HASTINGS blends New York sophistication with Nashville charm in this top-floor mass timber workspace with a flexible, community-driven layout.
Project Snapshot:
- Design Firm: HASTINGS
- Client: Investment Management Office
- Completion Date: May 2025
- Location: Nashville, TN, USA
- Size: 14,852 sq. ft.
Overview
An established investment management firm headquartered in New York engaged HASTINGS to design its new office in Nashville’s dynamic Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood. Perched on the top floor of the Nashville Warehouse Company, the office is intentionally positioned to maximize sweeping views of downtown and the broader cityscape. These vistas shape the project’s spatial experience, with communal gathering areas oriented outward to engage the city as a natural extension of the workplace. The program includes open work areas, an employee café, generous entertaining zones, and a boardroom with a commanding view.
The client’s vision was clear: to create an office that honors the refinement of their New York brand while embracing the warmth, charm, and distinct identity of its Southern setting.
The result is a thoughtful interplay of contrast and continuity — a space that confidently establishes its own identity while remaining rooted in legacy. At the core of the design is a conceptual framework of structured separation. Angled, diagonal walls choreograph the spatial rhythm and define key zones, introducing movement and momentum. These bold geometries reinforce the firm’s forward-thinking ethos and help shape a cohesive, navigable experience. Vertically, the interior leverages the gabled volume of the mass timber structure to its full advantage. Public-facing zones — such as the café and boardroom — showcase the exposed timber ceiling, while private offices and meeting rooms feature lowered ceilings that compress space to offer moments of quiet and focus.
Clean, high-touch finishes reflect the polish of the firm’s urban roots, while natural woods, textured elements, and artisanal details bring in a distinctly Southern sensibility. The result is a workplace that feels both elevated and inviting. Ultimately, the Nashville office is more than a physical outpost — it is a spatial expression of the firm’s evolving identity.
Project Details & Challenges
Following a series of visioning sessions with firm leadership, the design for this new Nashville workspace was shaped by both local aspirations and the strong influence of the parent office in New York City, which had recently completed its own high-profile renovation. While the NYC team brought a clear design direction—rooted in a sleek, modern aesthetic—the Nashville office, operating from a temporary space and navigating a hybrid work model, was eager for a workplace that reflected its own identity and culture. The challenge was to merge these influences into a singular, inspiring environment tailored to the Nashville team’s needs.
The selected building—a striking new mass timber structure with 33-foot gabled ceilings—offered a powerful architectural canvas, but also presented significant design and technical hurdles. One of the greatest challenges was reconciling the minimalist, high-contrast material palette of the New York office with the warmth, texture, and structural expression inherent in mass timber. Rather than allowing one identity to dominate, the design sought balance: refining and simplifying interior elements to let the building’s natural materiality shine, while subtly incorporating the crisp detailing and sophistication that define the firm’s brand.
Designing within a mass timber structure brought a range of complexities, particularly in terms of code compliance and infrastructure coordination. Early and ongoing collaboration with local code officials was essential to navigating requirements specific to exposed wood construction—especially those related to fire protection and concealment strategies. The team worked meticulously with engineers and consultants to integrate MEP systems, lighting, and other infrastructure elements discreetly, preserving the visual clarity of the soaring timber ceilings and the open-plan workspace below.
Ultimately, the design delivers a space that celebrates its structure while elevating the everyday experience of its users—supporting collaboration, flexibility, and creativity within a carefully crafted environment that bridges two offices, two cultures, and two design languages.
Key Products
Armstrong – Acoustic Ceiling Tile
Nydree – Wood Flooring
OHM International Inc. – Stone
Sacco Carpet – Custom Rugs
Overall Project Results
After years in a temporary space and navigating hybrid workflows, the team was eager for a workplace that not only reflected their professional identity but also fostered connection, creativity, and a renewed sense of belonging. The new space delivers on all fronts.
One of the most celebrated outcomes has been the range and balance of spatial experiences. The café has quickly become the heart of the office—an informal gathering spot where employees naturally gravitate throughout the day. It supports everything from morning coffee and casual check-ins to impromptu team huddles and end-of-day socials. This sense of community was a top priority during early visioning sessions, and seeing it come to life in such an organic way has been one of the project’s most rewarding outcomes.
At the same time, private offices and focused work zones provide quiet, uninterrupted space for heads-down tasks—an essential feature in the hybrid era. Employees appreciate having access to a variety of settings tailored to different work styles and needs. The integration of formal meeting rooms alongside open collaboration areas supports flexibility and reinforces a culture of transparency and teamwork.
Several standout design elements continue to draw praise from both staff and visitors. The panoramic views of downtown Nashville—most dramatically framed in the main boardroom—offer a daily reminder of the firm’s presence in and connection to the city. The exposed wood ceilings, made possible by the building’s mass timber construction, are another defining feature. Their warmth and grandeur, paired with abundant natural daylight, create an uplifting and timeless atmosphere that sets the tone for the entire workplace.
Perhaps the most surprising outcome has been how seamlessly the New York–inspired modern aesthetic translated into a distinctly Nashville space. Rather than feeling imposed, the crisp design language of the NYC office was thoughtfully adapted to harmonize with the building’s natural materiality and the local team’s personality. The result is a workplace that feels both sophisticated and grounded—uniquely suited to its context and its people.
Main Contributors:
Architect – HASTINGS
General Contractor – DPR Construction
MEP Engineer – Enfinity Engineering
Structural Engineer – EMC Structural Engineer
Acoustic Consultant – Kirkegaard
Furniture – Ai Corporate Interiors
Meet the Design Team
Photography
