As architecture fans, we’re interested in who’s designing the structures popping up around Nashville, from new homes to mixed-use projects to office buildings.
So Nashville Business Journal’s recent rundown of Nashville’s largest architectural firms caught our attention. Even if you’re not involved in real estate here in Nashville, with how visibly and swiftly things are changing — from the skyline to suburban streets — it’s interesting to see who’s among those driving the aesthetics of our city.
NBJ’s list mostly features figures and photos of the pros behind those large companies, though, and we thought some of you might be interested in seeing the buildings these particular firms have been responsible for, too.
Curious about what this crop of major Nashville architects has been adding to Music City? The Top 5 on the list, plus a peek at some of their high-profile projects, below.
5. HFR Design
Recent project: Nashville Fire Department Headquarters
HFR designed this new 25,000-square-foot, two-story facility to blend into its Rolling Mill Hill surroundings, with a mix of classic brick and modern angles.
4. TMPartners
Recent project: Hill Center Brentwood
We’re out in Brentwood here, but this was a much-anticipated development, envisioned (and delivered) as a “Downtown Brentwood,” with office space, restaurants and shops.
3. Hastings Architecture Associates
Recent projects: River North
Hastings has been responsible for a number of high-profile residential and commercial projects downtown, including modern luxury residential tower Twelve|Twelve in The Gulch and glimmering office building 1201 Demonbreun downtown. We’re really intrigued to see the results at one of their in-the-works projects, the massive River North on the east side of the Cumberland. When that’s done, it’ll reinvent more than 100 acres of industrial property with shopping and dining space, residences and more.
2. Gresham Smith and Partners
Recent project: Fifth + Broadway
GS&P has their name on a slew of high-profile projects from Nashville to Shanghai, from modern office towers to charming residential communities. But we’ll guess we’re in good company in being really interested to see one of their latest projects come to life: Fifth + Broadway, a reimagination of the old convention center downtown, which’ll include more than a million square feet of office, retail, residential and entertainment space.
1. ESa — Earl Swensson Associates
Recent project: Schermerhorn Symphony Center
To be fair, this isn’t all that recent — the Schermerhorn opened in 2006. But the modern-meets-classical building is easily among Nashville’s most beautiful structures, and it’s rightly earned the team behind its design loads of recognition, here and elsewhere. The firm has plenty of other recognizable recent Nashville projects, like the modern Gulch Crossing. But beyond the Symphony Center, their most recognizable project is probably Nashville’s most recognizable project: the AT&T Tennessee Headquarters, a.k.a. the Batman Building.
Any of these among your favorite recent (or relatively recent) additions to Nashville? Other Nashville buildings or architects that you’re really drawn to? We’d love your feedback.
If you’re looking for your own piece of Nashville, we’d also love to help you find it. Call or email ACRE here, or start the Nashville househunting process by filling out this quick form.