What I've Gleaned by Viewing The Glen

To quote the words from the fuzz-guitar classic Social Distortion song: "I was wrong."

Wrong to predict — as I did to various friends about four months ago — that The Glen would represent the first "average" exterior of a multi-unit DA|AD-designed building. Now finished, I rank the architectural effort a solid 7 to 7.5 and consider the design clearly above average.

Developed by stalwart local entity Core Development and Nashville's most recently finished urban infill project, The Glen is a fine addition to the Hillsboro Village area. However, it is not one of DA|AD's best buildings — at least based on exterior design. For example, the architect's Madison Square, Morgan Park Place and Summer Lofts (all located in Germantown) offer a greater variety of shapes, colors and materials than does The Glen. For that matter, McFerrin Park's West Eastland (its grays and yellows contrasting boldly while its sloped roofs lure the eye skyward) is considerable more visually arresting than The Glen. In fact, I rank The Glen exterior — as a study in 21st century infill architecture — as roughly equal to that of West Eastland.

Specifically, The Glen's facade and back are quite attractive. In contrast, the side that fronts Wedgewood Avenue is a bit bland (in terms of form). Critics will argue The Glen is excessively monochromatic and clean-lined, and they may have a point. On that theme, the doors facing 19th Avenue could have been a slightly "edgier" style so as to render the overall structure somewhat less understated. On a positive note, the building's height and massing are perfect for a T-intersection, especially one in the bustling Hillsboro Village. In addition the color scheme, though unadventurous, is quite masculine.

Overall, The Glen is a fine addition to the city's ever-changing built fabric. Though not DA|AD's best work, it continues the firm's upward trajectory of well-designed urban Nashville structures.