Elliott Germantown

Project Statement

MZA and client Mainland Companies collaborated with the Nashville Historic Zoning Commission, Tennessee Historical Commission, Germantown Neighborhood Association, and Metropolitan Renovation Committee over five years to develop an adaptive reuse plan to convert the historic Elliott School into condominiums and develop new construction row homes designed to reflect elements of their historic neighbor and respect the neighborhood design guidelines, while establishing their own modern identity. The team worked with arborists and landscape architects to preserve mature trees on site to reinforce a harmonious blend of new and old.

Named a contributing resource to the Germantown Historic District in 1979 (NRHP District No. 79002422), maintaining Elliott School’s status on the National Historic Register was a top priority of the team. Care was taken to minimize visibility of roof additions and units were designed with the classroom modules in mind. Dropped ceilings, carpet, and partitions installed in a 1995 office conversion were removed to restore the open nature of the original architecture. Brick, plaster, and hardwoods were restored throughout. Original classroom chalkboards were preserved wherever possible as a playful nod to the building’s original use.

Notably, the original two-story auditorium on the second floor had been infilled with low ceilings and subdivided into offices. Double story windows and a nearly 30’ ceiling sat hidden for decades. Two-story open loft units were designed to maximize the drama of the former auditorium and highlight the 13’-6” tall windows. This portion of the building also received unexpected structural reinforcement and roofing after a direct hit by the March 2020 tornado peeled off the existing roof.

The modern Row Homes across Madison Street and along 6th and 7th Avenues echo masonry details and proportions from the historic school alongside a more modern material palette including zinc flat-lock tile cladding. The two- and three-story units feature open floor plans, many with dramatic multi-story open volumes of their own. Care was taken to provide ample natural light throughout the length of the units. Landscaped front stoops, balconies and roof terraces, and private 2 car garages off of shared rear drives offer a more traditional single-family alternative to the multi-family school building and provide a new neighborhood street in Germantown that feels grounded in its history, yet fresh.

Elliott Germantown combines the thoughtful preservation of one of Germantown's defining buildings with a modern approach to design and detail that guarantee its use and appreciation for years to come.

Framework for Design Excellence Narrative

**Design for Integration & Design for Economy**

The Elliott School was built in 1915 and designed by notable Nashville architect Thomas S. Marr Jr. (1866-1936) of the firm Marr & Holman. Along with Joseph W. Holman, the firm’s later work in Nashville included the main United States Post Office (now the Frist Museum) and the Tennessee State Supreme Court. Marr & Holman were recognized for their art deco and classical architectural detailing.

 

Design features of the Elliott School include the prominent Girls and Boys entrances facing Jefferson and Madison Street which followed the Victorian practice of allowing girls and boys to enter the building in separate lines. The stairs and corridors were kept intentionally wide to allow two columns of children to pass without touching. The light from the large banks of windows allowed for better learning as well as better airflow and each classroom was oriented to keep windows to the left of students to prevent casting shadows across their work (as all children would have been made to write with their right hands at the time).

 

It was important to the team to restore and maintain these original design features and give future residents a sense of connection to the look and feel of the original school. Additional sprinklers were added to allow classroom transom windows to remain in corridors and to enclose the historic girls’ and boys’ stairs with glass storefront instead of rated drywall partitions, preserving the light-filled, spacious intent of the original design.

 

The new construction was approached with respect to the surrounding history and care was taken to incorporate authentic craftmanship with timeless materials, and to interpret Marr’s design concepts for a modern use.

 

**Design for Equitable Communities**

While the unit offerings of Elliott Germantown are all market rate, care was taken to provide a variety of sizes that could welcome many income levels to the development. Within the school, unit sizes range from studios up to 3-bedroom penthouse units, all sharing community lounge and fitness space. The new construction similarly ranges in size from 2-bedroom carriage houses to 4-bedroom row homes. Stoops and gardens create an inviting, walkable neighborhood street for residents and neighbors alike.

 

**Design for Energy**

Although the project didn’t pursue green certification, many important energy reduction strategies were employed to modernize the 1915 building. In the reusing the existing building, the life of many already durable materials was extended through restoration of plaster, wood, and brick inside the building. Triple wythe exterior brick walls, which already provided good insulation, were repaired and repointed throughout. New roofing and roof insulation were added, and drafty windows last updated in the 1990s were replaced with modern high-efficiency glazing. New high efficiency mechanical systems were also installed throughout.

 

The new construction homes also feature high efficiency glazing and climate systems. High density, formaldehyde-free insulation at exterior walls and roof provides superior acoustics as well as interior climate.