Ten21 at Five Points
Small Project (25,000 sf or less)
The “Ten21” building located in historic East Nashville near Five-Points is perched at the crest of 11th and Russell Streets. Significantly damaged in the March 2020 tornado, the 1911 gabled structure lost two levels of the four-story masonry tower, most of the roof and majority of the original historic windows. The new tower design, as quoted in the Nashville Post, “The scale and detail pay homage to the original tower without replication, but the difference is the glowing presence that it will has at night — especially after the tornado — it is very visible from many more vantage points in the neighborhood.”
Awards Year | 2024, 2023
Project Statement
Originally built as the Russell Street Presbyterian Church, the structure was the home to several church congregations, a funeral home and most recently the YCAP of East Nashville. New uses include two restaurants, retail and office spaces. Historical Restoration included re-creating the “lemon-wedge” shaped half-round windows in the Sanctuary that were lost in the tornado. The 6,000 square foot addition provides accessibility and additional office and retail space that fronts 11th Street along with providing outdoor seating.
East Nashville, and more specifically the East End Neighborhood and Five-Points, is a mix of commercial corners surrounded by turn-of-the-century historic residential four squares and bungalows. These historic building are woven together with brick sidewalks and a network of two-story scaled buildings. The original tower and church perched on a local high point in the neighborhood has always served as a signature beacon on the hill visible throughout the neighborhood.
When the 2020 tornado destroyed the adjacent home beyond repair, there was vacant space for an “addition” to the original historic church structure. Working closely with neighborhood organizations, the Metro Historic Commission and the Owner, the concept of an addition that referenced the scale and proportions found in the adjacent four-square houses became a study in proportions. It was important that the historic structure maintained its original stately presence with an addition that wasn’t competing or trying to replicate its historic language. It was also important that the addition be lightly connected to its expansion and feel subservient. The addition is intentionally setback to align with adjacent historic homes that survived the tornado as the church is much closer to the street edge than any other building on the block. From 11th Street, there is a “gap” between the structures that creates an outdoor seating area for the restaurants. This “in-between space” allows you to experience the historic sanctuary “lemon-wedge” windows from the outside in a cozy “alley” room. It was also important to lower the finish floor of the addition to more relate to the residential context to honor the Sanctuary as the primary façade.
Framework for Design Excellence Narrative
The restoration and addition of the historic Ten21 at Russell Street exemplifies multiple principles from the Framework for Design Excellence. First, related to Design for Resources, the project is an adaptive re-use ultimately restoring the tornado damaged structure, re-using salvaged bricks in the re-build along with other architectural and finish materials. In addition, materials such as the steel gusset plates from the heavy timber trusses that were destroyed were re-purposed by a local artist as sculpture along with other building materials that could not be re-used. In restoring the former sanctuary “lemon wedge” windows, salvaged glass from other preservation sites were used to match the “daisy” glass that is no longer in production, rather than making new glass material. All in all, the project was a celebration of materials and craft to reduce environmental impacts and save tornado damaged materials from heading to a landfill. Regarding Design for Change, the building is at its heart, a mixed use flexible community center with multiple ways to adapt to economic changes in the neighborhood as it can be reconfigured into a variety of commercial, retail and restaurant spaces through multiple entries, shared core support areas and community spaces to support emerging retail. Finally, related to Design for Integration, the building’s renovation brings the former sacred building back into the community as a neighborhood hub that tells the story of resiliency from the 2020 tornado and sets the stage with a focus on beauty, delight and the ways people continue to come together.
LEED/Green Certifications
Photo Captions
Photo credits / caption slide 2: Standing at the corner of the Russell Street to view the front of the restored building as well as the reconstructed and imagined tower. Photo by Corey Gaffer.
Photo credits / caption slide 3: East Nashville has been hit by three tornadoes since 1933. The tornado of 2020 destroyed this historic property. Photo by Client.
Photo credits / caption slide 4: Some of the restored pieces included the stained glass arched window and the lantern tower which serves as a beacon of light to the community. Photo by Corey Gaffer.
Photo credits / caption slide 5: This building has served many different uses in its lifetime. What once was a sanctuary through these windows is now a wine bar named ‘Bad Idea’. Photo by Corey Gaffer.
Photo credits / caption slide 6: This diagram depicts where most of the damage occurred from the 2020 tornado. Photo by Client.
Photo credits / caption slide 7: Ten21 serves as a community hub between 5Points and the east Nashville community. Photo by Michael Wasyliw.
Photo credits / caption slide 8: Aeriel view looking toward downtown at sunset. Photo by Corey Gaffer.
Photo credits / caption slide 9: The original tower perched on a local high point in the neighborhood has always served as a beacon on the hill visible throughout the neighborhood. Photo by Corey Gaffer.
Photo credits / caption slide 10: A new addition was added to the historic structure depicted in this diagram to elevate the building to current accessibility codes.
Photo credits / caption slide 11: Floor plans depict the new use of the building.
Photo credits / caption slide 12: Several elements throughout the building we salvaged and restored. Photo by Keith Bush.
Photo credits / caption slide 13: One element recreated were the daisy windows depicted here. Photo by Corey Gaffer.
Photo credits / caption slide 14: The Bad Idea wine bar repurposed the historic sanctuary into a beautiful new restaurant. Photo by Keith Bush. Renderings by partnered Interior Design firm.
Photo credits / caption slide 15: The lantern glows throughout the night. Photo by Corey Gaffer.
