WRT was the lead designer for the five-acre civic square facing Nashville's historic courthouse. A new 1200-space underground parking structure beneath the square serves courthouse employees and visitors. Working with architects, landscape architects, engineers, parking specialists, and an art consultant, WRT calibrated the design of the $11 million square to maximize year-round activity through provision of venues for concerts, civic events, marketplaces, craft fairs, and outdoor play. The design celebrates the courthouse by providing a tree-lined frame, punctuated by civic monuments and gateways. A central, oval-shaped lawn acts as a flexible space suitable for large gatherings. Participatory fountains, river overlooks, and memorials energize the surrounding streetscape, knitting the square into the larger urban context.







