714 Eighth Avenue South
Nashville, Tennessee

Designing a new studio space for a young architecture firm forced the staff to determine how its built environment would physically support the way it operates. This renovation of a former reprographics business included removing interior walls and adding new windows to provide daylight and engage the busy urban street fronting the building. Reclaimed skylights allow natural light into interior spaces. Low walls were constructed to create individual work spaces, while long layout tables are utilized for informal meetings and critiques. Blank walls around the perimeter of the studio provide space to pin up drawings for review. The Reception area and Conference Room are separated by a wall that stops short of the ceiling to maintain a sense of open interaction throughout the office, while providing a level of separation between visitors and staff working areas. Accent colors unify spaces and promote a creative atmosphere. The existing HVAC system, exposed duct work and industrial lighting were salvaged and re-used throughout. A new canopy, steps, and custom mahogany door were designed to clearly announce the entrance from the exterior. Reveals stretch the rhythm of the new storefront across the door and tactile hardware makes a strong first impression with visitors.

Project Team:

General Contractor (Design/ Build): Flow Construction
Photography: Bill LaFevor

Corporate Auditorium Renovation
Nashville, Tennessee

Studio 8 Design was hired to lead a design / build team for the fast-track renovation of an existing corporate auditorium. The original auditorium was constructed in 1980, and neither the finishes nor the audio / visual equipment had been fully updated since that time. The lighting, both on the stage and in the audience, was a critical issue. Not only were the light levels insufficient throughout the space, but due to the height of the ceiling and the slope of the floor, it was extremely difficult to change the incandescent bulbs. The team replaced all ceiling lighting with LED fixtures and added several new wall-washing fixtures to give the room more lighting options. With the new lighting scheme, the auditorium functions effectively as classroom but can be changed easily to a more dramatic environment for presentations or ceremonies. The wood wall panels not only create a warm but formal feel in the room, but also have acoustic properties that improve voice projection from the stage. To compliment the wood finishes, fabrics in warm tones were selected for the seating and the acoustic wall panels. In just four months, the project team was able to design and construct a completely new look for the auditorium that affords fewer maintenance demands and technologically advanced lighting and audio / visual systems.

Project Team:

Interior Design: Casella Interiors
Audio / Visual: Logan Media Services
Electrical Engineer: Empower Electric
Mechanical Engineer: Lee Company
General Contractor: Harvest Construction
Photography: Bill LaFevor

Petra Capital
Nashville, Tennessee

After acquiring new office space in the Green Hills area of Nashville, Petra Capital charged Studio 8 Design with the task of creating a new work space that retained the character of their original offices (designed by Matt Taylor in 1997) and re-interprets those ideas for the new building. An emphasis was placed on detailing with wood columns, trim, salvaged heart pine floors, custom steel work, and an open office environment where daylight reaches every space, including the interior Conference Room and Break / Work Room. A central corridor is terminated at each end with windows. Perimeter offices have exterior windows and interior glass to flood the corridor, reception area, informal gathering area, and Conference Room with natural daylight. In the open areas, the ceiling was left exposed to the steel structure above and direct / indirect lighting was used to accentuate the open volume of the space. Petra’s sculptural sign was moved from their original location and incorporated into the new design in order to maintain its welcoming presence at the entrance, despite the change of address.

Project Team:

Custom Metal Work: Don Adams Metal Studio
Interior Finishes: Hastings Architecture Associates, LLC
General Contractor: Harvest Construction
Photography: Bill LaFevor

