Nashville's Boathouse: Connecting Community to the Cumberland by Civic Design Center

NASHVILLEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BOATHOUSE Connecting Community to the Cumberland

This book was written by Dillon Dunn, intern, Matt Genova, Research Fellow; Jonathan Nowlin, Intern; Robin Sasseville, Intern; This book was designed by Dillon Dunn and Jonathan Nowlin. This book was edited by Gary Gaston, Executive Director, Nashville Civic Design Center, Eric Hoke, Urban Designer, Nashville Civic Design Center. Special thanks to University of Tennessee College of Architecture and Design faculty members William Martella and Robert French. The mission of the Nashville Civic Design Center is to elevate the quality of Nashvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s built environment and to promote public participation in the creation of a more beautiful and functional city for all. Towards this end, the Nashville Civic Design Center: Promotes the Ten Principles of The Plan of Nashville, a vision for growth and development, created and endorsed by the citizens of Nashville; Educates the public about civic design through lectures by prominent speakers and workshops; Provides professional staff and highly-qualified design interns to consult on civic and other community development projects; Facilitates public dialogue about civic design and its impact through the Urban Design Forum. The Forum meets monthly at the Civic Design Center, provides events, lectures and an open forum for the debate of ideas and issues of interest to its members; Researches and publishes reports on various civic design issues. www.civicdesigncenter.org

Published November 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

History Cumberland River Timeline Riverfront Plan

5 7

Why a Boathouse Boathouse Development Stakeholders Events Precedents Program Sites

9 11 15 23 31 33

University of Tennessee at Knoxville: College of Architecture and Design Student Work

Beyond a Boathouse Benefits and Economic Opportunities 53 NCDC Recommendations 55 Acknowledgments

INTRODUCTION The vision for Nashville’s Riverfront is one that is aimed towards defining and enhancing the unique cultural identity of Music City, USA. As a thriving commercial and industrial district, Nashville’s focus on providing a vibrant waterfront experience for all has recently been bolstered by newly-constructed or renovated landmarks. These projects include the expanded Riverfront Park and Ascend Amphitheater, First Tennessee Park, and residential and commercial development on Rolling Mill Hill. This evolving built landscape in the downtown area is accented and accompanied by Nashville’s central natural feature, the Cumberland River. Despite the growth happening throughout downtown that has served to draw residents and visitors alike to the city’s core, there has been little progress made towards placing Nashvillians back on the water. Establishing a focal point, an object of recreation, community, and sport – which enhances the experience not only along the river, but also on the river – will create a consistent attraction for all of Nashville to utilize. The development of a Nashville Boathouse will strengthen the riverfront identity of a city that has long called the Cumberland River Basin home. The 2007 Nashville Riverfront Concept Plan is a twenty-year plan developed for the Cumberland River that highlights the effort towards making Nashville a water’s-edge city. This vision encompasses a range of qualities, including enhancing the waterfront to be pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly, promoting public art and civic space, and providing opportunities for a range of events and activities. The installation of a boathouse for Nashville will not only advance the goals of the Riverfront Plan, but also bring an element into the downtown core that can be an object of activity and interaction for both residents and visitors. A strong need for a boathouse currently exists, with numerous organizations and events currently held annually along the river. Drawing inspiration from other cities, a boathouse can act as a center for a range of both public and private uses.

From competitive events like crew regattas, paddling races and triathlons, to more casual recreational opportunities like blueway access and boat rentals, there is a nearly endless set of possibilities for such a structure that would serve the needs of both existing and future water-based stakeholders in Nashville. In 2006, the Public Meeting Report for the Nashville Riverfront Redevelopment Master Plan was released. This report highlighted the results from public input surveys suggesting ideas for the riverfront that could be achieved through a boathouse. The report recommended that riverfront redevelopment should: •

Provide physical and visual access to the Cumberland River from Downtown and adjacent neighborhoods. A revitalized Cumberland River, available for kayaking, canoeing, and rowing, can make the river a focal point for Nashville.

•

Provide public spaces along the Cumberland River that allow a variety of uses and accommodate both active and passive recreation. A boathouse can be a hub for alternative transportation across and along the river, either as a leisurely or recreational activity.

•

Create landmark destinations along the Cumberland River. The growing number of attractions along the waterfront makes the Cumberland River a desirable destination. The Nashville Boathouse can act as a meeting dock, a point of departure, or a destination to be experienced in congruence with the other landmarks along the Cumberland River.

Unlike most of the other attractions that currently exist within the downtown core, the Nashville Boathouse can be a hub for activating Nashville’s Riverfront specifically, and not just for drawing people near the water generally, promoting a shift in the public’s perception of the Cumberland River as a tangible resource.

Since its founding in 2000 The Nashville Civic Design Center (NCDC) has played a key role in promoting the redevelopment of Nashville’s riverfront. In the 2005 publication The Plan of Nashville: Avenues to a Great City, the NCDC highlights the Cumberland as key to Nashville’s future, proposing many physical and visual connections that will help bring Music City back to the river’s edge. Emphasizing the importance of pedestrian-friendly bridges, riverfront parks, and mixed-use neighborhoods, The Plan of Nashville is the embodiment of the NCDC’s continued campaign to bring Nashville residents and visitors alike to the water.

This publication combines analysis and research conducted by the NCDC with previous studies done on the riverfront area to propose how a downtown boathouse can continue to define the Cumberland River and help emphasize the larger development of Nashville’s landscape, identity, and culture.

Treat the Cumberland River as central to Nashville’s identity - an asset to be treasured and enjoyed. The Plan of Nashville: Avenues to a Great City (2005)

HISTORY

1748 1710

1775

French trader Charles Charleville sets up a trading post just north of present-day downtown Nashville on the Cumberland River, establishing the area as a point of interaction between arriving settlers and native tribes like the Shawnee, Cherokee, and Chickasaw.

Colonel Richard Henderson visits the Cumberland Valley, sending word back to settlements in North Carolina and Virginia that the region was suitable for further development.

The United States signs Pinckney’s Treaty with Spain, guaranteeing American traders navigation rights on the Mississippi River and increasing the importance of the Cumberland River as a regional and national trade route.

After several trips to the area by other settlers, including French trader Timothy Demonbreun, Richard Henderson purchases land from the Cherokee along the west bank of the Cumberland River near present-day downtown Nashville. Settlers James Robertson and John Donelson follow suit shortly after.

1780

1795

More than 250 settlers sign James Robertson’s Cumberland Compact, establishing the first governing body over the area, then known as Fort Nashborough. Just four years later, Davidson County is established and the settlement’s name is changed to Nashville.

1823

1833

Nashville begins to install its first city sewer system, with drainage often flowing directly into the Cumberland River and local streams.

Rolling Mill Hill, just south of downtown, is selected as the site for Nashville’s first water pumping station, which provided water from the Cumberland to the city’s growing population.

1818

The first steamboat passes through Nashville via the Cumberland River, marking the arrival of the Industrial Revolution in Middle Tennessee. Due to rapid advances in transportation technology and the central location of Nashville in the American South, the Cumberland River quickly became a key water trading hub.

1850

Steamboat trade on the Cumberland reaches its peak, with 341 boats carrying more than 1 million tons of freight through downtown Nashville. This same year, freight rail service begins in Nashville, initiating the slow decline of the river as a center for commerce.

CUMBERLAND RIVER TIMELINE A Water Quality Advisory Committee was established by The Cumberland River Compact. An open committee was assembled to discuss the water quality of the Cumberland River Basin. The group created a sediment study which found the source of the primary pollutant in the river.

