Reimagining downtown Nashville
Explore the Nashville Next project, where we address rapid urban growth and its impact on livability, equity, and urban design. See how thoughtful planning can transform a city.
Addressing rapid urban growth
The Nashville Next project critically examines rapid urban growth in Nashville and its impact on livability, equity, and urban form. Driven by strong economic expansion and population increase, downtown Nashville has experienced a surge in high-rise development, often incentivized by the bonus height program. However, this system has led developers to prioritize easily attainable incentives—such as parking provisions—over community-oriented benefits like open space, affordable housing, or cultural preservation.
The challenges of development
As a result, the city has become increasingly car-dependent, with underutilized parking infrastructure and a declining pedestrian experience, reflected in its low walkability score. Our project highlights these critical issues and proposes solutions to create a more balanced and resident-focused urban environment.
The form-based code visualizes the impact of building height and regulation. The neighborhood model of design guidelines.
A new framework for development
To address these challenges, the project proposes a revised bonus height framework that removes parking incentives and emphasizes diversified land use, human-centered design, and community engagement. Key strategies include promoting mixed-income residential development, enhancing public transportation and walkability, and integrating green infrastructure to improve climate resilience. By linking zoning incentives with meaningful public benefits—such as resilient public spaces, neighborhood support facilities, and sustainable building practices—the proposal aims to realign development with residents’ needs. The design application at a downtown site demonstrates how these guidelines can foster connectivity, activate public space, and create a more inclusive and livable urban environment.
