In a city defined by its sonic heritage, the proposed Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) aims to translate the rhythm of Nashville into a permanent civic landmark. Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) in collaboration with William Rawn Associates and Hastings Architecture, the new riverside facility is defined by a rhythmic, undulating facade that seeks to dissolve the boundary between the performance hall and the public realm.
The building’s most striking feature is a "curtain" of bundled aluminum pipes that wraps around the structure. According to Bjarke Ingels, the design draws inspiration from the tactile elements of performance—theater drapes, organ pipes, and steel chimes. These metallic tubes shift from vertical to horizontal orientations, narrowing at key points to reveal expansive glass walls. This transparency is intentional, offering views of the Cumberland River and the city skyline, while inviting the public into what is envisioned as a "flowing pavilion in the park."
Internally, the center is organized around two primary volumes: a grand hall and a dedicated dance and opera hall. The structures are angled away from one another, creating a spatial tension that follows the natural slope of the site as it descends toward the water. By elevating the traditional theater from a closed-off "black box" into an open, porous structure, the design team hopes to provide Nashville with a venue that feels as inclusive as the performances it hosts.
With reporting from Dezeen Architecture.
Source · Dezeen Architecture