1998

The Titans land in Nashville and build a stadium on the Cumberland’s eastern bank, bringing with it renewed interest in the downtown riverfront.

1958

Nashville’s first water treatment plant is built just north of downtown, keeping the Cumberland free of sanitary sewer system deposits The US Army Corps of Engineers builds the first lock on the Cumberland River, helping to regulate its depth and ensuring its navigability for commercial purposes.

1996

2005

Redevelopment begins on Rolling Mill Hill, transforming vacant industrial spaces to include both residential and commercial properties.

January 2005 – The Plan of Nashville is released by the Nashville Civic Design Center, prompting public re-thinking of the riverfront downtown. Treating the Cumberland River as a central asset to Nashville’s identity is listed second among its ten guiding principles. October 2005 – Mayor Bill Purcell announces a partnership between the US Army Corps of Engineers and Metro Nashville Parks and Recreation Department to develop a master plan for riverfront redevelopment downtown. This effort also included the establishment of a 21-member steering committee of local government and design professionals to help guide the planning process.

NCDC leads public input process, holding three meetings with more then 300 participants

2006

The Ghost Ballet sculpture is installed on the east bank of the Cumberland River, furthering the mission of creating high-quality public space on the downtown riverfront.

2007

Nashville Riverfront Concept Plan is released, summarizing more than a year of public input and professional designs on riverfront redevelopment downtown.

2010

1894

1880s

May 2010 - With a record-shattering 13.5 inches of rainfall in two days, Nashville experiences a 1,000-year flood, as the Cumberland River crests at 51.9 feet downtown. 24 people suffer flood-related deaths in Middle Tennessee and more than 4 years are spent cleaning debris out of the Cumberland and its tributaries.

Many of the commercial buildings in downtown (on Lower Broadway and 2nd Avenue North) are built during this time, catering to increased industrial development south of Broadway during a period of post-Civil War economic expansion. Many of the buildings fronting 2nd Avenue used their river-facing sides along 1st Avenue as loading docks, with shipments often arriving via the City Wharf, located at what is now Riverfront Park.

2015

April 2015 - Mayor Karl Dean sets aside $1.5 million in public funding for a boathouse project, to be matched by private fundraising efforts. July 2015 - West Riverfront Park and Amphitheater open. September 2015 - East Bank Landing opens, increasing public access to the Cumberland River.

VISION Beginning in the late 1990s and continuing through the creation of The Plan of Nashville: Avenues to a Great City in early 2005, city leaders and local residents began the decade-long process of rethinking Nashville’s downtown waterfront. Long used almost exclusively for industrial purposes, the construction of Titans Stadium on the east bank of the Cumberland River acted as a catalyst for a larger discussion about what the riverfront means to Nashville and how it should best be used to satisfy the needs and wants of the city. In late 2005, the Riverfront Redevelopment Steering Committee, a panel of city officials and development professionals appointed by Mayor Bill Purcell and led by The NCDC, began to solicit public input from Nashville residents on what the city’s priorities should be with respect to the riverfront with the intention of building upon the principles outlined in the Plan of Nashville. After three robust public meetings with over 300 participants and more than a year of planning, writing, and reviewing, the Nashville Riverfront Concept Plan was released in January of 2007 by Hargreaves and Associates, the firm that spearheaded the project. The Riverfront Concept Plan outlined several main goals for the downtown riverfront:

•

Use the riverfront as a place for civic activity by enhancing access to the river and creating quality public green space.

•

Use the riverfront district to create a link between adjacent neighborhoods, most notably East Nashville and Downtown.

•

Create a space that is distinctly Nashville, highlighting characteristics that make the city and its people unique while fostering a sense of civic pride in the downtown waterfront.

Underlying the Riverfront Concept Plan’s goals was the belief that “cities with great waterfronts can offer a better quality of life to retain and attract citizens and capital.” The Plan advocated for a myriad of uses along both banks of the Cumberland, proposing everything from parks, open space, and new transportation connections to new commercial and residential development. Most notably, The Plan specifically supported increasing access to the Cumberland River to allow residents to utilize the waterway for recreational boating. Included in The Plan were proposals for both active programming and passive uses of the entire riverfront district, making the space truly multifunctional year-round. Over the many years since the release of The Plan, much of Phase 1 has been successfully completed, with further implementation set to continue in the near future. Cumberland Park, the Bridge Building, and Ascend Amphitheater are just a few components of The Plan that have been successfully implemented. Both the Bridge Building and Ascend Amphitheater are popular hosts for various events, and Cumberland Park is constantly utilized by Nashville residents and visitors. The Nashville Boathouse is currently in the development / planning stages, with many more attractions soon to come. What is arguably most important about the Riverfront Concept Plan is that it was the result of a truly collaborative effort between professionals in government and planning as well as everyday citizens of Nashville. By incorporating public input at each step in the process, The Plan was able to fuse the contemporary needs and desires of residents with the historical master plans that have been drawn up promoting different visions for Nashville’s development, of which there have been more than 100 in the last half-century alone. The Plan represents the most comprehensive effort towards riverfront redevelopment to date, and a downtown boathouse would act as a centerpiece to accomplish The Plan’s goals of bringing Nashville back to the water by helping to create a riverfront that is interactive, functional, and beautiful for residents and visitors alike.

NASHVILLE RIVERFRONT CONCEPT PLAN

The image above is the projected plan for a scenic ambulatory path located on the riverfront directly in front of Titans Stadium. The riverside walk, deemed The Esplanade, would allow Nashvillians to visually engage downtown while physically engaging the river. The Esplanade offers ample surface area for fishing, docking for kayaks and small craft, and a winding pier that is illuminated at night, promoting safe nocturnal riverfront festivities. A wetland between the solid walking path and the winding boardwalk would serve to filter stormwater runoff from the adjacent stadium parking, meaning The Esplanade would actively help keep the Cumberland River cleaner.

As a part of Phase 1 of the Riverfront Concept Plan, Cayce Landing connects the nearby neighborhood of Cayce to the riverfront while providing key amenities to the entire Nashville community. Located beneath the I-24 bridges southeast of downtown, Cayce Landing offers a sports lawn, picnic areas, kayak and small marine craft launching, and greenway connections.

VISION INTO REALITY While the work of the Riverfront Redevelopment Steering Committee has been central in furthering the improvement of the downtown waterfront, it is only one step in the larger process that has created favorable conditions for the installation of a boathouse on the Cumberland River. As mentioned previously, the conscious effort by the city of Nashville to redevelop the downtown riverfront has been ongoing for several years. Beginning in the early 1980s with the completion of the original Riverfront Park at the intersection of 1st Avenue and Broadway on the western bank of the Cumberland River, a continual effort has been made towards redefining the riverfront as civic space that is functional, interactive, and beautiful. To that end, the construction of Titans’ Stadium on the east bank of the Cumberland in 1996 began to bring people back to the riverfront for leisure in large numbers. Just across the river, the formerlyindustrial Rolling Mill Hill neighborhood began to take shape around that same time, with strong residential redevelopment beginning there in 1998. This development continued to take place in the decade and a half following, creating a vibrant residential neighborhood on one of Nashville’s most prominent riverfront sites. Though these individual projects laid the groundwork for future growth along the downtown waterfront, it wasn’t until the mid-2000s that the entire image of Nashville’s riverfront redevelopment began to come into focus. This process was catalyzed by the NCDC’s publication of The Plan of Nashville: Avenues to a Great City in January of 2005, which emphasized the river as central to Nashville’s identity and re-envisioned the riverfront as a place for recreation and civic engagement. In the wake of this publication, as well as the aforementioned Riverfront Plan, the river began to truly come alive, hosting the first annual Cumberland River Dragon Boat Festival at Riverfront Park in September of 2007. That year, 35 teams and more than 800 paddlers competed in boat races on the river, paving the way for other events like the Music City Triathlon and Music City SUP Race to come to the downtown waterfront in subsequent years.

