as well as honor our past was install the graphic package in the concourse.

"The package is slated to honor not only our past teams and championships but the current teams as well.''

The project was more than a year in the works. Architect Bill Blankenship brought in ZE Design of Centerville, Ohio.

"We proposed (to UT),'' said Blankenship, "why don't we have one uniform theme and one consistent graphic presentation, done by one hand, instead of a hodgepodge?''

UT supplied photos to ZE Design, and project director Roger Owsley and his team took it from there. Blankenship said the cost of the graphics project was $475,000.

The result is a lot of illustrations and a lot of orange.

"We ask for a slew of photos, discuss what's important and what you want to show in public space as opposed to what you might want recruits to see,'' said Owsley. "What is most important to tell the story?''

The large graphics in the arena concourse are done on canvas and stretched over a frame to achieve a seamless presentation.

In Pratt, the illustrations are designed and hung like wallpaper. One wall features a mural with Ray Mears and Pat Summitt.

In the practice area, a gigantic Wayne Chism looks down on the men's court.

"These displays honor all our heroes,'' said Blankenship. "Technically, it's first-class and the design is first-class.''

ZE Design does primarily sports illustrations for universities and pro teams. The company is also working on UT's new Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center.

The murals are part of the $30 million basketball facilities' improvement project, which included Thompson-Boling upgrades and construction of the Pratt Pavilion.

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.