Exterior of a restored industrial building with red brick and concrete, now featuring expansive glass windows and modern updates. People walk through a landscaped pedestrian plaza in front of the building, blending old structure with new design. Urban outdoor plaza with a tiered amphitheater-style staircase, surrounded by weathered brick walls and exposed industrial structures. Steps are accent-lit, and the space includes planters, seating, and integrated landscaping. Outdoor courtyard featuring preserved industrial concrete columns with rough, broken tops, dramatically lit with uplighting. Modern glass building façade contrasts with the raw concrete, while people sit and walk through the landscaped, open space.

Neuhoff Curve Building

At the heart of Nashville’s new Neuhoff District stands the Curve Building—a historic architectural landmark that has been restored and reimagined as the project's centerpiece. Smith Gee Studio led the adaptive reuse of this distinctive structure, preserving its original character through the meticulous restoration of key structural elements and the refurbishment of historic windows. A striking new core and lobby, designed as a “building within a building,” brings modern functionality and sophistication while reflecting the building’s industrial grit. Now complete, the Curve Building features a dynamic mix of office and retail, restaurant spaces, and an outdoor performance area, solidifying its role as the cultural anchor of the Neuhoff campus. In 2024, the Curve Building was awarded LEED BD+C Core & Shell Silver Certification by the USGBC.

The Curve Building’s revival was a cornerstone of the broader Neuhoff master plan, initiated by Smith Gee Studio in 2016 to breathe new life into the former slaughterhouse and meat-packing complex along the Cumberland River. This effort included leading the rezoning and entitlements process, laying the foundation for a pedestrian-oriented destination that seamlessly blends adaptive reuse, new development, and thoughtfully designed public spaces.

In 2019, Smith Gee Studio partnered with Atlanta-based New City Properties and New York-based S9 Architecture to refine and realize the master plan vision. Today, Neuhoff stands as a thriving mixed-use district where historic preservation, creative energy, and community converge in one of Nashville’s most unique urban environments.

Year:

2024

Location:

Nashville, TN

Architect:

Smith Gee Studio

Client:

New City, LLC

Services:

Architecture, Interior Design, & Master Planning

Awards:

Venice Biennale 19th International Architecture Exhibition - U.S. Pavilion Exhibitor, 2025 World Architecture News (WAN), WAN Americas Finalist, Commercial Category, 2025 Historical Commission of Metropolitan Nashville, Davidson County, Historic Preservation Award, 2025 AIA Middle Tennessee, Merit Award, 2024 AIA Tennessee, Merit Award, Restoration/Renovation, 2024 Interior Design Magazine, Finalist, Best of Year Awards, Large Commercial Lobby + Amenity Space, 2024