The NCDC introduces The Plan of Nashville: Avenues to a Great City, which emphasizes the Cumberland River as an essential asset to Nashville’s cultural identity.

Redevelopment of the formerly industrial Rolling Mill Hill district begins in 1998. Today, the land plays host to various residences and commercial businesses.

Music City Star Riverfront Station and adjacent Titans Stadium – both key aspects of Nashville’s riverfront

BOATHOUSE DEVELOPMENT It wasn’t just events that started bringing more people back to the riverfront during this time. In the fall of 2006, the Music City Star passenger train began operation, with the line ending at the newlyinstalled Riverfront Park Station. Trains began to bring roughly 1,200 people per day into and away from the riverfront, calling attention to the area as an increasingly central hub of downtown activity. Additional public space development also brought more people to the river’s edge, with Cumberland Park, the East Bank Greenway, and the Bridge Building all opening in 2012. The Nashville Riverfront Concept Plan is launched in 2007, providing a three-phase strategy that will reinvigorate the Cumberland River and enhance Nashville’s image as a waterfront city.

Also in 2012, the Design Center once again assumed a central role in re-imagining the downtown riverfront, hosting the international Designing Action competition. Supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, 133 teams of designers, artists, and students from around the world submitted proposals for a recreation-focused eastern bank of the Cumberland River covering the area just south of Titans’ Stadium. The designs were both ambitious and imaginative, helping Nashvillians visualize the possibilities that their riverfront held if truly re-conceived as a public asset. Most importantly, the projects were required to support the use of the space as a grounds for alternative sports and outdoor activities, a theme consistent with the mission of a riverfront boathouse.

Phase 1 of The Plan begins construction – The Bridge Building and Ghost Ballet sculpture are designed to raise river visibility and encourage riverside activity. The Bridge Building becomes a premier event center.

The final events that set the stage for a downtown boathouse were the completion of West Riverfront Park and Amphitheater in July of 2015 along with continued work on East Bank Landing. These components work to bring Nashville’s residents and visitors alike back to the riverfront by creating high-quality public spaces in what were formerly underutilized sites. A truly water-focused entity like a boathouse would complement the positive changes already seen along the river’s banks, serving to not only bring people to the river’s edge, but also to provide the access points and equipment necessary to actually get people on the water. If Nashville is to continue the momentum behind riverfront redevelopment downtown, then a boathouse represents a logical and practical next step towards that end.

Mayor Karl Dean celebrates opening of Ascend Amphitheater and West Riverfront Park in July 2015. The opening signifies the ongoing effort to bring Nashville back to the riverfront.

WHY A BOATHOUSE

Th o b w C s o

C d a R t L S U r

W b t a s o A a h e a

STAKEHOLDERS The need for a boathouse in downtown Nashville exists not only because of the amenities such a project would provide for the general public, but also because there are many specific organizational stakeholders who would benefit from the installation of a permanent boathouse on the Cumberland River. These organizations include local universities and schools as well as non-profits and recreation clubs, serving a broad range of Nashville residents from numerous backgrounds. Currently, many organizations are forced to look far outside of downtown to find suitable waterway access points for their respective activities. Though their schools may be close to the Cumberland River, many secondary school and university-level crew teams resort to hosting water practices at Hamilton Creek Marina on Percy Priest Lake, requiring more travel time and distance for local students. Similarly, groups like the Nashville Rowing Club and Paddle Adventures Unlimited look to the edges of Davidson County to gain water access, rather than taking advantage of a more centrally-located facility. While the boathouse at Hamilton Creek does provide current users with bathrooms, showers, boat storage and a launch ramp, there is no doubt that an expanded boathouse with improved restrooms and locker rooms, adequate training facilities, permanent boat storage, meeting and office space, and other amenities would drastically improve the experience of many of Nashville’s leading athletic teams and recreation groups. Additionally, organizations like the Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association and the Sierra Club’s Inspiring Connections Outdoors program would have the opportunity to utilize an enhanced boathouse as a community education tool, providing them with a location to teach Nashvillians about our waterways and how to use, protect, and preserve them.

A downtown boathouse featuring an expanded set of amenities would also be welcoming of new stakeholders, thus broadening the appeal of Nashville’s water-based recreational offerings. The installation of an indoor rowing tank would allow crew teams from around the Southeast to utilize the boathouse year-round, as there are currently very few indoor practice facilities in the region. In addition, the provision of permanent storage for a Dragon Boat would allow Nashville to form an official team and capitalize on the rising sport of Dragon Boat Racing (see page 16), something that many of Music City’s peers, including Chattanooga and Charlotte, have already done. Improved facilities would even allow for the creation of a robust disability-adaptive rowing program in Nashville, bringing groups like the Wounded Warrior Project and the Tennessee School for the Blind into the fold. These are just a few examples of the many potential stakeholders who would be able to utilize a new downtown boathouse facility, should one be built. In short, there is an abundance of local and regional organizations that would benefit from a centrally-located and amenity-rich boathouse; and there is no better place for such a community resource than right in the heart of the increasingly vibrant downtown Nashville riverfront. Not only would this facility be able to better serve the needs of existing groups in Nashville, but it would also have the ability to draw new users to the water. These users can include both existing and new Nashville-based organizations, as well as teams and organizations from around the region who aren’t well-served by their own boathouse facilities. Such a facility would be an asset to Nashville’s disparate paddling and rowing groups, and would help foster a true sense of unity among these groups as stakeholders with common interests and needs.

Nashville Rowing Club

Brentwood High School

Vanderbilt University Rowing Club

St. Cecilia Academy

Competition

Academic

Nashville Rowing Club and Nashville Juniors Vanderbilt University Rowing Club

St. Cecilia Academy Montgomery Bell Academy Harpeth Hall School Brentwood High School Metro Nashville Public Schools

STAKEHOLDERS

Nashville Paddle Company

Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association

Lightning 100’s Team Green Adventures

Cumberland River Compact

Recreation

Education

Canoe, Kayak, and Stand-up Paddleboard Outfitters Outdoor Recreation Groups and Meetups Recreation-Seeking Residents and Visitors

Cumberland River Compact Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association Sierra Club’s Inspiring Connections Outdoors

NASHVILLE Nashville is a city that is in many ways defined by its events. From CMA Fest to Music City July 4th, and Tomato Art Fest to the Live On The Green Music Festival, Nashville offers residents and visitors alike an abundance of large-scale events to entertain and engage attendees from all walks of life. Despite Nashvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s location on the banks of the Cumberland River, it is seldom the case that any of these events actually take advantage of the river as an asset. The following are a handful of local festivals and races that directly utilize the river. While these events have had success in accomplishing their missions of getting Nashvillians active, healthy, and engaged in sport, they have been limited by the lack of permanent, hospitable water sport facilities on the riverfront. With the installation of a downtown boathouse, these existing events would be provided with opportunities to continue to grow and thrive. Additionally, enhanced water access and robust facilities would undoubtedly improve prospects for new types of events to flourish, as has been seen in many other urban waterfront districts across the United States.

