A contemporary blade sign draws from historic architectural cues, using light and form to create a bold marker that connects past and present within the streetscape.

Nashville, Tennessee

Fifth + Broadway

The Crossroads of Heart, Soul, and Entertainment

Project type

Placemaking Design Public Art & Murals

Project sector

Mixed-Use Design Retail Environments & Graphic Design

An energized streetscape layers historic architecture with contemporary development, where illuminated signage and nightlife create a distinct sense of place that carries from day into night.

Project info

Client Brookfield Properties

Architect Gresham Smith

Fabricator Design Communications Ltd.

Other Proof Branding

Creating a retail destination in music city

Rooted in Culture

Fifth + Broadway in downtown Nashville is more than a mixed‑use destination — it’s a cultural crossroads where history, music, community, and urban life intersect. RSM Design approached the project with a placemaking mindset, honoring the city’s eclectic spirit and layered architectural character. Drawing inspiration from Hatch Show Print, the nearby historic shop celebrated for its typography-driven music posters, the team developed a visual language that reflects Nashville’s creative energy. The design connects people to place, making the 6.2‑acre site welcoming, memorable, and distinctly Nashville.

Graphics in Harmony

RSM Design worked across multiple facets of the project, including retail, streetcape, parking, a food hall, residential, and office spaces. Central to the visitor experience is a comprehensive wayfinding system that guides users through this complex mix of destinations. The team crafted a cohesive signage and graphics strategy that clarifies navigation while celebrating the city’s typographic heritage. From neon signs and bold graphics to painted murals and digitally integrated signage, the environmental graphics enhance both the functional and emotional experience of the place.

A refined storefront identity balances bold signage with warm materiality, creating an inviting threshold that draws people in while reinforcing the district’s contemporary character.

A large-scale digital display anchors the building facade, broadcasting district messaging and activity while reinforcing a bold, contemporary identity within the urban skyline.

A compact digital directory provides clear, real-time information at the storefront level, extending the district’s identity while supporting intuitive, on-the-go navigation.

At Fifth + Broadway, RSM Design used digital and interactive signage to create an engaging retail experience that connected visitors to the space.

Service

Digital Signage Integration

A central gathering corridor frames layered views of the district, where integrated signage and digital media create a cohesive, active environment that encourages exploration and connection.

Neon crescent blade sign at Fifth + Broadway, adding a bold and playful visual landmark within the district’s urban streetscape.

Elevator lobby at Fifth + Broadway with large-scale “Level 3” wayfinding graphics and integrated environmental branding guiding visitors through the space.

Escalator corridor at Fifth + Broadway featuring a large-scale graphic mural that combines bold typography and directional messaging to enhance wayfinding and reinforce the district’s identity.

Directional wall graphic at Fifth + Broadway featuring a pointing hand and “This Way!” messaging, providing clear and engaging wayfinding within the environment.

Illuminated arrow graphic at Fifth + Broadway, using bold form and light to reinforce directional cues and enhance the overall wayfinding experience.

Vertical “Parking” blade sign at Fifth + Broadway, using bold typography and integrated lighting to clearly mark parking access within the district.

A bold typographic parking garage wall rooted in Nashville’s Hatch Show Print legacy

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Hatch Show Print

Level 1 wayfinding sign at Fifth + Broadway set against a large-scale typographic wall, guiding visitors to key destinations while reinforcing the district’s bold visual identity.

“Assembly Food Hall” overhead sign at Fifth + Broadway guiding visitors via escalators, providing clear directional wayfinding within the district.

Assembly Food Hall signage at Fifth + Broadway integrated into the building façade, creating a prominent and recognizable destination within the district.

The sounds and tastes of Music City all under one roof

Aerial view of Fifth + Broadway in downtown Nashville, showing the mixed-use district integrated within the city skyline.

Residential corridor at Fifth + Broadway featuring unit number signage and refined material detailing that reinforces a cohesive interior identity.

The Place at Fifth + Broadway is a sophisticated 34-story residential tower in downtown Nashville, featuring expansive city views, a rooftop pool, and a recording studio that reflects the city’s creative spirit. RSM Design developed the tower’s signage and environmental graphics, creating a refined, cohesive system that enhances navigation and complements the building’s elevated residential experience.

Residential lobby at Fifth + Broadway featuring elevator wayfinding signage integrated into a warm, material-rich interior with layered textures and custom lighting.

Feature wall at Fifth + Broadway with illuminated typographic installation expressing Nashville’s culture and values within a refined interior setting.