Harpeth Square

Nominated by: Smith Gee Studio
Location: Franklin, TN
Developer: Harpeth Associates
Architect: Smith Gee Studio and 906 Studio
General Contractor: R C Mathews
Interior Designer: Smith Gee Studio and HotelStudio
Project Website: www.harpethsquareliving.com and www.harpethhotel.com

Project Statement

Located in the Downtown Franklin Historic District, Harpeth Square has revitalized a city block by providing the first lifestyle hotel and needed housing options in this “Great American Main Street” downtown. The ambitious project turned a once blighted block into a LEED Gold certified, mixed-use, desirable destination.

Nine properties, totaling 4.66 acres, were assembled over four years with an extensive and challenging zoning and entitlements process to prepare the site. The city of Franklin’s Historic Zoning Commission was closely involved in every stage of the project’s development, resulting in a landmark property that fits seamlessly into the historic neighborhood fabric.

Harpeth Square, both elegantly reverent and contemporary, offers a 119-room hotel, 150 luxury apartments, and several new restaurant and retail options for visitors and residents alike. The exterior architecture complements its surroundings with a modern reflection of southern architectural vernacular featuring a grand hotel portico, masonry façades and meticulous detailing.

Encasing a common 591-space garage, the project affords minimal disruption to the historic landscape, and creates four activated streetscapes to the area. Each building provides access to green spaces in an urban setting with public and private internal courtyards inspired by traditional southern gardens.

Within the hotel, more than 5,000 square feet of flexible meeting space permeates into its courtyard with tables, seating and an imperial staircase as the perfect backdrop for southern outdoor traditions. For residents of the apartments, a private courtyard provides multiple “rooms” around a central water fountain, and salvaged antique columns create a pergola structure tying the new construction to the ever-present historic city location.