On Nashville’s East Bank, a new campus for the Tennessee Performing Arts Center is being developed as the organisation prepares to relocate from its longstanding downtown home. The 307,000ft2 scheme brings together performance venues, education spaces and public areas within a single complex designed to support a broad range of artistic programmes. Planned as the future base for the Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera, and Nashville Repertory Theatre, the project consolidates multiple functions that have historically operated across separate spaces.
Project Overview
| Project Type | Performing arts centre (cultural campus) |
| Location | Nashville, Tennessee, US |
| Size | 307,000ft2 |
| Client | Tennessee Performing Arts Center |
| Architects | BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, William Rawn Associates, and HASTINGS Architecture |
| Landscape Architect | OLIN |
| Key Venues | Grand Broadway theatre; dance and opera hall; black box theatre; cabaret |
| Resident Companies | Nashville Ballet; Nashville Opera; Nashville Repertory Theatre |
| Construction Start | Expected 2027 |
| Completion | Projected 2030 |
Designed by BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group in collaboration with William Rawn Associates and HASTINGS Architecture, the building is organised around a cluster of performance halls at its core, with circulation and public spaces extending around and through the structure. The centre includes a Grand Broadway theatre, a dance and opera hall, a flexible black box theatre and a cabaret space, supported by rehearsal studios and classrooms. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with completion targeted for 2030.
Location and East Bank integration in Nashville
The new Tennessee Performing Arts Center is located on Nashville’s East Bank, along the Cumberland River, where it forms part of a transformation of the East Bank. The site is adjacent to Cumberland Park and close to Nissan Stadium, placing the building within an emerging waterfront district that is being reconfigured as a connected urban environment.
The project is conceived to extend activity from downtown Nashville across the river. Its placement at the eastern end of the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge allows it to operate as a continuation of the city’s established cultural corridor. From this position, the building is intended to function as both a destination and a connector, linking different parts of the city through pedestrian movement and public space.
The building is set within a landscaped perimeter that connects directly to the riverfront, with pedestrian routes extending around the site and linking to adjacent public spaces. This positioning allows the project to operate as part of a broader network of open spaces rather than as an isolated cultural object.
The campus replaces the organisation’s current downtown location, establishing a new base for its activities while maintaining its role within the city’s cultural infrastructure.
Architectural design and façade expression
The building is defined by a sculptural exterior composed of reflective aluminium tubes. These elements are arranged in varying orientations, shifting from vertical to horizontal to create openings, canopies, and sheltered thresholds. The façade draws from the movement of a theatre curtain, with arched forms lifting to reveal internal activity.
This approach produces a volume that changes appearance depending on vantage point and light conditions. From across the river, the structure reads as a distinct marker within the skyline, while at ground level it opens to allow movement through and around the building.
The envelope follows a continuous curved geometry, with vertical elements forming a consistent outer layer that wraps the structure and defines its overall silhouette. Rather than presenting a single front-facing elevation, the building maintains a perimeter that remains open and accessible on multiple sides.
The architectural concept avoids a single defined frontage. Instead, the building is designed to be accessible from multiple directions, responding to its position between ground level and the elevated bridge. This results in a perimeter that is active on all sides, with public access integrated into the overall form.
Public spaces and circulation across multiple levels
The internal organisation centres on a large atrium that draws the surrounding city into the building. Two primary lobbies are arranged across different levels. One sits at street level with views towards the river and waterfront park, while the other aligns with the pedestrian bridge above.
These spaces are linked by a sequence of staircases, lounges and cascading slabs that function as gathering areas before and after performances. Circulation is distributed across multiple levels, with balconies and terraces overlooking the central volume and maintaining visual connections between different parts of the building.
The lobby operates as a vertical circulation spine, allowing movement to extend across levels rather than remaining confined to a single-entry plane. This arrangement supports simultaneous activity across venues while maintaining spatial continuity.
Outdoor staircases extend this movement to the surrounding landscape, linking the building directly to the riverfront. The public realm is further shaped by landscape design from OLIN, which introduces planting, open gathering areas and spaces for informal performances.
A transparent rehearsal space provides views into the working areas of the building, while a sensory room is incorporated to support visitors during performances. At roof level, a terrace offers views towards Broadway, the river and the wider skyline, adding another layer to the sequence of public spaces.
Performance venues and spatial configuration
At the core of the project are four performance venues, each configured to support different forms of artistic production. The building is organised around two primary performance volumes, corresponding to the Grand Broadway theatre and the dance and opera hall, with supporting venues and shared spaces arranged around them.
The Grand Broadway theatre accommodates large-scale touring productions. Seating is organised into tiers that form clustered viewing areas, with staggered heights to maintain clear sightlines.
The dance and opera hall is shaped to support the visibility of movement on stage. Its balconies are arranged to reinforce continuity between audience and performance, allowing views to remain consistent across levels.
The black box theatre removes the fixed separation between stage and audience. By eliminating the traditional proscenium frame, it allows seating configurations to be adapted for different types of productions.
The cabaret space introduces a more intimate setting, where the stage extends into the audience area. This arrangement is paired with banquet-style seating to create a closer relationship between performers and viewers.
Across all venues, the spaces are designed to accommodate a range of uses, from resident companies to touring productions and community events.
Facilities, education spaces and cultural role
Beyond performance spaces, the building incorporates rehearsal studios and classrooms, supporting both professional practice and educational activities. Sections of the scheme indicate that these functions are integrated within the overall volume rather than separated into independent wings, allowing operational spaces to remain closely connected to performance areas.
The centre will serve as the home for the Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera, and Nashville Repertory Theatre, consolidating their operations within a single campus.
The organisation’s existing role in arts education continues within the new facility, with spaces designed to host programmes that connect students, educators and communities across Tennessee. The inclusion of visible rehearsal areas and shared spaces reinforces this relationship between performance and learning.
Together, these spaces combine performance, education and public use, positioning the building as a place where artistic activity and everyday urban life intersect.
Timeline and development scope
The project comprises approximately 307,000ft2 and represents a new phase in the organisation’s development. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with completion targeted for 2030.
As the East Bank evolves, the new Tennessee Performing Arts Center contributes to a broader reconfiguration of Nashville’s riverfront, establishing a new setting for the city’s performing arts activities.
