BIG-BJARKE INGELS GROUP+ WILLIAM RAWN ASSOCIATEST
TENNESSEE
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
The new Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) -
designed by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group and William Rawn Associates (WRA) with
HASTINGS Architecture - extends the vibrancy of downtown Nashville across the
Cumberland River, emerging as a cultural anchor for the city's reenergized East
Bank. Designed to welcome the community
from all sides, with the performance venues clustered at its core, the new TPAC
supports a range of artistic programming while building upon Nashville’s rich
legacy in the arts.
“The new home for the Tennessee Performing Arts Center is designed like an urban and cultural connection – between the east and west bank of the Cumberland River, between the old and the new Nashville, and between all of the performing arts – says Bjarke Ingels Visually- Designed to be welcoming on all sides, the center is accessible from above and below the bridge, making the lobby a cascading public space for the daily life of the neighborhood.
TPAC’s reflective metal facade, composed of an array
of aluminum tubes, creates a dynamic, sculptural volume that looks different
from every vantage point in the city. Taking cues from an undulating theater
curtain, the arches on the exterior lift to reveal the activity within
Upon arrival, guests are welcomed by a light-filled atrium that draws the energy of the city inside. Two lobbies connect the performance spaces: the main lobby at street-level with views of the river and proposed waterfront park, and an elevated lobby fronting the landmark John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge. A grand staircase, central lounge, and cascading concrete slabs invite patrons to congregate before, after, and in between performances – reinforcing TPAC’s role as a social gathering place within Nashville.
Within the Broadway Theater, floating wood-clad
‘trays’ organize the seating into intimate clusters, each staggered in height
for optimized sightlines. The opera and dance hall is designed to enhance the
views of the dancers’ feet, while the balconies reinforce a visual continuity
with the stage. The Black Box Theater places the audience directly in the
performance, eliminating the proscenium ‘picture frame’ that traditionally
outlines the stage and allowing for different seating configurations tailored
to each production. The Cabaret features a stage that extends into the
audience, creating an intimate atmosphere complemented by banquet-style
seating.
A transparent rehearsal space offers visitors a glimpse behind the scenes, while a sensory room offers a calming environment during performances. Crowning the building, a roof terrace features sweeping views of Broadway, the Cumberland River, and the Nashville skyline. Outdoor staircases connect TPAC to the river, integrating the center into Nashville’s new East Bank district and enhancing connectivity with the city beyond. Landscape design by OLIN surrounds the building with diverse plant life and pockets for public outdoor performances, gathering spaces, and play groves.
TPAC will join BIG’s growing portfolio of cultural projects, including the Hamburg State Opera, the Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art in China, and the VLTAVA Philharmonic in Prague. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with a projected opening in 2030.
Client: Tennessee Performing Arts Center; Project: BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group and William Rawn Associates(WRA) with HASTINGS Architecture; BIG TEAM – Partners-in-Charge: Bjarke Ingels, Thomas Christoffersen, Beat Schenk; Project Manager: Linus Saavedra; Project Designer: Kristian Hindsberg; Technical Lead: Julie Kaufman. Team: Ana Loayza, Cheng Zhong, Chia-Yu Liu, Dylan Hames, Hector Romero, Jan Leenknegt, Jialin Yuan, Marc Hargreaves, Margaret Tyrpa, Pooja Annamaneni, Sung-hwan Um, Tara Abedinitafreshi, Vi Madrazo, Ben Caldwell, San Yoon, Jihoon Kim, Joanne Zheng, Jeff Tao, Jaeho Park, Siqi Zhang, Ruijing Sun, Alvaro Velosa, Douglass Alligood, Ryan Henriksen, Ahmad Tabbakh, Hudson Parris, Quentin Wiesmath, Paul Heberle, Atousa Esmaeili, Mana Ikebe, Abdallah Kamel, Xiaoqi Zhan, Gavin Laughland; WRA TEAM – Partners-in-Charge: Cliff Gayley, Kevin Bergeron; Project Manager: Lauren Perry; Team: Amir Zarei, Juno Zhu, Molly Bennett, Dan Bielenin, Evan Warder, Henry Chung, Brian Putnam, Andy Jonic, Josué Pérez Campos, Liz Bondaryk, Ali Truwit, Colleen DeMatta, Julia Solecki
