The Challenge
The Music City Center is Nashville's largest convention hall, boasting over 1.2 million square feet of space across a 16-acre site that encompasses six city blocks. Barge Design Solutions served as the civil engineer and landscape architect on the design team for this world-class facility, providing surveying, site engineering, environmental services, and stormwater evaluations.
The primary challenge of the project was selecting the appropriate site for the convention center. Barge was engaged by Nashville’s Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency to prepare a report outlining the pros and cons of each potential location. Once the site was selected, the team developed a comprehensive plan that considered the existing downtown street network, an electrical substation, and access to the nearby Bridgestone Arena.
The Solution
Barge conducted a traffic study for Nashville's downtown grid and recommended that one of the north-south streets running through the chosen site — either Sixth or Seventh Avenue — remain open. After consulting with the design team, it was decided that Sixth Avenue would remain open and run beneath the convention center.
Given the site's significant 60-foot grade, Barge collaborated with other consultants to design a layout that placed the convention floor at the top of the building, with meeting rooms and parking stacked below. Additionally, the firm worked with Nashville Electric Service to relocate the electrical substation from the project footprint to an underground system. To maintain arena access, a tunnel was created under the building to separate convention center traffic.
The Result
The successful development of the Nashville Convention Center showcases the team's expertise in urban planning, infrastructure design, and project management. Barge's ability to navigate the challenges posed by the site, address traffic concerns, and create a functional and accessible facility has significantly contributed to the revitalization of Nashville's downtown area.
