Architectural rendering of large-scale illuminated rooftop channel letter signage reading "Villeyards" glowing gold against a nighttime urban skyline, showcasing experiential graphics and branded environment design for a mixed-use waterfront development by RSM Design.

Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville Yards

A New Beat for the City's Skyline

Project type

Wayfinding Signage Design Environmental Graphic Design

Project sector

Mixed-Use Design Sports & Entertainment
Architectural rendering of a mixed-use urban development featuring high-rise towers with rooftop building signage for Pinnacle along a bustling streetscape at dusk, illustrating master sign program and placemaking design for a mixed-use and workplace environment by RSM Design.

Project info

Client Southwest Value Partners

Architect Gresham Smith

A district designed for what's next

Nashville Yards is the next generation of urban development in this enduringly forward–thinking and creative dream of a city. It is the mission of Nashville Yard’s to curate unique opportunities for fellowship, connection and creativity to flourish.  With 1.5 Million+ sq. ft. Of class-a and creative office space, 1,000+ residential units, 600,000+sq. ft. of retail & entertainment, and 1,100+ hotel rooms Nashille Yards is the only place to live, work, and play in Nashville. 

Located in the heart of Nashville, residents and guests can easily walk to work, up and down Nashville’s historic Lower Broadway or meet  up with friends for coffee, a picnic in the park, or a night out on the town. The design reflects not only the unique character of Nashville, but also strives create a place for the next generation of dreamers and innnovators.  Whatever guests are looking for, Nashville Yards has it.  Whether its brushing up on the local art scene, catching the latest must see band’s performanace or movie, even grabbing dinner and drinks with friends. One thing is clear, Nashville Yards is the new epicentre for entertainment.  It is always changing, evolving, and inviting guests to explore all the things that make it great. It is not only an epicentre for industry, but a hub for meaningful connections and unique experiences.

Architectural rendering of large-scale illuminated "Nashville Yards" channel letter signage spanning a pedestrian bridge amid vine-covered columns at a mixed-use waterfront development, showcasing experiential graphics, placemaking, and master sign program design by RSM Design.
Brand identity moodboard for Nashville Yards combining a distressed yellow and black graphic logo detail with a historic black-and-white photograph of Nashville's Union Station rail yards, illustrating the placemaking and visual identity design rooted in local history and cultural context by RSM Design.

Distressed yellow and black graphics layered with historic rail yard imagery root the brand in Nashville’s cultural history.

Aerial map highlighting the Nashville Yards development site in gold amid downtown Nashville landmarks including Bridgestone Arena, Ryman Auditorium, and Union Station, illustrating the urban context and placemaking strategy for a mixed-use development by RSM Design.
Nashville Yards brand vision statement in bold typography reading "Inspired by the Past, Driven by the Future, and Rooted in Nashville's Unique Culture and Community," showcasing experiential graphic design and placemaking storytelling for a mixed-use development by RSM Design.

A sitewide exterior signage and wayfinding strategy was crafted across nine city-sized parcels, with every environmental element working together to convey a unified project message.

Large-scale dimensional mirrored "101 Platform" letters nestled in a flowering garden bed at a mixed-use development entrance, showcasing placemaking, experiential graphics, and branded environment design by RSM Design.
Dimensional black building identification signage reading "101 Platform North" mounted vertically on a white exterior facade, showcasing wayfinding and signage design for a mixed-use workplace environment by RSM Design.
Close-up of dimensional black and white "Platform North" channel letters mounted on a white exterior wall, showcasing building identification and signage design for a mixed-use workplace environment by RSM Design.
Illuminated white neon circular logo mark mounted against a lush green living wall, showcasing experiential graphics and branded environment design for a mixed-use workplace development by RSM Design.
Architectural rendering of the Nashville Yards building exterior featuring a large-scale living green wall with a white illuminated circular logo mark and "Nashville Yards" channel letter signage at street level, showcasing experiential graphics, placemaking, and master sign program design for a mixed-use development by RSM Design.
Architectural rendering of a textured wood lobby wall with "Nashville Yards" spelled in dimensional nail-head lettering as pedestrians and cyclists pass by, showcasing specialty graphics and experiential graphic design for a mixed-use workplace environment by RSM Design.
Close-up of dimensional nail-head lettering casting dramatic shadows on a warm wood plank wall, showcasing specialty graphics and experiential graphic design craftsmanship for a mixed-use workplace environment by RSM Design.

A custom icon set unifies directional arrows and key amenities into a cohesive wayfinding system for the mixed-use development.

Custom wayfinding icon set for Nashville Yards featuring directional arrows and pictograms for restrooms, elevator, escalator, stairs, accessibility, bicycle, dining, parking, and loading on a dark background, showcasing environmental graphic design and signage system design for a mixed-use workplace development by RSM Design.
Spread of Nashville Yards master sign program design documents featuring technical drawings and elevations for wayfinding totems, building identification, gateway signage, and tower signage across multiple open booklets, showcasing comprehensive environmental graphic design and signage planning for a mixed-use development by RSM Design. Want any tweaks?

The design reflects not only the unique character of Nashville, but also strives to create a place for the next generation of dreamers and innovators.

Architectural rendering of large-scale dimensional "Tower Two" ground-level monument lettering at a glass office building entrance with pedestrians and street trees, showcasing placemaking, experiential graphics, and building identification signage for a mixed-use workplace development by RSM Design.

Market

Workplace Design
Architectural rendering of Nashville Yards Tower One entrance with dimensional building identification signage and Nashville Yards canopy lettering above a pedestrian streetscape, showcasing wayfinding, signage design, and placemaking for a mixed-use workplace development by RSM Design.
Bold "B4 – 101 Platform N" level identification painted directly on a concrete block wall in white and magenta as a pedestrian passes by an elevator, showcasing experiential graphics and wayfinding design for a parking garage environment by RSM Design.
Close-up of bold black and orange painted "B5" level identifier on a raw concrete parking structure wall, showcasing wayfinding and signage design for a parking garage environment by RSM Design.
Aerial night rendering of the Nashville Yards mixed-use development featuring multiple high-rise office towers, the Grand Hyatt hotel, retail streetscape, and activated public plaza, illustrating the full scope of placemaking and master sign program design for a large-scale mixed-use and hospitality development by RSM Design.

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