Cumberland Park, immediately adjacent to the river

Cumberland River Paddlefest in Hendersonville, TN

EVENTS

CUMBERLAND RIVER DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL Nashville, TN Cumberland River Compact

The Cumberland River Dragon Boat Festival was created in 2007 by the Cumberland River Compact as a means of celebrating the Cumberland River and bringing a long-standing waterfront city tradition to Nashville. Held annually as one of The Compactâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main fundraisers, the Cumberland River Dragon Boat Festival brings more than 2,000 paddlers to Riverfront Park each September. The Festival includes a full day of activities that are free and open to the public, ranging from live music and dance to food and other vendors. Throughout the day, teams from local businesses and organizations race in heats to contend for the dragon boat crown, bringing together Nashvillians from many diverse backgrounds for a celebration of community, competition, and sport on Nashvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s central geographic feature.

Years Running: 2007-Present Number of Participants Annually: 2,000+ paddlers on roughly 45 teams, plus hundreds of spectators Economic Impact Generated: $50,000+ raised for the Cumberland River Compact annually, not including money spent at vendors and other local businesses by participants and spectators

NASHVILLE

MUSIC CITY TRIATHLON Nashville, TN Team Magic

Held each July, the Music City Triathlon has called the downtown riverfront home since 2009, though the event has been running annually in Nashville since 1979. One of the few events that actually gets participants in the water, the triathlon features a swim ranging in distance from 400 meters to 1,500 meters, beginning at Riverfront Park in the heart of downtown. Acting as a fundraiser for the Cumberland River Compact, local Boy Scouts of America Troops, the Friends of Cedars of Lebanon State Park, and others, the Music City Triathlon not only serves the purpose of putting the river to use for recreation, but also acts as a means of giving back to some of the community groups that help protect and preserve the river and its associated public spaces.

Years Running: 1979-Present Number of Participants Annually: 900+ Racers and 200+ Volunteers Economic Impact Generated: Nearly $2,500 raised annually for local non-profits, along with more than $100,000 in total race revenue

EVENTS

MUSIC CITY SUP RACE Nashville, TN Nashville Paddle Company

Due to the recent boom in popularity of stand up paddleboarding in Nashville and the subsequent proliferation of gear rental options locally, the Music City SUP Race is a relatively young event. Held on the downtown riverfront during the summers of both 2013 and 2014, the race has featured between 65 and 75 participants annually competing on either 2-mile or 6-mile courses to be the fastest paddlers in their respective divisions. Like many other local riverfront events, the Music City SUP Race supports clean water and enhanced awareness of water quality and access issues by donating a portion of its proceeds to the Cumberland River Compact. Though successful two years running, the future of the event is uncertain due to ongoing construction along the riverfront and a lack of support facilities available for racers, a situation that could be resolved if a permanent boathouse were installed.

Years Running: 2013-2014 Number of Participants Annually: 65-75 Paddlers Economic Impact Generated: $1,500 raised annually to support the Cumberland River Compact

PEER CITIES

FUTURE EVENTS

As can be seen, Nashville currently hosts a plethora of events that would benefit from a downtown boathouse. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more, the potential of the boathouse extends far beyond current events. By offering river access and modern facilities, a boathouse downtown would open the door for new events to come to Nashville, adding new features to the riverfront and surrounding city. These events could become a cultural staple for the city, bringing more residents and visitors to the water to enjoy a greater variety of programming and activities. Additionally, new events bring an economic boost to downtown as businesses strive to capitalize on the increased market for riverfront recreation. These are just a few of the benefits that could accompany the new events supported by a boathouse.

Perhaps most importantly, this evaluation is not mere speculation. Several cities across the United States host a multitude of different events in there river front districts, generating great cultural and economic benefits. Some of these events have even become endemic to the city in which they are held, cultivating the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s image and culture. From annual regattas in nearby Oak Ridge, TN to action sports festivals in Richmond, VA, there is no shortage of events that could be held on the banks of the Cumberland. The following events were selected based on their cultural and economic implications and serve as precedents for activating Nashvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s riverfront. With the waterfront access and facilities provided by a downtown boathouse, events such as these could soon find their way to Nashville.

EVENTS

HEAD OF THE HOOCH REGATTA

Chattanooga, TN Atlanta Rowing Club and Lookout Rowing Club Held at Chattanooga’s Ross’ Landing Riverfront Park annually since 2005, and in other regional venues prior to that, the Head of the Hooch Regatta is one of the world’s largest rowing events, eclipsing 2,000 boats and 9,000 rowers in 2014. The regatta is hosted through a partnership between the Atlanta Rowing Club and the Lookout Rowing Club, and has attracted participants from 200 organizations, 27 states, and a dozen countries since 2005 alone. The Head of the Hooch is also a strong economic driver for the city of Chattanooga, as it is held on the Tennessee River over two days every November, providing opportunities for out-of-town teams to utilize local hotels, restaurants, and other businesses. The finish line is also within walking distance of local attractions like the Tennessee Aquarium and the Hunter Art Museum,

allowing racers and spectators alike to take advantage of some of Chattanooga’s finest cultural institutions. The Head of the Hooch Regatta is a shining example of the type of events that strong riverfront communities can host if they provide the infrastructural support the rowing and paddling stakeholders, and should serve as inspiration for Nashville’s riverfront revitalization going forward. Years Running: 1981-Present Number of Participants Annually: More than 9,000 rowers in 2,000+ boats, in addition to upwards of 15,000 spectators Economic Impact Generated: Estimated $4.8 million in 2012 (1,898 boats raced that year)

PEER CITIES

HEAD OF THE OHIO REGATTA Pittsburgh, PA Three Rivers Rowing Association

Much like the Head of the Hooch in Chattanooga, the Head of the Ohio, held annually since 1986, is one of Pittsburgh’s most successful and longest-running outdoor recreation events. Since 2011, Pittsburgh’s Washington’s Landing Park has hosted the Head of the Ohio Regatta, taking advantage of the amenities provided by the adjacent Lambert Boathouse. A key component of Three Rivers Rowing Association’s mission to promote rowing and paddling through safe, sustainable, long-term programs, the race attracts participants ranging in age from 8 to 80 and provides a competitive forum for teams from more than 75 colleges and universities around the United States. Among the largest one-day regattas in the country, the Head of the Ohio not only supports competitive

racing for all ability levels from Juniors to Olympians, but also provides recreational outlets for adaptive rowing groups that cater to athletes who are physically or visually impaired. Over the last three decades, this event has served to not only celebrate recreation and community in Pittsburgh, but also to act as a key driver in the revitalization of the city’s riverfront district. Years Running: 1986-Present Number of Participants Annually: 2,000+ rowers and thousands of additional spectators

Th b o t d S e C a e

EVENTS

Riverrock Festival in Richmond, Virginia

Dogwood Regatta in Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Cumberland River PaddleFest in Hendersonville, Tennessee

KEY TO THE RIVERFRONT PLAN Though only Washington’s Landing in Pittsburgh features a permanent boathouse, both Chattanooga and Pittsburgh have worked consciously over the last several years to foster vibrant riverfront communities in their respective cities. Should Nashville aspire to host similar events that draw rowers and watersport aficionados alike from around the United States and abroad, it is clear that Music City’s riverfront amenities must evolve. The installation of a permanent boathouse facility on the Cumberland River downtown would provide the increased river access and docking capacity necessary to support these types of large-scale events.

As one piece of the larger riverfront redevelopment puzzle, the boathouse is a key component of promoting a larger watersport culture among Nashville’s residents and visitors on both recreational and competitive levels. Nashville could host its own regatta while drawing events that currently take place on the city’s fringes (like PaddleFest) to the heart of downtown. This would help define Nashville as a riverfront city, creating a new cultural dynamic and generating significant event-based economic opportunities for the city of Nashville as a whole.