Zumi Sushi
Nashville, Tennessee

Zumi Sushi is a new restaurant located in a 1920's Bungalow style house on Belcourt Avenue in Hillsboro Village. The client wanted to create a sushi restaurant that is clean, fast, and fresh making use of environmentally friendly materials to achieve an Asian influenced contemporary design. The design included the demolition of most of the existing interior walls within the main floor of the house to allow for an open plan for dining and other restaurant functions. The existing interior walls were replaced with a steel tube column structure with natural wood beams above. The main feature within the space is the sushi line that serves as a backdrop to the dining area. The sushi line wall is clad in white ash wood slats with an orange accent wall behind. Zumi Sushi's signature logo is mounted to the orange accent wall behind the sushi prep line. In keeping with the client's wish to use more environmetally friendly materials, a new Garapa wood deck in lieu of a pressure treated wood deck was added to the front porch of the house to engage the pedestrian-friendly streets of the Hillsboro Village neighborhood. Cable rails surround the perimeter of the deck with Garapa wood slat signage walls on the north and east face of the deck. An accessible ramp and entry stair was added along the east side of the house. An exterior stair was also added on the east side of the house with a second floor deck for more dining. The new design elements on the exterior reflect the contemporary Asian and environmentally friendly design of the interior, but the exterior of the existing 1920's house was left completly intact. The exterior lighting helps fuse the 1920's Craftsman design with the Asian contempory design of the new construction. As the flagship restaurant, branding was a design consideration so that the Owner can take some elements of this original Zumi Sushi design and reuse them in future franchise locations.

Project Team:

General Contractor: DWC Construction Company. Inc.
Structural Engineer: EMC Structural Engineers, P.C.
Electrical Engineer: Enterprise Electric, LLC
Mechanical/Plumbing Engineer: Merryman Farr, LLC; Mp&E Engineering, LLC
Kitchen Equipment Supplier: Dykes Restaurant Supply
Photography: Bill LaFevor

Franklin Police Headquarters
Franklin, Tennessee

The new Police Headquarters for the City of Franklin is planned to accommodate the police force and support staff in a new structure on Columbia Avenue in Franklin, Tennessee. The facility was designed to accommodate the growth of the force from its current staffing levels of 160 to 290 in approximately 20 years, and includes an Emergency Operations Center that also serves as a Community Meeting Room. The facility is 94,000 s.f. and is comprised of a two-level structure with a partial basement fronting Columbia Avenue across a modest civic lawn and front entry steps. Visitor parking has been accommodated on-site and a secure parking deck has been provided for staff parking. The balance of the site provides green space for storm water runoff and serves as a buffer to the surrounding neighborhoods. Sustainable features include a geothermal heating and cooling system; a cistern that reclaims water from the parking structure to be used for irrigation and restroom lavatory facilities; and a green roof that helps keep the building cooler, manages storm water run-off and extends the life of the roofing system. The green roof is the largest roof (32,000 square feet) using native plant materials east of the Mississippi River. The project received LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council and received a 2011 Excellence in Development Award from the Urban Land Institute, Nashville District.

Project Team:

Architect / Project Lead: Kennon | Taylor Architects (C/A by kennon architects)
Landscape Architecture: Hodgson & Douglas Landscape Architects
Police Programming: McLaren, Lawrie, Wilson Architects
Structural Engineer: EMC Structural Engineers
Civil Engineer: Barge Cauthen Associates
M.E.P. Engineer: Envision Advantage
LEED Administration: TLC Engineering
Photography: Bill LaFevor

Franklin City Hall Master Plan and Programming
Franklin, Tennessee

This has been a multi-phase project for the City of Franklin, Tennessee to create a Master Plan for the redevelopment of City Hall on the historic Town Square. First, a space needs analysis was prepared in order to identify current and future space needs for each department and compare these needs with available area in the existing facility. Then multiple options were considered, including moving City Hall to a new site, constructing a new separate Police Department, extensive renovations and expansion of the existing facility, or demolishing the existing facility in order to rebuild a new facility on the same site. In order to properly weigh these options, a Building Assessment report was prepared to determine the condition of the existing facility’s structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, as well as possibilities for a phased renovation and /or expansion of the facility. The outcome of this assessment, combined with the earlier space needs analysis, was a decision to construct a new Police Headquarters Building and demolish the existing City Hall building in order to redevelop a new multi-story facility on the historic Square. The City commissioned Studio 8 to provide the Programming, Block Planning, and Site Design Guidelines for a new 3-story, 115,000 s.f. City Hall with room for a private-investment redevelopment project on the south end of the site. Studio 8 also assisted with the preparation of an RFQ for public-private development options.

