Front view of Ascend Amphitheater lit up at night, showcasing its dramatic architecture against the Nashville skyline, with high-rise buildings and the AT&T “Batman” tower in the background. Daytime aerial view of the Cumberland River Greenway and park areas surrounding Ascend Amphitheater, featuring walking paths, landscaped lawns, seating areas, and a modern arched pedestrian bridge nearby. People walk and bike along a landscaped urban trail flanked by public art, street lighting, and greenery on a sunny day. Wide shot of a packed Ascend Amphitheater lawn and stage at sunset, with concertgoers facing the performance, Nashville skyline and bridges visible in the background. A large crowd watches a live band perform on an open-air stage with professional lighting and sound equipment under a dramatic canopy structure.

Ascend Amphitheater

As part of downtown Nashville’s 12-acre West Riverfront Park, the 7,000 patron amphitheater was designed as a world-class music venue — a new icon for Music City. Following the recommendations of our South of Broadway Strategic Master Plan, the City of Nashville asked our team, including UDA, Hawkins Partners, and other consultants, to develop concepts for a 12-acre park with an outdoor music venue along the banks of the Cumberland River.

As Architect of Record, Smith Gee Studio worked collaboratively with Hodgetts + Fung and a renowned theater and acoustic consultant team on the architectural design for the new 35,000 sf venue. It includes back-of-house facilities and ancillary buildings suitable for a world-class commercial theater. The amphitheater is located to optimize the use of the site as a park and is designed to be open to the public year-round on non-performance days. The 100-foot span is open on both sides to offer a transparent view of the skyline and a dramatic backdrop for performances. Ascend Amphitheater is a LEED NC Gold certified project and has been recognized with prominent awards in both the architectural and music industries.

Year:

2015

Location:

Nashville, TN

Architect:

Smith Gee Studio

Client:

City of Nashville

Services:

Architecture & Interior Design

Awards:

LEED NC Gold Pollstar, Outdoor Concert Venue of the Year, 2021 Academy of Country Music Industry Awards, Venue of the Year, Medium Capacity, 2018 World Architecture News (WAN), Short List, WAN Performing Spaces Award, 2017 Masonry Institute of Tennessee, Honor in Masonry, 2017 USITT, Merit Award, 2017 Academy of Country Music Industry Awards, Venue of the Year, Medium Capacity, 2016 Pollstar, Best New Major Concert Venue, 2016 AIA Middle Tennessee, Honor Award, 2016 AIA Tennessee, Merit Award, 2016 AIA Gulf States Region, Merit Award, 2016 ULI Nashville, Excellence in Development People's Choice Award, 2016 ULI Nashville, Excellence in Development Award, 2016 Nashville Downtown Partnership Award, World Class Park/Venue, 2015