PRECEDENTS As can be seen, Nashville has numerous groups and events that would benefit from a boathouse downtown. While the downtown river access granted by the boathouse is important, the amenities, aesthetics, and functionality of the facility itself is critical to the projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall viability. In order to gain a better understanding of what makes a boathouse successful, various architectural precedents were analyzed.

Whether it is providing state-of-the-art amenities that support regional competitions or creating beautiful exterior and interior spaces to be enjoyed by the passerby, a well-designed boathouse carries civic implications that can positively redefine the image, culture, and economy of a city. The various precedents collected exhibit the advantages of providing these facilities and support the socioeconomic validity of a boathouse.

The selected boathouses do more than merely provide water access. They encourage public health by supporting recreational and athletic competition, activate public space both in and around the facility, and revitalize waterways by catalyzing aquatic activity. The specific means by which boathouses provide these civic services are as varied as the appearances of the buildings themselves.

With this in mind, the needs of the citizens of Nashville are of paramount importance. The boathouse will be designed to serve the various stakeholders and general populace of Nashville. Just as the physical building will be designed with Nashvillians in mind, the precedents themselves were carefully selected in response to the specific needs of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stakeholders. The following precedents were suggested by the Nashville Rowing Club and exemplify the recreational potential and urban implications of a modern boathouse.

View of east bank of the Cumberland River, including the Ghost Ballet Sculpture and adjacent East Bank Landing Park

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W C

PRECEDENTS

Waller Creek Boathouse Austin, Texas

G. Garvin Brown III Rowing Center Louisville, Kentucky

WMS Boathouse at Clark Park Chicago, Illinois

Providing a boathouse and an event center

Supporting athletic and recreational competition

Revitalizing a river through recreational access

WALLER CREEK BOATHOUSE Austin, Texas – May 2012 10,800 square feet – $3 Million GSC Architects

Designed by Austin-based GSC Architects, The Waller Creek Boathouse is a public facility that sits on the north shore of Lake Austin. Designed to mimic the hull of a ship, the arching wood and steel roof opens up the south façade, providing visitors with a panoramic view of Lake Austin. An outdoor viewing deck is open to public access, allowing this formerly privileged view of the lake to become the centerpiece of the design. The Waller Creek Boathouse is simultaneously beautiful and utile, attracting the persistent patronage of local organizations.

The boathouse boasts 6,800 square feet of storage space on the lower floor, which allows users direct access to the lake through the adjacent docks. Some of the other amenities of the boathouse include a large exercise/multipurpose room, locker rooms, administrative spaces, vending spaces, and an event space with an outdoor terrace. With such plentiful facilities, the boathouse is available for many different events. From music festivals to corporate and social events, the Waller Creek Boathouse is a public facility that activates the lake front and gives back to the Austin community.

PRECEDENTS The example of the Waller Creek Boathouse is prudent to Nashvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s riverfront and boathouse for several reasons. In addition to being well-designed and visually engaging, the Waller Creek Boathouse is an example of the way in which public buildings can engage the passerby. From the open terrace that offers views of Lake Austin to the rent-able event space, the boathouse engages the people of Austin and offers more than maritime recreation. This same principle of mixed-use space could be applied to a Nashville boathouse, allowing both visitors and locals to enjoy the Cumberland River while providing state-of-the-art amenities for the various stakeholders.

G. GARVIN BROWN III ROWING CENTER Louisville, Kentucky – April 2011 14,000 square feet – $2.65 Million Tucker Booker Donhoff + Partners

Built by Koetter Construction in association with the University of Louisville, the G. Garvin Brown III Rowing Center is a boathouse located on the Ohio River in downtown Louisville. The boathouse is one of the newest additions to the city’s prized Waterfront Park, which is known as the “front door” of Kentucky. The facility offers breathtaking views of the Ohio River as well as downtown Louisville, allowing users to visually engage the city as they train.

Acting as an elite training facility for the University of Louisville women’s rowing team, the boathouse features 4,000 square feet of boat storage, a large exercise room, administrative offices, locker rooms, and a 1,100 square foot outdoor patio. Perhaps most importantly, the facility boasts a 16-person motorized rowing tank. This rare amenity allows the team to train year round, an opportunity provided by few boathouses in the South. The G. Garvin Brown III Rowing Center brings the University of Louisville to the banks of the Ohio River, adding further value to the Waterfront Park that serves as the “front door” to the state.

PRECEDENTS Both the G. Garvin Brown III Rowing Center and Waterfront Park as a whole emphasize the importance of a successful riverfront. An active Cumberland River would become a constant source of entertainment and a gateway to the rest of Nashville. As in the case of the Brown Center, a new boathouse would bring competition and recreation to the heart of Music City. Additionally, a motorized rowing tank would be a tremendous regional draw, attracting organizations from around the South to Nashville. With the proper amenities, the boathouse will function as beacon for activity and recreation that reaches beyond the borders of Davidson County.

WMS BOATHOUSE AT CLARK PARK Chicago, Illinois – October 2013 22,000 square feet – $8.8 Million Studio Gang Architects

Designed by Studio Gang, the WMS Boathouse is a public facility poised on the edge of the Chicago River. With a roof form that mimics the motions of an oar during rowing, the boathouse takes on a potent, eye-grabbing form, drawing the attention of the passerby during both night and day. The tectonic roof form creates many entry points for southern light, which bathes the interior in natural illumination while also helping heat the space in the winter. These same apertures also serve to ventilate the building during the summer, allowing the facility to be highly energy efficient. Wood

paneling is used on the interior to create a feeling of warmth while large windows frame views of the river and the surrounding cityscape. In addition to these aesthetic features, the WMS Boathouse is also incredibly functional. The facility is actually composed of two buildings – a field house that contains most of the amenities and a large shed for the storage of kayaks, canoes, rowing shells, and small motorized marine craft. The field house features a large exercise room, multipurpose room, administrative offices, and a 16-person motorized rowing tank.

PRECEDENTS The multipurpose room can be rented by the people of Chicago for private use, and kayak and canoe rentals are offered by the Chicago Rowing Foundation. In this way, the boathouse provides amenities for the Chicago community while activating the underused riverfront â&#x20AC;&#x201C; both of which are key goals of the project. Much like Nashville, Chicago is currently pursuing the recreational revitalization of their riverfront. One of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first moves was the construction of not one, but two boathouses to be completed within three years of each other. A boathouse provides increased access to the river, something downtown Nashville lacks. The boathouse would also establish the Cumberland River as an area of recreation and play, a notion that is supported by only a handful of structures on the river. As shown by the WMS Boathouse, establishing a facility for maritime recreation is an important first step in the revival of the Cumberland River.

THE OLD

The current boathouse used by many Nashvillians is the Hamilton Creek Boathouse located on Percy Priest Lake. While the boathouse at Hamilton Creek provides basic amenities (restrooms, boat storage, showers), a downtown boathouse would boast more facilities and promote increased flexibility within the program. From large groups like the Nashville Rowing Club to individuals seeking maritime recreation, the number of people who require access to water is large â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and becoming larger. The Nashville Rowing Clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s membership enjoyed a 248% increase from 2013-2015. With more people becoming interested in maritime recreation, the Hamilton Creek boathouse is simply not large enough to accommodate all users. The size of the docks, availability of parking, and amount of storage are just a few areas in which the Hamilton Creek Boathouse is lacking. With this in mind, an updated and conveniently-located boathouse in the heart of downtown Nashville is needed.