Project Team:

Architect / Project Lead Phase III: Studio 8 Design • Matt Taylor, Architect
Architect / Project Lead Phase I, II: LRK Architects (Matt Taylor: Project Manager)
Programming Consultant: McClaren, Wilson & Lawrie, Inc.

Middle Tennessee State University – Peck Hall
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

The challenge of renovating the Northwest and Southwest quadrants of Middle Tennessee State University’s Peck Hall was met by Studio 8 Design. The purpose of this interior renovation project was to create new office space for the Department of Social Work. The existing building, constructed in the 1960’s, provided many opportunities for creating a connected and efficient floor plan that allows for daylighting throughout the space. The program was divided into two parts, user spaces and support spaces, allowing all support functions to be pushed to the interior so that regularly occupied spaces have access to natural light. The design takes advantage of the existing clerestory windows that wrap the building’s exterior by placing open work space around the perimeter. Private offices receive light from the open work space through glass doors and sidelights. The new design creates a pleasant work environment for staff and a user-friendly facility for visitors. In addition to the use of daylighting, some other green aspects of the project include motion-activated lighting controls, recycled carpet tiles, and recycled laminate products.

Project Team:

Mechanical, Plumbing & Electrical: I.C. Thomasson
Contractor: Bruce Adams Construction
Photography: Bill LaFevor

Franklin Bicentennial Park
Franklin, Tennessee

Upon acquiring additional property along the Harpeth River, which defines the northern edge of downtown Franklin, the Parks Department commissioned a design charrette to develop a new concept plan for a 30-acre urban park commemorating the City’s Bicentennial. After providing an in-depth site assessment, Studio 8 Design built upon the approved charrette concept and developed the design for an urban park that will allow flood waters from the river to enter the site. The park design includes a continuous riverwalk, an interpretive trail following the old Interurban Railroad path, an interactive fountain in a public plaza, public toilet facilities, bench swings along the river, multiple river overlooks, a new monument on Third Avenue, streetscape improvements, a botanical stroll garden, and opportunities for public art in various locations. A portion of the old boot factory building will be salvaged as a multi-function pavilion with a stage for park performances. The historic City and Resthaven Cemeteries will be preserved and protected as part of the overall project. Construction of the overall park design is anticipated in multiple phases as funding becomes available.

Project Team:

Landscape Architect: Ross/Fowler
Civil Engineer: Barge Cauthen Associates
M.E.P. Engineer: I.C. Thomasson
Structural Engineer: EMC Structural Engineers
Hydrology Consultant: Neel-Schaffer
Lighting Designer: Susan Brady Lighting Design
Archeological Assessment: Zada L. Law

Jim Warren Park Facilities
Franklin, Tennessee

The City of Franklin Parks Department asked Studio Eight Design to work on three new structures at Jim Warren Park; a new concessions building and announcer’s tower for Franklin’s youth league football team, the Franklin Cowboys, and a new pavilion that can be reserved and used by the public. The 2,335 square foot concessions building consists of a multi-purpose meeting room for coaches and team weigh-ins, public restrooms, and a concessions area. The design of the building allows these three components to be housed under one roof connected by breezeways that provide display space for team awards and schedules in addition to covered gathering areas for spectators. The clerestory windows in the building provide natural light in both the breezeways and the interior spaces without the concerns for vandalism that traditional eye-level windows might present. The pavilion, located in a quiet area of the park, provides 356 square feet of interior space connected to 235 square feet of outdoor space by glass garage doors. The indoor and outdoor spaces are designed to flow into one another so that gatherings can vary in size and function. A stone chimney anchors the building to the site and furnishes a grill that is available to users. A fire pit, located further out on the patio, allows the shelter to be used for most of the year. Exposed wood trusses and large overhanging roofs tie all three structures together stylistically and provide flexibility in a budget-conscious manner to maximize usable space.

