Architecture | nashvillepost.com

Gresham in Tampa airport ethics pickle

Locally based architecture and engineering firm Gresham Smith & Partners was the low bidder on a recently commissioned project to redesign the main terminal of Tampa International Airport, but the firm may not win the business. The husband of one of its principals, Jacqueline Russo, is a senior planning official with the airport and five of his direct reports made up most of the committee that reviewed the bids. The disclosure of that situation led airport board members to put all contract awards on ice for two months.

Nov 9, 2010 8:20 AM

Will Omni clash with KVB design rules?

William Williams has an update on the design of the planned Omni hotel across from the Music City Center. A preliminary sketch of the facility's ground floor shows a big motor court at the hotel's front door, which would seem to contravene the design standards laid out for Korean Veterans Boulevard.

Cain said the size of the Omni Hotel — 800 rooms, about 260 feet tall and fronting KVB and Fourth and Fifth avenues — would present design challenges. “There will be a parking structure somewhere [within the building], so all these things have to fit together,” he said. “Obviously, cars have to be able to get to the hotel.”

Check out the preliminary sketch here.

Nov 8, 2010 7:58 AM

Gateways to Germantown

The designs of husband-and-wife team of Matt and Melissa Alexander have been chosen as streetscape elements for the entrances to Germantown, whose historic preservation group had sponsored a competition.

Jul 22, 2010 1:07 PM

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Hart Freeland Roberts promotes health care exec

New senior VP merged his firm into HFR four years ago

Mar 16, 2010 11:20 PM

LRK files for bankruptcy

Renowned Memphis-based architecture firm Looney Ricks Kiss filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Wednesday. From The Memphis Daily News:

“At this point it seems like just about everyone has been touched in some way, mostly in a reduction or negative way,” Ricks told The Daily News. “This one’s been deep enough and long enough, and because it affects the funding sources in such a significant way, it’s made it extremely difficult.”

Earlier this month, the Nashville branch of LRK spun off, forming Smith Gee Studios.

Feb 25, 2010 7:30 AM

Interim boss for Civic Design Center

Former Belle Meade vice mayor has run construction consulting firm since 2006

Feb 16, 2010 12:21 PM

Nashville LRK branch spins off new firm

Smith Gee Studio principals led Gulch planning

Feb 2, 2010 12:41 PM

Zut alors, Chauve-souris Homme!

French business mag Journal du Net named Nashville's iconic AT&T Building — née The BellSouth Tower — as one of the world's 12 most original office buildings. The Web site's description asks if the Earl Swensson Associates-designed building — rendered en Francais as La Bat Tower — is indeed the home of célèbre homme d'affaires Bruce Wayne. Also on Journals du Net's douze are innovative buildings in Amsterdam, Mumbai and Shanghai.

Nov 16, 2009 2:43 PM