Approach to Hamilton Creek Boathouse - a relatively steep incline and largely gravel paving limit handicap accessibility

Dry docking and storage - vessels are stored outdoors adjacent to the boathouse and exposed to the elements - crew teams must leave rowing shells on trailers outside

Current storage beneath boathouse

Wet docking and storage - kayaks and other small vessels are openly stored underneath the boathouse itself, leaving vessels exposed to the elements and relatively unsecure

PROGRAM THE NEW

The purpose of the new boathouse is to provide storage space for nonmotorized water craft and support facilities for individuals or groups who are paying to store their equipment there. Outreach efforts for the boathouse will provide opportunities to the underprivileged in order to help anyone interested in using the space.

Provide access to the Cumberland River for individuals or groups involved in recreation activities

2 Storage space provided for non-motorized water craft as well as access to rental equipment

3 Provide facilities for special events like races, regattas or festivals - Concessions/kitchen - Restrooms - Outdoor spectator and event space

- Racks for Nashville Rowing Club (NRC) rowing shells (32 shells; NJRC â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 64 shells) - Racks for oars and paddles - Racks for kayaks and canoes - Paddleboards - Storage for safety equipment

4 Provide facilities for clubs and groups

- Ergs Fitness and Equipment - Locker rooms - Restrooms - Showers

Provide administrative and multiuse space - Conference rooms - Offices - Interior event space

6 Recreational outfitter - Provide services for renting equipment and vessels - House event spaces available for rent

This new boathouse would be considerably larger and offer more facilities and flexibility, lending itself to a greater variety of programmatic functions. As previously mentioned, the storage options within the new boathouse would be larger and more varied, allowing for a greater number of diverse watercraft to be housed on site. In addition to improving basic amenities, the new boathouse would provide exercise spaces, conference rooms, and administrative offices for coaches or staff. The boathouse would also provides facilities (such as concessions and an outdoor spectator space) for special events like races, regattas, and river festivals. Additionally, more updated ADA facilities would allow for adaptive rowing programs for disabled users, such as The Tennessee School for the Blind, Wounded Warrior Project, and other organizations. The downtown boathouse could also feature an indoor rowing tank â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an asset few boathouses in the South have. This would be a tremendous regional draw, bringing business from nearby cities and states to both the boathouse and downtown Nashville. With a myriad of new facilities and programmatic enhancements, A new boathouse in the heart of downtown Nashville is a much-needed improvement over the existing facilities at Hamilton Creek. By supporting new facilities and programs, a new boathouse would activate the Cumberland River, providing access to the iconic Nashville Riverfront.

– Previously Considered Site – UT Student Work Site – Final Boathouse Site – Existing or Future Greenways [1] – Proposed Boathouse Sites [2] – Ascend Amphitheater + West Riverfont Park [3] – Cumberland Park [4] – Proposed Cayce Landing

PROPOSED SITE Consideration for a potential site included four areas along the east and west banks of the Cumberland River. After much consideration over the course of 2014, a final site was proposed. The site is southeast of downtown, located on the west bank of the Cumberland River between I-24 and the riverside railroad tracks. The proposed site is superior for many reasons. The location of the site in the heart of downtown is key, as this will help reinvigorate the river and the surrounding city. Additionally, the site is expansive, providing ample space for the boathouse, parking, and other amenities. Finally, the grade of the proposed site is more amiable than the other sites, gently sloping toward the edge of the water. In addition to these general benefits, the site allows the boathouse to join an interconnected network of key attractions along the Cumberland. Through an expanded system of greenways, the boathouse will be connected to Cumberland Park as well as the new Ascend Amphitheater and West Riverfont Park. Additionally, the site is directly across the river from the proposed Cayce Landing, effectively establishing a sector of the river that is dedicated to maritime recreation. Essentially, the boathouse will be a literal harbor for maritime activity, connecting various Nashville landmarks through the Cumberland River and activating the riverfront. In order to further explore the design potential of the new boathouse, the Nashville Civic Design Center partnered with the University of Tennessee College of Architecture and Design (UTCoAD). The resulting projects researched the civic possibilities and urban implications of a new boathouse, offering many varied perspectives and solutions to the issue of riverfront access. UTCoADâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s site, located east of the Korean Veterans War Memorial Bridge, was under heavy consideration for the final site until recently. Directly across from Ascend Amphitheater, the site examined by the students is also adjacent to the neighboring Cumberland Park, allowing for an interconnected network of riverfront spaces.

View of downtown from just east of the proposed site (I-24)

Ascend Amphitheater

Award-winning UTCoAD student proposal for the boathouse

UT KNOXVILLE COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN

STUDENT WORK After the NCDC, the Nashville Rowing Club, and the Metropolitan Nashville Parks Department discussed the redevelopment of the Cumberland River, the NCDC partnered with the University of Tennessee College of Architecture and Design (UTCoAD) faculty members William Martella and Robert French to develop ideas for a boathouse project along the Cumberland River. The following projects are the finalists from the advanced architecture students. On Tuesday, December 11, 2012, the finalists presented their work at the NCDC. The projects start with the American Institute of Architects Middle Tennessee Design Award winner, with the rest of the projects listed alphabetically afterward. The site for UTCoAD’s Nashville Community Boathouse project is immediately to the east of the Korean Veterans War Memorial Bridge, on the east side of the Cumberland River. The site is connected to Cumberland Park, the last part of The East Bank redevelopment and The Bridge Building via an on-grade parking lot located beneath the bridge. Additionally, the site is extremely close to Titan’s Stadium and the adjacent East Bank Landing, connecting the proposed boathouse to both new and old Nashville landmarks. It is at the south end of the Riverfront Plan study area which is still in the development stage. The site also relates to the NCDC’s 2012 Designing Action International Design Competition, which supports active lifestyle and alternative sports.

This project marks just one of the dozens of bodies of work that have come to fruition through the NCDC’s partnership with the University of Tennessee College of Architecture and Design. These two entities have worked closely together on various urban design projects since the Design Center’s inception in 2000. Through this partnership, the NCDC and Nashville as a whole have acted as a laboratory for the students to see and experience the issues and opportunities that confront urban areas and to work towards developing solutions to improve these places. By allowing students the opportunity to create projects that address realworld scenarios, the Nashville Civic Design Center is helping to foster the growth and development of the next generation of urban planners and designers. Upon completion of their projects, each student had a tangible piece of work to add to their respective design portfolios, paving the way for their entry into the professional field. Other urban design projects that have resulted from this partnership include proposals for a new Centennial Park Visitor Center, an in-depth study on micro unit housing, and a series of works on transit-oriented development, among many others.

DANIEL ZEGEL “The design intent for the boathouse draws upon the tobacco farms that cover the rural landscape south of Nashville.

Tobacco is hung, dried, and stored inside the barns where air can breathe easily into the space. In addition to these barns, the work of Brian MackayLyons’ Ghost Projects and Samuel Mockbee’s Rural Studio became catalysts for the boathouse’s form, structure and space. Many of their projects exude this rural, barn-like quality. The spaces created are open, filled with light, and begin to blur the boundary between what is interior and exterior. All of these ephemeral characteristics are just as integral to the building’s design as the arrangement of the program.”

STUDENT WORK

CHELSEA COLE â&#x20AC;&#x153;The concept of this project is to combine landscape with building design. Because the Riverfront Master Plan is related to developing landscape, the proposed boathouse design continues this language. The esplanade was a major driver for the design. It plays off the axis that may have been proposed from the Cumberland Park design. It also cuts through the site and creates an interaction between the park circulation and the boathouse.â&#x20AC;?

STUDENT WORK DANIEL CREMIN “On the edge of the Cumberland River, parallel to the future esplanade, and adjacent to LP Field, there is a long copper volume containing Nashville’s Boathouse. Two tall floors contain mainly boat storage on the bottom floor, along with public facilities above. The boathouse also houses a few offices and a boat repair bay... Contrary to conventional buildings, its scale is indeterminate (floor divisions are not recognizable), so that the configuration is able to take up a specific relation with the river running parallel.”

