JV to Develop 2nd Tallest Nashville Tower

By Keith Loria

The Congress Group and AECOM Capital Real Estate have joined forces to transform 151 1st Ave. S., a mixed-use development in the SoBro area of Nashville, Tenn., which when finished, will be the second-tallest tower in the city.

“This will not only be an iconic addition to the Nashville skyline, but also serve to supply unmet demand for luxury hotel rooms and property ownership along the water and in the urban core,” Rich O. Kershaw, The Congress Group’s senior project manager, told MHN. “The project delivers 142 luxury riverfront condominiums paired with a 232-room, five-star luxury hotel in the center podium. This will be a project that becomes a memorable addition to the Nashville skyline, and it delivers on the uses Nashville needs most.”

It will also provide parking to 374 cars and maintain around 8,000-square-feet of retail, which will serve to activate First Avenue across from West Riverfront Park, the heart of downtown by the Cumberland River.

According to Kershaw, the partnership on the project plans to deliver a complete luxury lifestyle experience that is unmatched in the market and that is the focus of the design and vision for the project.

“The 40-story tower ensures future condominium owners will have unprecedented and unrestricted views of the river and downtown,” he said. “Its connectivity with a five-star hotel flag means shared synergies and amenities that are world class. We’re looking to set new standards in luxury living and hospitality.”

The project is the culmination of years of advancement in the SoBro (South of Broadway) area of Nashville, with the recently opened 222 office building, American Headquarters of Bridgestone, as well as the award-winning Ascend Amphitheater all within a block of the project.

“We’ve worked to ensure the project pairs perfectly with commercial neighbors by providing a walkable hotel, residential and parking options,” Kershaw said. “For SoBro residents, the project delivers extra wide sidewalks, enhanced streetscapes and increased walkability.  The project awakens 1st Avenue with open air restaurants that will serve to further activate West Riverfront Park.”

Design Plans

The project is being designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz.

“The building’s street presence was a major design driver for the podium,” Devon Patterson, SCB’s principal, told MHN. “As a backdrop to the Ascend Amphitheater, the ground floors needed to enhance the pedestrian experience of the area. We wanted to create a design that embodied the ethos of Nashville and its music culture, and were drawn to the iconic image of an acoustic guitar; well-crafted of fine materials, the instrument’s aesthetic properties parallel the architectural qualities of the podium.”

Furthermore, the design team envision cladding the building in warm-colored metal panels, bronze, and weathered COR-TEN steel.

“The metal is punctuated with large expanses of translucent glass, activating the façade both day and night and visually connecting the street scene with activity inside the building,” Patterson said. “The building’s adjacency to the Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge allowed us to develop some unique program and place-making elements, such as an elevated, pop-up performance venue and an area below the bridge where food trucks and people can gather. Above the podium rises an elegant, modern, and sleek glass tower that is oriented to capture exceptional views and reflect the luxury of the condominiums and five-star hotel within.”

Recent studies have shown Nashville is experiencing unprecedented growth, with some estimates suggesting as many as 100 residents moving there a day.

“At the same time, in the urban core there are very few opportunities for condominium ownership,” Kershaw said. “There is certainly no opportunity to own something like we propose, by the water at the center of downtown. We believe the time is right to deliver this level of luxury to the market.”

Construction will be led by AECOM Hunt and is expected to be completed in 2021.