Tennessee Perspective

Plan of Nashville Book Published

UT College of Architecture + Design Newsletter Fall 2005

Plan Of Nashville Book Published
Three years of effort led by Professor Mark Schimmenti culminated in the publication of a book entitled The Plan of Nashville: Avenues to a Great City. Inspired by Burnham’s Plan of Chicago, the Nashville Civic Design Center developed a visionary long-term plan for Nashville, involving more than 800 citizens in 47 different public meetings over a two year period.

The Mayor of Nashville, Bill Purcell, provided the Introduction to the book and also hosted a book signing event, attended by 200 in the Nashville Public Library. Nashville writer Christine Kreyling wrote the text, while Gary Gaston ‘99, Associate Director of the Nashville Civic Design Center, coordinated hundreds of illustrations. A number of recent architecture graduates served as interns and made contributions to the book as well: Catherine Tracy ‘99, Ellen Dill ‘04, Abby Lee Majors ‘04, Matt Greg ‘05, Jason Hill ‘05, and interior design graduate Amanda Posch ‘04.

Since the release of the book, the Plan of Nashville has been presented by the current Director of Design, T.K. Davis, in over 60 different meetings to audiences totaling more than 4,000. These presentations include a video made by Gary Gaston. Both hardcover and paperback versions of the 200 page book are available through the Nashville Civic Design website, nashvillecivicdesigncenter.org. The Plan of Nashville was also a featured exhibit in the Ewing Gallery and the Art and Architecture Building.