Nashville College & University Expansion

[markhollin]

Belmont University South Garage (3 stories above grade, 3 levels below, 830 spaces, tennis facility on roof) update.  Staring 2nd level below grade.

Looking west from Compton Ave., 1/2 block east of Belmont Blvd:

Looking south from Compton Ave., 1/2 block east of Belmont Blvd:

[Urban_Legend]

Belmont Announces Indoor Practice Facility

https://www.belmontbruins.com/general/2019-20/releases/20200121phdkqi

Another project announced for the south part of campus on Compton Avenue! This will share a lobby with the new parking garage/tennis facility.

Edited January 22, 2020 by Urban_Legend

[titanhog]

55 minutes ago, Urban_Legend said:

 

Belmont Announces Indoor Practice Facility

https://www.belmontbruins.com/general/2019-20/releases/20200121phdkqi

Another project announced for the south part of campus on Compton Avenue! This will share a lobby with the new parking garage/tennis facility.

Isn't the term "indoor practice facility" meant to differentiate an outdoor football field from an "indoor" facility that normally houses a field?  All basketball facilities are "indoors"...so it confuses me a bit when a school builds a new gym (instead of a football "indoor" facility) and calls it an "indoor practice facility".

[smeagolsfree]

Thanks for posting. My fingers and brain just cant keep up with all of the map changes.

[tragenvol]

21 hours ago, titanhog said:

Isn't the term "indoor practice facility" meant to differentiate an outdoor football field from an "indoor" facility that normally houses a field?  All basketball facilities are "indoors"...so it confuses me a bit when a school builds a new gym (instead of a football "indoor" facility) and calls it an "indoor practice facility".

Can be baseball/tennis/track...not only football...but I understand your point as Bemont appears to be using exclusively for indoor sports.

Edited January 23, 2020 by tragenvol

[titanhog]

6 hours ago, tragenvol said:

Can be baseball/tennis/track...not only football...but I understand your point as Bemont appears to be using exclusively for indoor sports.

Yeah...I think it's more of a "recruiting tool" than anything.  "Hey...look...we have a new indoor practice facility just like all the big schools have."  Guess it sounds better than "we have a new gym to practice in."

[markhollin]

Belmont Univ. Performing Arts Center (1,700 seats) update.  Up to 2nd level above grade on west side.

Looking SW from Bernard Ave., 1/2 block east of Belmont Blvd:

Looking west from Bernard Ave., 1/2 block east of Belmont Blvd:

Looking east from intersection of Belmont Blvd. and Compton Ave:

Looking east from intersection of Belmont Blvd. and Bernard Ave: 

Looking south from intersection of Belmont Blvd. and Bernard Ave:

[markhollin]

Belmont University South Garage/Tennis Facility (3 stories above grade,  830 spaces) update. 2nd level below grade complete.

Looking south from Compton Ave., 1/2 block east of Belmont Blvd:

Looking west from Compton Ave., 1/2 block east of Belmont Blvd:

[markhollin]

Lipscomb Univ. North Garage (2 stories) update.  Foundation walls forming.

Looking SE from Grandview Drive, 1/2 block east of Belmont Blvd:

[donNdonelson2]

Breaking news (behind Tennessean paywall) that Watkins College will merge with Belmont University and sell their Metrocenter campus.

[markhollin]

33 minutes ago, donNdonelson2 said:

Breaking news (behind Tennessean paywall) that Watkins College will merge with Belmont University and sell their Metrocenter campus.

Since Watkins has seen declining enrollment in recent years, they have decided to merge with Belmont rather than face closure. The 13 acre campus at MetroCenter will be sold off.

Incoming Watkins freshmen and the about 200 students enrolled in the school will be allowed to transfer to Belmont, President Bob Fisher of Belmont  said. The students will be allowed to enroll at Watkins' tuition rate.

Here's a link to the story:

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2020/01/28/nashvilles-belmont-university-and-watkins-college-merge/4567213002/

[Urban_Legend]

Here's a link to the Belmont press release (no paywall blockage!) as well:

https://news.belmont.edu/belmont-announces-plans-to-merge-with-watkins-college-of-art-effective-fall-2020/

As the O'More (Fashion, Interior Design, Architecture) and Watkins (Art) colleges grow, Belmont will probably need to build new facilities. Currently, O'More occupies 2 floors of a 1970s classroom building and the Art department is in a (1990s?) 2-story building. Both on the older, west side of campus. 

[markhollin]

TSU Heath Sciences Building (4 stories) update.  All brickwork done.

