Conservation Hall | Archimania

The historic governor’s mansion in Nashville, Tennessee, was in dire need of an expansion to accommodate the various events hosted on the grounds. To preserve the prominence of the historic residence, Archimania designed a Conservation Hall placing the event and support spaces underground, rather than off to the side of the existing residence.

A glazed sunken courtyard brings natural light and green space into the event venue, 25 feet beneath the rolling front lawn. The final design is a 15,000 square foot meeting and dining facility, complete with event space for 300 guests, an entry mezzanine, green space, food service components, and restrooms.

photography by © David Sundberg/ESTO

The entry stair and main hall floors are oak, salvaged from the Tennessee River and nearby barns. A limited palette of materials permitted a high percentage of recycled content to be used, while dry polished concrete floors reduce maintenance costs.

photography by © David Sundberg/ESTO

The project honors the Tennessee Residence by framing and supporting it, rather than upstaging it. archimania’s design also upholds former First Lady Andrea Conte’s goal of providing energy-efficient operation with minimal environmental impact.

photography by © David Sundberg/ESTO

Project Info:
Architects: Archimania
Security: USIS
Cost / Sq: Ft $414
Project Year: 2010
Acoustics: Jaffe Holden
Project Area: 19080.0 ft2
Construction Cost: $7.9 million
Photographs: David Sundberg/ESTO
Landscape Architecture: Ross | Fowler
Kitchen/ Foodservice: Fisher and Associates
Lighting: Jim Benya – Benya Lighting Design
Sustainability: Architectural Energy Corporation
Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing: TLC Engineering
A/V Consultant: Memphis Communications Corporation
Project Location: 882 Curtiswood Ln S, Nashville, TN 37204, United States
Manufacturers: Accurate, Armstrong Ceilings, Carlisle, Kawneer, Sherwin Williams, ThyssenKrupp, Leatherwood, Dupont Civil, Structural SSR
Project Name: Conservation Hall