Creating Places: A Citizen Observer's Look at Nashville's Built Environment


Writer's Note: William Williams' interest in the manmade environment dates to 1970, at which point the then-young Williams started a collection of postcards of city skylines. The collection now numbers 1,000-plus cards. Among the writer's specific interests are exterior building design, city district planning, demographics, signage, mixed-use development, mass transit and green/sustainable construction and living. Williams began his Creating Places column with The City Paper in February 2005. The column in its original form was discontinued in September 2008 and reinvented via this blog in November 2008. Creating Places can be found on the home page of the website of The City Paper, at which Williams has worked in various capacities since October 2000.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Creating Places: A fine fire station

The new Nashville Fire Department Fire Station No. 3 at the southwest intersection of the Cleveland and Meridian streets intersection in East Nashville is a respectable addition to the neighborhood — and a clear improvement compared to the excessively utilitarian station that it replaced (see below in bottom photo and courtesy of Google Street View).

Designed by the Brentwood office of Thomas, Miller & Partners, the new hall (my photo is bad) offers various positives, including 1. a smallish, column-flanked pedestrian entrance that fronts Meridian; 2. a well-defined separation between Floors 1 and 2; and 3. (on the left side and topping the engine storage area) a hipped roof (rather unusual for a fire station, I would think). Also of note, the building features a metal roof. For better or worse, metal roofing has become commonplace in lots of industrial construction. And when that metal is red (picture a Mrs. Winner's building) or green (visualize countless suburban strip centers), the effect can be painfully unattractive and bland. Fortunately, the fire hall roof is gray metal and actually looks acceptable. In addition, the landscaping is quite tasteful.

A few minor quibbles: The building is a bit too horizontal — though the previously mentioned hipped-roof component and two mini-gabled roof elements lend some needed height. Also, the tops of the first-floor windows are positioned somewhat too closely to the eaves-like roof element separating Floors 1 and 2.

Overall, this is a very respectably designed civic building. Grade: B to B-plus.









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13 comments:

  1. RonOctober 15, 2012 at 8:00 AM

    With so many big projects underway in Nashville right now, it would certainly be good to read something about those.

    ReplyDelete
  2. William WilliamsOctober 15, 2012 at 8:14 AM

    Ron,

    I've written about many of the high-profile projects but there are a few I do need to touch on. The less-visable projects often go overlooked and I like to give them some attention.

    Thanks,

    WW

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousOctober 15, 2012 at 9:10 AM

    Thanks William.. I always find great information on your blog about all the new projects going on in Nashville. Large and small. And if I forget, I can always go to the Archive.

    Looking forward to your updates on some of the larger projects as well.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kosh IIIOctober 15, 2012 at 9:44 AM

    Hey! Madison just got a shiny new Fire Station too. Plus the changes and new building at the old Peterbilt location.
    Madison is an urbanistas dream: a downtown area with small scale storefronts, sidewalks, neighborhoods in walking distance, excellent bus service. Aside from one section, one can use sidewalks from Main St to beyond Rivergate.

    But I know: it ain't downtown Broadway/Church St. and it doesn't have tourists with money........

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. William WilliamsOctober 16, 2012 at 10:38 PM

      Kosh III,

      I do like the downtown Madison. Very charming. And the library there is stellar.

      WW

      Delete
  5. AnonymousOctober 15, 2012 at 3:42 PM

    Music City Center
    Omni Hotel
    Hyatt Hotel
    West End Summit twin towers
    31st Connector at Charlotte
    Elliston Place projects
    Vanderbilt projects
    Gulch projects
    Bus Rapid Transit on West End
    Highrise condo proposed in Green Hills
    others I cant remember......

    Nashville is on fire with development -- so many big projects underway. WW, let's hear your latest news and updates on ALL of them!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. William WilliamsOctober 16, 2012 at 10:42 PM

      AMous,

      I've touched on the MCC, Omni, Elliston 31, BRT.

      The Kissam project at Vanderbilt should be outstanding. Brick and stone, perfect height, traditional vibe but not a replica.

      Connector: I like it overall. The balustrade element is very tasteful. The various art elements are, overall, nice (though a few I find uninspired. Interesting element: The major curvature of the bridge (it's actually a viaduct). A highlight is the two bus stops on the south side of the connector. I really like the tall metal "needles" (threading North and West Nashville together) at the stops.

      WW

      Delete
    2. William WilliamsOctober 18, 2012 at 9:07 AM

      AMous3:42

      Here is WES

      http://williamwilliamsfreelancewriter.blogspot.com/2012/10/creating-places-look-at-wes.html

      Thanks,

      WW

      Delete
  6. RonOctober 15, 2012 at 9:06 PM

    Just read an article in the City Paper about the renovation and remodeling of the Loews Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel in conjunction with the the MCC and other new hotels and restaurants. Loews has always been an excellent hotel and it's good to see them updating.

    Any thoughts about the size and scope of the "renovation" marketplace in Nashville these days? With all the big new construction, I'm sure the remodeling/updating side of commercial real estate is booming in Nashville too. Thoughts?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. William WilliamsOctober 16, 2012 at 10:43 PM

      Ron,

      That is a great question. I would like to see the UMPH building at Eighth and Demonbreun given an adaptive reuse (and not be demolished to make way for the proposed Pantheon Park).

      More to follow on this ...

      WW

      Delete

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