Nashville Farmers’ Market Grand Entrance
Nashville, Tennessee

Project Facts

Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Size: 3,000 SF
Market: Community
Completed: November 2018 (Design)
Services: Architecture, Interiors
Scope: Addition, Renovation, Screenwall, Sitework

The Nashville Farmers’ Market (NFM) kicked-off its long-anticipated $1.2 million dollar renovation that will transform the northern and southern Market House entrances. This segment will turn the current loading dock on the north end into a welcoming facade with a canopy, public art, and new signage and lighting. A new corridor will guide visitors along the Market House axis. This project is a significant step in moving the Nashville Farmers’ Market toward becoming a ‘zero-waste’ facility by 2020. According to the Market, between April and December, the facility generated more than 100,000 pounds of compostable waste. The new compost/recycling area will increase the capacity for compostable material containment and improved recycling.

The renovation is scheduled to be complete in Spring 2019. According to the Farmers’ Market, the project has awarded more than 70 percent of contracts to minority businesses. Tasha Kennard Market Executive Director says, “It’s important for us that as we grow, we’re building up our community and we’re utilizing local minority, women and veteran-owned businesses to handle the renovation project here at the Market. We’re founded on a mission to support small businesses.  That’s important to us as an organization.”

The building, initially completed by Tuck Hinton Architects in the mid-1990s, featured an iconic farmshed style design. Towards the end of 2018, the character of the urban site of the market radically changed due to the completion of the new Tennessee State Museum and mixed-use development along Rosa Parks and Jefferson Streets. Gould Turner Group sought to enhance the Farmer’s Market entrance to capture the attention of museum patrons, CSA holders, local guests, and tourists. The design team has facilitated a thoughtful process through creativity, careful management, and oversight to create a beautiful project for generations to come.