Project Team:

Civil Engineer: Barge Cauthen and Associates
Structural Engineer: Structural Design Group
M.E.P. Engineer (Concept Only): Envision Advantage

Christ Community Church Pavilion
Franklin, Tennessee

In an effort to expand its outreach to its parishioners, Christ Community Church commissioned Studio 8 Design to develop conceptual plans for a new open air pavilion that would provide alternative classroom, meeting, and gathering space for its members. Siting was an important consideration in order to establish a visual connection for access, an axial relationship to the existing sanctuary, and a spiritual connection to an outdoor chapel situated along the Harpeth River. The Pavilion would also serve as a gateway to future trailheads and playing fields planned for the church’s open fields. Utilizing rustic materials, including heavy timber post and beam construction, stone walls, and concrete, the pavilion was designed to accommodate large groups as well as small groups for Bible Study classes and Youth Group activities. A fire pit provides a focal point for communal gathering and extended use in cooler months. A BBQ pit and large fireplace were provided to host larger membership cookouts and encourage family interaction. A stage was designed for music and performance events with audience seating available under the shelter of the roof (for 80-120 people) or on a blanket in the grass (for 1,000-1,500 people), depending upon the weather. Bench seating on stone walls offers seating in the sun as well as under cover for flexibility and personal preference to experience the outdoors. Flexibility for both formal and informal programs, planning for future site expansion, constructing a low-maintenance structure, and promoting interaction between members of all ages were the primary goals for the design.

Project Team:

Civil Engineer: Barge Cauthen & Associates
Structural Engineer: Structural Design Group
Pre-Construction Services: Barger Tanner Construction

Third Avenue Lofts
Franklin, Tennessee

Located in downtown Franklin, this project consists of a new house to be constructed for office use, two existing houses to be renovated, and new loft style townhomes to be constructed at the rear of the lot. The new townhome development consists of nine residential units. Each will be two stories with a roof terrace and a balcony. The stair access to the roof terrace will consist of a small enclosure that is pulled back from the front and rear facades, but provides a sheltered access point to the roof terrace from the second floor. The town homes are designed to reflect the fact that they are new construction and not historic, but still relate to the surrounding context in massing, materials, and use. The existing driveways between the two houses at the front of the lot will be removed and relocated to the outside edges of the site, creating a one-way alley driveway loop accessing parking at the interior of the lot. A new two-story house to be used as offices will be constructed between the two existing houses to remain. This house is designed to blend with the context of the other houses on the street.

Project Team:

Civil Engineering: Barge Cauthen Associates
Landscape Architecture: Hodgson & Douglas Landscape Architects
Structural Engineering: Phillip White Engineering

Workforce Housing Master Plan
Franklin, Tennessee

D9 Development hired Studio 8 Design to create a master plan for a Workforce Housing development on Highway 96 West in Franklin. The team determined a number of opportunities and constraints during the design process. Because the property fronts on a very busy highway, some creative vehicular access solutions were required. Also, an existing historic cemetery is located within the boundaries of the property, requiring the design team to work within very specific parameters. Despite these challenges, the property has many amenities that make it a perfect candidate for workforce housing. Its location would allow for a trolley stop along the public transportation line, and because the site is adjacent to two schools, a future park component could create outdoor space for both residents and nearby students. The design includes both townhomes and flats, providing a total of 81 units with ample parking. Community areas and green space were key factors in the design, allowing residents to interact and enjoy all of the outdoor space available. By using the concept of rain gardens for stormwater treatment, the design allows for community water features that also meet the stormwater requirements of the City of Franklin. A potential retail or restaurant space could be created on the southwest corner of the property to anchor the development on this busy corner.

Annie's House
Franklin, Tennessee

This 2,500 s.f. custom home was designed to reflect the Owners’ past along the East Coast and their future in Middle Tennessee, combining the character of beach houses found in Florida and South Carolina with the style of farmhouses of Tennessee. The 3-BR, 3-Bath house includes a stone fireplace, wood floors and ceilings, and a custom steel and maple staircase. Due to its distinctive lighting at night and prominent site on Highway 96, the house has become a landmark in western Williamson County. The house was featured on the Heritage Foundation Tour of Homes in 2001, and was published in the book ‘Urban Country Style’ by Elizabeth Betts Hickman and Nancy Gent (2007).

