Title: Ryman Auditorium Renovation and Expansion
Location of Proejct: Nashville, Tennessee
Project Completion Date: June 2015
Firm Name: HASTINGS

Short Description: Regarded as “The Mother Church of Country Music,” this renovation and expansion reimagines the Ryman Auditorium preserving its history while ensuring its stature.

Architect's Statement: Regarded as the soul of Nashville, the historic Ryman Auditorium is one of the most important buildings in the state of Tennessee. This 1892 National Historic Landmark originally hosted such performers as W.C. Fields, Will Rogers, Charlie Chaplin, Harry Houdini, and Louis Armstrong. Later, as the home of The Grand Ole Opry, The Ryman introduced the original stars of Country and Bluegrass such as Patsy Cline, Hank Williams and Bill Monroe thereby adopting the moniker “The Mother Church of Country Music”.

In 1993, the original building was rescued from demolition and underwent a full interior rehabilitation to serve as a performance venue by night and a museum by day. By 2015, the Ryman had outgrown the 1993 space and necessitated another expansion and renovation. This 2015 expansion replaces the post-modern references of the 1993 addition with a more restrained aesthetic. The design for the expansion pulls cues from the historic structure while mindfully introducing modern materials.

This 22,000-square-foot renovation and expansion reimagines the visitor experience by enlarging and improving the main lobby, retail, ticketing, and restroom areas to better accommodate crowds. The expansion created new spaces including the restaurant Café Lula, a custom-built 100-seat theater, and a 3-D pre-tour video experience.

This renovation contributed to the revitalization of Nashville’s downtown entertainment district a destination for both locals and visitors alike – preserving the history of the Ryman while ensuring its stature as the soul of Nashville.