Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and M2 Development Partners have unveiled renderings for a mixed-use project in the heart of Nashville’s SoBro District. Comprising of two towers, the 1.2-million-square-foot development includes a 5-star Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Ritz-Carlton Residences, rental apartments, a rooftop restaurant, and retail. The development will anchor burgeoning retail and hospitality development along Korean Veterans Boulevard.
The 46-story tower includes a 242-key Ritz-Carlton Hotel and 165 luxury Residences. Atop the Grand Ballroom and meeting spaces are hotel fitness facilities, a yoga patio, an indoor/outdoor spa garden, and a hotel bar and pool deck. The second 32-story tower will be home to 185 rental units with a fitness center, pool, and outdoor dining. The project is targeting LEED Gold certification and is anticipating groundbreaking in early 2022.
Image © SOM
The design is informed as much by biophilic principles—providing opportunities to connect with nature—as by local building traditions. “Taking inspiration from the surrounding landscape and the architectural vernacular of the Southern porch, we designed the towers with a series of outdoor, wraparound terraces,” says Scott Duncan, SOM Design Partner. “These lively spaces allow guests and residents to meet and enjoy views of the city and the river.”
Balancing transparent and opaque materials, SOM designed the glass and terracotta facade to harmonize with its surroundings. At street level, the towers share a podium defined by grooved stone and contemporary glass details to create a more seamless barrier between the towers and adjacent streetscape. The building’s interiors draw inspiration from the facade and incorporate fluted millwork and gentle curves.
Image © SOM
Operable facade panels fold away to enhance views, further blurring the line between exterior and interior spaces. “M2 Development Partners, the Ritz-Carlton Project Developers, are very excited to bring a five-star Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Residences to downtown Nashville, directly on the KVB / Lafayette Circle in the burgeoning SoBro District,” says Larry Lipa, M2 Development Partners Principal.
“We have engaged SOM, a world class international architectural firm, to lead a team of talented architects, engineers and designers to create a highly-amenitized, luxury venue, built with the highest quality materials and incorporating the newest technology and ‘clean building’ standards. SOM has succeeded in designing an architectural gem whose significance will enhance Nashville’s magnificent skyline.” Source and images Courtesy of SOM.
Image © SOM 
Image © SOM