Nashville International Airport, Terminal Lobby and Intl Arrivals Facility

In 2016, Nashville International Airport launched BNA Vision, to support the airport’s rapid growth as the fourth fastest among the top 50 airports in North America. Fentress Studios, a Populous Company, was tasked with a redesign of the Terminal Lobby and International Arrivals Facility, to serve Middle Tennessee’s booming population and confirm the city’s status as a hugely popular tourist destination. 

Conceived to improve connectivity within the airport terminal and the city of Nashville, the project links the Terminal to a multi-modal transit facility comprising parking garage, car rentals, ride-share, public and hotel shuttle services, and provisions for future light-rail, as well as on-site administrative office and hotel buildings.

As with other aviation renovation and expansion projects, the brief required the balancing of functional requirements with capacity expansion and passenger experience–all the while maintaining operations throughout the 47-month construction period. This required a fully integrated effort on the parts of the airport and the Design/Build team. All facets of constructability were carefully considered – including enabling projects that maintained security and minimized disruption, while guiding travelers through multiple construction zones during the surgical additions of columns through multiple floors of existing structure. 

The Design-Build team also optimized the structural design to reduce the number of columns from 88 to 32, and constructed the new roof prior to demolishing the old, ensuring weather protection within the existing terminal throughout construction.

Key elements of this project include new arrival canopies, a major concessions Marketplace and six new gates with capacity to handle the forecasted demand of 800 international passengers per hour from Europe, Asia, and South America. A new pedestrian connection from Customs to ground transport streamlines the flow, making it easier for passengers to navigate the airport. 

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The design’s most recognizable feature is a 225 ft by 685 ft gently undulating roof, spanning from the Terminal to the garage structure. Inspired by Nashville’s affirmed designation as America’s “Music City,” the roof form drew upon its roots in country, blues and gospel, to evoke the ripple of sound waves as well as the anatomy of a guitar, the most cherished of country music instruments. 

Attention to energy efficiency and passenger comfort exemplifies how airports can blend cutting-edge technology with sustainable design. Advanced technologies, such as electrochromic glass in skylights and curtainwalls that automatically adjust to sunlight, minimize energy consumption while maintaining a bright, open atmosphere. This not only helps regulate temperature but also reduces the need for air conditioning, significantly lowering energy usage. This highly efficient, transparent building envelope also improves air quality, creating a comfortable environment for passengers. 

Along with increasing capacity and improving efficiency, the project also elevates the passenger experience. Art installations, including photographs, terrazzo medallions, and murals are strategically placed throughout the terminal to provide an indelible sense of place, welcoming visitors with a curated showcase of Tennessee’s cultural diversity and creative talent. 

In total, this project comprises almost 328,000 SF of new construction for the IAF, and 452,000 SF of renovation, with over 40% of the existing structure being retained. The $445 million, 780,000 sq. ft. project is testament to a well-executed integrated process involving client and design-build team.

Since completion, BNA seen its annual passenger numbers continue to grow at a record-breaking pace, having reached 23.7 million passengers in Fiscal Year 2024. Of these, over 60% are leisure travelers, drawn by Nashville’s world-famous music scene, its cuisine, and its reputation for Southern hospitality.