a landmark for the ‘music city’ designed by bjarke ingels
Plans for her NashvilleThe upcoming Tennessee Performing Arts Center was unveiled by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). It is located on the East Bank of the city and will form a 307,000 square feet theater and arts complex along the Cumberland River and will act as a link between the city center and the next phase of the city’s development. The building will sit at the end of Broadway, overlooking the skyline and drawing attention across the water.
THE facade forms a continuous, raised profile. The aluminum tubes bend in wide arcs, catching the light and giving the volume a changing surface. Bjarke Ingels describes it as “an urban and cultural nexus”, connecting east and west, old and new, and disciplines within.
images © Bjarke Ingels Group
a permeable edge and public ground for Nashville, Tennessee
THE group at Bjarke Ingels Group is designing the facade of Nashville’s Tennessee Center for the Performing Arts to rise to ground level. This scaling strategy creates deep openings that act as entrances and covered thresholds. People approach from many directions, guided by paths and plants along the river and surrounding roads.
Lead architect Bjarke Ingels notes that the project is “designed to be welcoming from all sides.” The tubes slope from vertical to horizontal, forming a dome and softening the edge. The entrance starts at different elevations, including the bridge above, and continues directly inside.
BIG’s Tennessee Performing Arts Center to Sit Along the Cumberland River in Nashville
a cascading interior landscape
The lobby is organized by the Bjarke Ingels Group as a scaled volume within the urban fabric of Nashville rather than a single hall. Stairs and balconies connect the spaces, allowing the audience to move between levels and share the same space before and after performances.
Wooden surfaces and multi-level lighting offset the metallic exterior. Above, a patterned ceiling adds depth. Ingels describes the lobby as “a cascading public space for the everyday life of the neighborhood.”
a continuous aluminum facade forms a raised silhouette that shifts with the light throughout the day
four spaces in a single envelope
In the center, four spaces are closely grouped together: the Grand Broadway theater, a dance and opera hall, a flexible black box and a cabaret space. Shared back-of-house functions support each, maintaining distinct spatial and acoustic conditions.
The main theater focuses on proximity, with seats that wrap around the stage. The black box allows for reconfiguration, while the cabaret introduces a more informal setting.
openings in the facade create shaded entrances that welcome visitors from many directions
a facade tuned to light and movement
Aluminum tubes act as both housing and filter, adjusting density and angle to control light and view. Ingels compares them to “organs or steel bells,” a reference that aligns with the city’s musical identity.
From a distance, the building reads as one continuous surface. Up close, the repetition of elements breaks it down to a finer scale, with shadows shifting across the facade.
Bjarke Ingels calls it “a flowing public pavilion in the park”. The project supports performance, rehearsals and training, while also acting as a place to hang out and gather, connecting the performance experience with the city beyond.
the facade of aluminum tubes filters the light and frames the views