Project Team:

Contractor: McWhirter Dillon General Contractors
Custom Steel Work: Don Adams Metal Studio
Photography: Bill LaFevor

Historic American Foursquare - Renovation and Addition
Nashville, Tennessee

Located in an historic, urban neighborhood near Belmont University’s campus, this “Foursquare” style house was renovated from a walk-up duplex to an inviting single family home. The project was renovated in two phases and includes the renovation of 900 square feet of existing interior space, the addition of a master suite, a large screened porch, and a single vehicle carport. The owners enjoy cooking, and the kitchen was designed to provide ample work space with plenty of room for guests to gather in the bar and breakfast areas. The master suite and laundry room were relocated to the upstairs of the house in order separate public and private spaces and facilitate entertaining on the main level. Phase II of the project included the screened porch addition with covered parking below. The screened porch provides an outdoor room with a fireplace and a concealed television area. An exterior side deck is accessed from the porch for grilling. Because of the slope of the lot, the parking area is located directly below the porch and can be accessed without ever leaving the cover of the home. The house was featured in the 2008 Belmont - Hillsboro Neighborhood Association Tour of Homes.

Project Team:

Contractor: Nashville Remodeling
Photography: Bill LaFevor

Stones River Guest House
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

In November 2008, Studio Eight Design was commissioned to design a guest house located on a beautiful wooded site along the Stones River in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. When hired, the new main house was under construction. The client wanted the guest house to function as a pool house and a place to entertain guests. From the beginning, the client emphasized their interest in an environmentally friendly design and requested that the guest house achieve a minimum of bronze certification by the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines. The floor plan of the house is a simple open plan consisting of an exterior cabana area accessed from the pool, an open combined living, dining and kitchen space, and a more private guest room and bath on the east side of the house. In order to take advantage of the picturesque views from this location on the property, the design includes floor to ceiling glass on the southwest corner of the house. The design also includes a "folding wall" system on the southwest corner which allows the glass walls to completely open up to the exterior deck space and beautiful natural surroundings. The deck on the south and west side of the house becomes an extension of the living space when the corner of the house is open. The design of the deck includes a fire pit which extends the use of the exterior room and allows for a more intimate gathering space around the pool. The roof and open trellis structure extend beyond the exterior walls providing necessary shading of the western and southern sun. The roof structure is a butterfly roof opening each end of the house up to the natural surroundings. At the valley of the roof, a rain gutter is designed to direct water off of the south side of a building into a water feature and cistern for the harvesting and reuse of rainwater. In keeping with the environmentally friendly design, a geothermal system will be used for the heating and cooling of the house, and a solar array has been provided to generate electricity. The building materials are a combination of a reclaimed redwood rain screen, natural stone, storefront glazing, and exposed structural steel elements.

Project Team:

Landscape Architect: Hodgson Douglas Landscape Architects
Structural Engineer: EMC Structural Engineers, PC
General Contractor: John Murray
Photography: Bill LaFevor

Screen Porch & Master Suite Addition and Renovation
Brentwood, Tennessee

This home, located just outside of Nashville, is set on a large lot full of mature trees and landscaping. The owners wanted to update their master suite and expand their living space outdoors in order to comfortably enjoy their backyard throughout the year. The project includes a 200 square foot master bath addition, the renovation of their existing 160 square foot master suite, and the addition of a 380 square foot screened porch. Custom cabinetry and shelving were used throughout the master suite in order to maximize storage space and cater to the specific needs of the owners. In the screened porch, a new stone fireplace was constructed, and gas logs can be used to extend the outdoor season well into the winter months. Two doors access the porch from the living area of the house so that it can be seamlessly used for entertaining, and light and air can easily flow into the indoor space. The addition was designed to carefully blend in with the existing brick home as well as compliment the cottage garden style of the back yard.