CORY GRIFFIS Deriving inspiration from the shifting motions of rowers and their boats, this project uses sliding to create an architectural form that floats on the waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge. Just as rowers slide through the water, the two volumes of the structure slide past one another, creating points of entry. Light is diffused by a horizontal shading system on the exterior, allowing for an interior bathed in natural, gentle light.

STUDENT WORK CLAIRE KISTLER â&#x20AC;&#x153;The boathouse creates a deviant from the flow of the esplanade and entices the pedestrian into the building. It is a literal bend in the flow and in the center where the water begins to swirl, there is life and movement. The buildings are pulled apart to create this center space that is a place to celebrate the movement of the boats... This building is not just a single statement; it is a continuation and a beginning along the Cumberland esplanade.â&#x20AC;?

ANDREW LAKATOSH â&#x20AC;&#x153;The design of the boathouse is oriented to the Cumberland riverfront as to maximize views toward the water. The screened form above appears to float above the glass. From the water and downtown Nashville, it becomes a lantern reflecting off the water and for the park. From the ground, it serves as a display for the boat storage celebrating rowing for the viewer. From the interior, the structure and screen represent the rhythm of rowing as well as directing views to the Cumberland River.â&#x20AC;?

STUDENT WORK RUSHIKA PATEL â&#x20AC;&#x153;Located in a rapidly developing area of downtown Nashville, the Rowing Association Boathouse is meant to reach out to the people of the city as not only an encouragement for more physical activity, but also as a place for gathering and interaction. The long, linear form of the boathouse is inspired by the proportions of a racing shell which are extremely narrow and long. The west side of the building starts with an entrance loggia that opens up to Cumberland Park. A separate viewing promenade is added to the project which would be used by spectators for viewing races.â&#x20AC;?

TIM PIERCE With an emphasis on views from the site and connections to the riverfront, this project both visually and physically connects the visitor to Downtown Nashville. The composition of the project is derived from a central spine of light to which the remainder of the program is attached. This spine comes in the form of a light-filled atrium that acts as the circulatory core of the building. From this core, visitors are encouraged to explore the remainder of the boathouse and the city of Nashville.

STUDENT WORK CHRISTIAN POWERS Positioned on the waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge, this project takes on an organic roof form, embodying the fluidity of the adjacent river. This roof form shades the faĂ§ade of the building, preventing excess heat gain. Additionally, the roof provides covered outdoor space for recreational activities and the organization of marinecraft.

WILL ROLAND â&#x20AC;&#x153;Three major drivers emerged in designing the boathouse: circulation of boats and people throughout the site, referencing the formerly industrial nature of the site while acknowledging traditional boathouse construction, and maintaining a connection with the proposed Nashville Riverfront Plan. The Esplanade is continued from Cumberland Park through the site to provide additional pedestrian traffic, while terraces sloping toward the river pay homage to similar ideas within the Nashville Riverfront Plan.â&#x20AC;?

STUDENT WORK SHAINA SEABOLT â&#x20AC;&#x153;For decades the river was primarily used for industrial purposes. This look into the past began to shape the idea for materiality in designing this boathouse. Concrete in a boardform is used on the lower level to have the illusion of being embedded into the riverbank, while the upper levels are wrapped around a corten steel that ribbons its way through the entire plan of the building. Two monumental identities connect this boathouse to Nashville: the Cumberland River and the Veterans Memorial Bridge.â&#x20AC;?

SERGEY SHUTT With wrap-around porches and large amounts of glazing, this project connects boathouse users to the surrounding site by offering points of physical and visual access. In addition to the boathouse, the site is filled with recreational fields and basketball courts, allowing it to promote various forms of activity. With copper cladding, the facility becomes a reflective beacon poised above the water, raising visibility and beckoning activity.

STUDENT WORK ALEX STINCHCOMB “The new Nashville Community Boathouse aspires to manifest the character, culture and vibrancy of the sport of rowing and the city of Nashville. The building is separated into two main parts – boat storage and public spaces – creating the ideal proportions for establishing a rhythm of space and structure. The various spaces of the building are serviced through a central core; the new boathouse binds the city, landscape and rowing into one unified experience.”

MICHAEL WASYLIW

This project features two volumes connected on the second story by a walkway, forming a breezeway below. This breezeway would help keep visitors cool during the summer months when the riverfront is most active. With the breezeway and positioning of the glazing, the building exudes light at night, sustaining activity long after the sun has slipped beneath the horizon.

STUDENT WORK OVERVIEW

While these were the top-rated student proposals, other students of UTCoAD proposed more projects, some of which can be seen here. The work of the students exemplifies the vast potential that a boathouse possesses. The boathouse would not only be a place for launching watercraft, but also a place for small concerts, dinners, formal and casual events, and other recreational activities. From multi-seasonal recreation to waterborne transportation, the boathouse is intended to be a multipurpose facility that will enhance activity in downtown Nashville. While the boathouse can take on many forms, the outcome will be the same â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a focal point for the Riverfront Plan that puts Nashville residents and visitors back on the Cumberland River.

BEYOND A BOATHOUSE SOCIOCULTURAL BENEFITS

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES

In addition to linking downtown to adjacent districts, the boathouse would also serve to further environmental efforts and clean water initiatives across the city. With an increase in aquatic activity, more Nashvillians will become conscious of the ecological status of Tennesseeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rivers. By providing river access downtown, the boathouse will allow groups like the Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association (TSRA) and the Cumberland River Compact to educate the public and help keep the Cumberland clean. River cleanups and other environmentally engaging activities could become a common sight downtown, engaging residents and visitors alike. Increased river activity would draw more attention from the general public and environmental organizations, prompting the maintenance of higher water qualities in the Cumberland River.

Examples of the economic benefits of riverfront revitalization can be seen throughout the nation. The Chesapeake Boathouse initiated the revival of the riverfront in Oklahoma City, and its performance is impressive. The boathouse has attracted national regattas, collegiate competitions, and even Olympic qualifying events. Additionally, over 80 companies now have rowing teams that compete regularly. This area is even known as the Boathouse District, emphasizing the centrality of the boathouse in the identity of the riverfront neighborhood as a whole. Perhaps most importantly, the boathouse spurred additional riverfront development. Most recently, a $45.2 million whitewater park was approved that is projected to bring nearly $2 million in jobs to the area. Oklahoma Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s riverfront has become a lucrative economic asset as well as a premier destination for recreation, and the boathouse was the critical first step in this transformation.

More than just a building that houses boats, the installation of a boathouse would have far-reaching implications that could change the dynamic of downtown and the surrounding districts. From a purely pragmatic perspective, the boathouse would provide water access and docking space on the riverfront, allowing for the convenient docking or launching of personal watercraft. The implications of this simple feature are staggering. With a convenient place to launch or dock watercraft, the Cumberland River would become a blueway, an aquatic counterpart of the Greenway trail system, connecting downtown to nearby neighborhoods via the river.

Chesapeake Boathouse in Oklahoma City

While the boathouse offers many recreational and educational benefits, it will also help support businesses and special events along the river, creating a river-focused economy on the banks of the Cumberland. As previously mentioned, the boathouse would allow for competitions and regattas to be held on the Cumberland River. This would make downtown Nashville a hub for waterborne sports and recreation, with annual events that would potentially generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits.