Looking east from 37th Ave. North, 1/2 block north of John L. Driver Ave:

Looking NE from 37th Ave. North, 1/4 block north of John L. Driver Ave:

[markhollin]

Belmont University Performing Arts Center (1,00 capacity) update. Curved balcony starting to take shape.

Looking NW from alley between Bernard Ave. and Compton Ave., 1/2 block east of Belmont Blvd:

Looking west from alley between Bernard Ave. and Compton Ave., 1/2 block east of Belmont Blvd:




Looking SE from Belmont Blvd, 1/2 block north of Compton Ave:

Looking NE from intersection of Belmont Blvd. and Compton Ave:

[Mr_Bond]

A friend whose daughter was in town for a Preview weekend at Belmont told me that this building will be the largest performing arts center building on a college campus in the U.S.

[donNdonelson2]

33 minutes ago, Mr_Bond said:

A friend whose daughter was in town for a Preview weekend at Belmont told me that this building will be the largest performing arts center building on a college campus in the U.S.

Perhaps largest in total square footage of the building, but certainly not in seating capacity. One I can cite off the top of my head that is much larger is Gammage Auditorium at ASU, with a capacity of 3,017. This Frank Lloyd Wright designed building hosts the Broadway tour series for the Phoenix area, as well as many university events. 
 

Regardless of whether it’s largest or not, I am so happy to see Belmont add this great new performance space for the university and for the community. Great addition to our city!

Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium at Arizona State University

Edited February 27, 2020 by donNdonelson2

[markhollin]

Belmont University South Garage and Tennis Training Facility (1 to 3 stories above grade, 830 spaces) update: 2 levels below grade complete.

Looking south from Compton Ave., 1/2 block east of Belmont Blvd:

Looking west from Compton Ave., 1/2 block east of Belmont Blvd:

[markhollin]

Lipscomb University North Garage (3 levels, 500 spaces?) update.

Looking SE from Grandview Dr. 1/2 block east of Belmont Blvd:

Looking south from Grandview Dr. 1/2 block east of Belmont Blvd:

[dxfret]

The architecture across the entire Lipscomb University campus is bland, uninspired and boring.  Worse than a state community college. 

[MLBrumby]

9 hours ago, dxfret said:

The architecture across the entire Lipscomb University campus is bland, uninspired and boring.  Worse than a state community college. 

It appears to have had a growth spurt in the 1960s, but those are legacy buildings. What I don't like is that in the last 40 years, there's been little effort to make the style of their new buildings blend with the residential area surrounding it. Now they're building a parking garage that looks like... um, a parking deck. 

Don't want to beat up on poor Lipscomb, but couldn't they dress up their buildings' windows somewhat like crests on the very plain panels beneath them, or even windows that don't look like cheap aluminum framed storm windows from a suburban Texas ranch house?  On the bright side, I must say their green spaces have really improved over the past 20 years and look really pretty in the warm months. 

Edited March 1, 2020 by MLBrumby

[FrankNash]

Let's be real here about why Lipscomb's architecture is bland and boring.  Being a Church of Christ based school could have something to do with the blandness. They don't even use musical instruments at church.  

[PianoKing03]

6 hours ago, FrankNash said:

Let's be real here about why Lipscomb's architecture is bland and boring.  Being a Church of Christ based school could have something to do with the blandness. They don't even use musical instruments at church.  

I hardly mean to be rude to them by agreeing with you, but that could be true. I wonder if there is a correlation between their... sometimes disproportionately focused conservatism and the architecture? Again, I do not intend to offend, but that genuinely piques my interest... that said, I'm probably reading too much into it. No large city doesn't have its fair share of... unappealing styling, so I guess someone had to do it. 

Edited March 2, 2020 by PianoKing03

[titanhog]

15 hours ago, FrankNash said:

Let's be real here about why Lipscomb's architecture is bland and boring.  Being a Church of Christ based school could have something to do with the blandness. They don't even use musical instruments at church.  

I'm sure it has a lot to do with it.  They're going to build buildings that serve a purpose at the lowest cost that will get the job done.  I'm sure they're not worried about being "architecturally significant"...but rather practical.  Makes for boring architecture...but I guess it works for them.

Edited March 2, 2020 by titanhog

[smeagolsfree]

I think it has to do more about the architect and money than anything.

[donNdonelson2]

19 minutes ago, smeagolsfree said:

I think it has to do more about the architect and money than anything.

I think you are correct. With limited funds you get “function over form.”