Like many North American cities, Nashville is going through a major urban revival. Dozens of office and residential developments are gradually filling in the parking lots that currently line many downtown streets. Not only has the central business district become a place for people to work, live and play, neighbourhoods such as SOBRO (South of Broadway) and the Gulch are breaking away from their industrial past to become urban hot spots thanks to several hundred new residential units, office spaces, hotels, restaurants and shops blooming at every corner. 

Nashville's skyline, image by Kaldari via Wikimedia Commons

The site located at 505 Church street — in the heart of downtown — has seen several development proposals over the years, none of which materialized. However, according to owner Giarratana Development, construction will soon start for a 45-storey, 166-metre apartment tower containing approximately 500 units. Designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz and Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, 505 CST is expected to become Nashville's second tallest tower when complete in 2018.

505 CST, by Giarratanar Development, Solomon Cordwell Buenz and Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture

A few blocks away, the city's old convention centre is about to be razed to make way for a new mixed-use complex. Named Fifth + Broadway in reference to its location, the $400-million redevelopment project will be conducted by OliverMcMillan and Spectrum | Emery. It will include a 32-storey office tower in an effort to add between 32,000 and 42,000 square feet of class A office space to the area, while a 30-storey residential tower will bring 350 new residential units. The Gensler-designed complex will also include the National Museum of African-American Music as well as 21,000 square metres of retail space, including restaurants, shops and cafes along new pedestrian-only streets.

Fifth + Broadway by OliverMcMillan, Spectrum | Emery and Gensler

South of Broadway, the SOBRO neighbourhood was chosen by Bridgestone Americas to relocate its headquarters. The 1,700 employees will be located in a brand new 140-metre, 30-storey glass tower at the intersection of 4th Avenue South and Demonbreun Street, across from the iconic Country Music Hall of Fame and the Schermerhorn Symphony Hall. Currently under construction, the Perkins + Will-designed property is being developed by Highwoods Properties and Giarratana Development.

Bridgestone Americas, by Perkins + Will, Highwoods Properties and Giarratana Development

Expected for completion in 2016, The SoBro apartment building is steadily making its way up above Demonbreun Street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues South. Designed by Loewenberg Architects, the structure is now boasting ample curves on its south side, poised to become a local landmark in this growing neighbourhood. Indeed, the SoBro Apartment tower will eventually add 330 units to the area. Just like several projects cited above, this building is being developed by Giarratana Development. 

The SoBro by Giarratana Development and Loewenberg Architects

Finally, Buckingham Companies is planning to bring a major addition to the Gulch, which became the first neighbourhood in the South to be a LEED-certified Green Neighbourhood in 2009. On a small triangular lot situated at the corner of Division Street and 12th Avenue South, a 42-storey residential building designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) might become the latest and tallest addition south of downtown, at 137 metres above grade. However, current zoning allows for a maximum height of 25 floors, which means the Buckingham Apartment Tower could be redesigned before the groundbreaking, which is expected for 2016.

The Buckingham Apartment Tower by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Buckingham Companies

While a $65-million revitalization project is reshaping the waterfront with new public spaces being created or improved on both sides of the Cumberland River, a myriad of other smaller projects are contributing to the growing crowds of downtowners, currently estimated at 8,100. What do you think about the rebirth of North American city centres, such as Nashville's? Tell us by leaving a comment at the bottom of this page, or by visiting the dedicated Forum threads, listed below. More information and renderings about the projects featured in this article are also available on our Database. 

Related Companies:  Gensler