Game Terminal Court

Project Statement

An owner of multiple businesses (a turf care company, mosquito protection, pinball sales / repair, and a public arcade) wanted to integrate all of their ventures under one roof on a site in south Nashville in order to not only have a positive economic impact for themselves but also to provide a space for the community to gather year round for special events and everyday recreation. The team began searching the area for a site with an existing building well-positioned for adaptive reuse in order to minimize the amount of new resources needed and in turn reducing the impact of embodied carbon on the project. This search turned up an excellent candidate in the form of a dilapidated freight terminal.

The terminal presented itself as a long, narrow structure surrounded by a sea of concrete, making it ideal for the client's program. The site was reorganized by pushing all vehicular traffic to the periphery and utilizing strategic landscaping to define public and private spaces while reducing the amount of impervious area. Large areas of green space (with artificial turf in lieu of real grass) were established to help with storm water management, reduce carbon emissions, and eliminate water usage associated with lawn maintenance. A large sport court made of 100% recycled plastic to promote employee health initiatives was installed to further reduce paved surfaces.

The terminal structure consists of a two story block and precast building anchoring a linear series of open-air dock bays covered by a steel truss roof system. The two story portion was turned into offices and retail showroom operations. The design team took advantage of the need for a new egress stair and made it a sculptural form added to the exterior of the building.

The clear span and linear nature of the open-air terminal dock provided a great blank slate for the arcade portion of the program. The space was enclosed using corrugated metal panels, chosen for their versatility, durability and overall lifetime sustainability. To invoke the idea of action and movement from the site's past and present, the decision was made to install the panels at an angle and alternate the colors. The accessible entry ramp plays with the idea of the user entering the building in similar fashion as a pinball starting in a game, resulting in a multi-sensory user experience from the exterior to the interior with a variety of designed atmospheres.

Framework for Design Excellence Narrative

> The project addresses four of the AIA’s measures for design excellence, integration, economic, resources, and well being. The design decision to reuse the existing building onsite as opposed to demolishing and building a new campus the site, had multiple benefits from economic factors, reduction of new resources used,  and overall project integration.
>
>   
>
> The adaptive reuse of the building was able to reduce the amount of embodied carbon the project used by keeping all of the original structure and limiting the amount of waste leaving the site. Use of highly versatile materials including the cladding of the building with corrugated metal panels supported this endeavor as it has a lower impact on the environment throughout its life cycle. The panels can easily be recycled and made of recycled content themselves and are very resilient.  By looking at how spaces could have multi-functions out spaces we were able to condense the programming down. Also the decision was made to to use wood studs opposed to steel studs for the exterior infill walls, as they would  have a better thermal performance and sequester more carbon.  The entire building was insulated with open cell spray foam to keep the envelope insulated well above the required R-value set by code.  
>
> \\
> Creative programming also reduced mechanical loads as the warehouse/turfcare service end of the building was able to be tempered and only conditioned the office located within the space. 
>
> \\
> The project  illustrates integration through the design of multi sensory spaces. Calming quiet places for rest and reprieve mixed with spaces filled with action excitement. This is also reinvigorating the adjacent neighborhood that has been taken over by industrial/ logistics programs, with a new place to gather without having to go to another area of town. The use of artificial turf as opposed to real grass allows for a lush sensory feel of natural green space, without the maintenance  water usage necessary.
>
> \\
>  Creating outdoor spaces for employees and the public promotes maintaining an active lifestyle. The sport court and the outdoor games yard is a prime example of this application.  The outdoor employee patio promotes mental well being for employees to sit and reflect outside of the office environment and maintain a connection to nature. Fountains provide an auditory calming moment while the user is surrounded by a landscaped privacy screen.

\n