Project Team:

Interior Design: Casella Interiors
General Contractor: Nashville Remodeling
Photography: Bill LaFevor

Residential Renovation and Addition
Brentwood, Tennessee

This residential project includes a 2,100 square foot addition to an existing home located in Brentwood, Tennessee. The addition includes a Master Suite, Guest Suite, Workout Room, Office, Family Room, Screened Porch, and Terrace. A front porch was also added to the house to make the main entrance more inviting to visitors and the house more aesthetically pleasing from the street. However, most visitors enter the house through the back door, making the addition of the Screened Porch and Terrace critical to providing a clearly designated and inviting entrance into the back of the house. Because the owners enjoy entertaining, it was important to make sure that the addition flow seamlessly into the existing house and provide open space for gathering. In order to achieve this, the new Family Room is open to the renovated Kitchen and the new Screened Porch and Terrace open up the house to the backyard. The Master Suite has access to the rear Terrace, providing the owners with a better connection to the outdoors. The Guest Suite is located on the First Floor so that visiting parents can avoid traveling up and down the stairs during their stay.

Project Team:

General Contractor: Joshua Builders, Inc.
Photography: Bill LaFevor

Hilltop Residence
Franklin, Tennessee

These homeowners came to Studio 8 Design for extensive renovations and additions to their current home. The existing house is currently located on beautiful, scenic property with views of the rolling hills in Williamson County. The family currently spends a lot of time on the front porch and wants the renovation of the house to allow better vantage points of the surrounding countryside from the interior and exterior of the house. They also want the house to have more of a presence when viewed from the street, particularly the design of a more instersting roof line than the current low lying pitched roof of the existing house. The renovation includes reworking the kitchen, master suite, mudroom, and basement in order to improve the overall flow of the spaces on the interior. The exterior improvements inlcude the addition of a screen porch and exterior living space as well as an attached garage.

Forrest Hills Residence
Franklin, Tennessee

This residential project includes extensive renovations and additions to the existing home. The existing house is located on a beautiful lot in the Forest Hills area of Nashville, Tennessee. The owner wanted to reuse the foundation of the existing house but wanted the appearance of the "new" house to have much more of a presence from the street than the current ranch style house. The portion of the new design on the existing foundation is a one and a half story living space with a master suite on the east side. The addition to the house is a new two story volume on the west side of the lot. The first floor of the addition includes a two car garage, mudroom, and guest suite. The second floor of the addition includes two bedrooms, a home office, and a playroom for the children. This family has lived in the existing house for many years and came to us with very clear objectives for the renovation and addition. The new design allows for more daylighting and connections to the exterior, provides a better presence when viewed from the street, and the interior flow of the spaces accomodates the way they are accustomed to living as a family.

Historic Home Renovation and Addition
Nashville, Tennessee

This residential project includes a renovation and addition to an existing “American Foursquare” home located in the area surrounding David Lipscomb University in Nashville. The 900 square foot First Floor addition will include a Rear Entry Vestibule, Kitchen, Laundry Room, Powder Room, and Master Suite. The 550 square foot Second Floor addition will initially include a shell space that provides rough-ins for a Guest Bedroom, Sitting Room, and Bath Suite to be built in a future phase. The Second Floor addition also includes a 350 square foot outdoor covered deck over a portion of the First Floor addition. Since the owners of the house enjoy cooking as a hobby, the kitchen design allows for ample workspace, commercial appliances and fixtures, as well as openness to the adjacent Dining Room where guests can gather when the owners are entertaining. Because the owners spend the majority of their time in the kitchen, they requested that the new Master Bedroom and Laundry Room be located on the First Floor for ease in circulation between the spaces. The renovation design includes a new opening between the future Second Floor addition and the existing Stair Hall in order to borrow light from the existing dormer window located above the main entrance of the house. This opening will provide the Second Floor with a better connection to the outdoors and allow natural light to enter the space from the rear and front of the house. The Second Floor addition of a future Guest Suite allows for more private accommodations for guests.