Proposed Riversport Rapids Whitewater Rafting and Kayaking Center in Oklahoma City

Camden County Boathouse

BENEFITS

Another example of the economic validity of a boathouse can be found on the banks of the Cooper River in New Jersey. The Camden County Boathouse, which opened in July 2006 just outside of Philadelphia, has become an economic and cultural staple of the community. The boathouse supports 12 rowing regattas annually, attracting around 35,000 racers and over $8 million in revenue to the city every year. Additionally, the boathouse has become a premier destination for weddings, increasing its economic value. Just like the Chesapeake Boathouse, the Camden County Boathouse has also spurred millions of dollars of riverfront development.

In addition to the arrival of various businesses on the river, the river access provided by the boathouse would also change the game-day dynamic of one of Nashville’s most lucrative franchises – the Tennessee Titans. Currently, festivities at the stadium consist of tailgating, draft parties, and other land-oriented activities that are endemic of Nashville’s NFL Sundays. With the access provided by the boathouse, these festivities could now also take place on the riverfront just outside of Titans’ Stadium. Coupled with the planned docking space at East Bank Landing and The Esplanade near the stadium, game-day festivities would spill out into the water, enriching the fans’ experiences.

As in the case of these precedents, the increased activity along the river would serve to raise riverfront property value in Nashville, prompting businesses to engage the aquatic commercial district. This could come in many forms, from residential development to riverfront restaurants. Scenarios like this exist across the country, including many in the state of Tennessee. Knoxville’s riverfront is undergoing a similar revitalization process, and restaurants, residences, and other business endeavors are taking advantage of the valuable riverfront property. Their success is apparent, as riverfront eateries and apartments are champions of their respective fields in downtown Knoxville. In any case, with the boathouse as the hub, the Cumberland River would become a new avenue of activity on which businesses could establish themselves.

Game days on the riverfront are already an economic asset in Knoxville. The Vol Navy, as residents have come to call it, is an economic and cultural staple of football season in Knoxville. When the Tennessee Volunteers gear up for Saturday SEC football, the banks of the Tennessee River are loaded with everything from massive yachts to personal kayaks as fans partake in aquatic festivities. This has opened the door for restaurants, sports bars, and riverboat companies to capitalize on this riverfront phenomenon. With all of the sociocultural and economic opportunities offered by the boathouse, its critical role in enhancing the fabric of downtown cannot be overstated.

Proposed changes to the riverfront adjacent to Nissan Stadium - Urban Forest and Esplanade schemes

Game day on the Tennessee River in Knoxville, TN

Riverfront restaurant in Knoxville, TN

The Cumberland River has been a key factor in the founding and growth of Nashville over the last three centuries. The 2007 Riverfront Plan represents one step in the larger process towards maximizing Nashville’s most underutilized geographical asset. The Plan advocates for the creation of a riverfront that celebrates active lifestyles and alternative sports, making downtown Nashville a central hub for rowing, canoeing, kayaking, and more, each of which are growing in popularity in Middle Tennessee. Creating a place to engage in these activities in downtown Nashville would not only promote an increasingly active populace, but would also catalyze further economic development in the surrounding metropolitan districts. By bringing the stakeholders closer to downtown and providing the facilities needed for these activities to flourish, Nashville can hold more events that get people back on the water and put the river to use, potentially generating millions of dollars in additional revenue every year in what is already Nashville’s most vital commercial district. Looking to other cities in Tennessee and elsewhere provides great insight into the potential that Nashville’s downtown riverfront holds. Paul Gaigelas, “Head of the Hooch” announcer and organizing committee member, attributes a large part of the success of this Chattanooga-based race to the accessibility of the river from the hotels in the city. “The ability for the teams to walk from their hotel room to the site is unique when it comes to rowing courses. I think [the location] is why the regatta’s grown so much since we’ve moved here.” Downtown Nashville boasts numerous recently completed hotels, with several more on the way that are either planned or under construction. Having an abundance of hotel options available within walking distance of the river will continue to place Nashville’s visitors close to the river’s edge, providing a key ingredient for the success of events like rowing regattas while further highlighting the centrality of the river as a major component of the overall Nashville experience. In addition to the importance of walkability to and from the riverfront, the river itself can act as a means of moving people into and through downtown. Given the continued growth of the popular greenway system and bike rental stations around downtown, a

proposed blueway system would compliment these existing amenities and allow both visitors and residents of Nashville to utilize the river as a transportation medium. As previously mentioned, the blueway system would be an aquatic counterpart to the already established riverfront greenway system, with rental kiosks for kayaks and other watercraft located at multiple points along the waterfront. A downtown boathouse would become a key stop along the blueway and act as a hub for the system as a whole, allowing users to dock or launch their watercraft from this facility. With a blueway system in place, various landmarks, historic sites, and other areas of interest could be visited via the Cumberland River. Once patrons paddled the entire length of the blueway, the greenway system and bike kiosks would allow users to swiftly and safely walk or bike back to the heart of downtown and beyond, creating opportunities for a robust and convenient recreation and travel experience in Nashville’s economic and cultural core. Whether used for recreation, transportation, or as a space for events and civic engagement, a boathouse on the downtown riverfront must be designed and executed with The Plan of Nashville’s “Ten Principles” in mind, as they represent key metrics for successful and sustainable urban development in Nashville: 1. Respect Nashville’s natural and built environment 2. Treat the Cumberland River as central to Nashville’s identity - an asset to be treasured and enjoyed 3. Reestablish the streets as the principal public space of community and connectivity 4. Develop a convenient and efficient transportation infrastructure 5. Provide for a comprehensive, interconnected greenway and park system 6. Develop an economically viable downtown district as the heart of the region 7. Raise the quality of the public realm with civic structures and spaces 8. Integrate public art into the design of the city, its buildings, public works and parks 9. Strengthen the unique identity of neighborhoods 10. Infuse visual order into the city by strengthening sightlines to and from civic landmarks and natural

NCDC RECOMMENDATIONS In summary, the construction of a boathouse on the Cumberland River downtown is a key step in the reclamation of the riverfront as a vital commercial and residential district for the city of Nashville. By bringing people back to the river, a boathouse will help to highlight the riverfront as one of Nashville’s defining features and put to use an asset that has long been underutilized throughout the city’s history. Though just one piece in the larger riverfront redevelopment puzzle, it is hard to imagine a successful future downtown riverfront without the Cumberland River as an active and engaged waterway, and the installation of a public boathouse is essential in the accomplishment of these ends.

Small kayak storage unit – similar units could be used along the blueway

Proposal for a central bike sharing station in Nashville - would function similarly to boathouse, becoming a bike outfitter for downtown

Proposed blueway system that connects various areas of Nashville. #11 represents the proposed boathouse site.

PHOTO CREDITS PAGE

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Nashville Skyline Graphic Nashville Paddle Company Outing Cumberland River Timeline Esplanade and Cayce Landing Plan of Nashville Meetings Music City Star Riverfront Station Rolling Mill Hill Development Riverfront Plan Phase 1 Bridge Building and Ghost Ballet Ascend Amphitheater Opening Why a Boathouse Montage TSRA River Float Dragon Boat Festival Team Dragon Boat Festival Rower Vanderbilt University Rowing Club Nashville Rowing Club Regatta Vanderbilt University Rowing Club Brentwood and St. Cecelia Rowing Team Green River Cleanup CRC River Cleanup Kayak’s View of Downtown Nashville Cumberland Park Cumberland River PaddleFest Dragon Boat Festival Dragon Boat Festival near Ghost Ballet Music City Triathlon Biking and Swimming Music City SUP Race Future Nashville Events Montage Nashville Skyline

Jonathan Nowlin, NCDC Intern Trey Lewis Jonathan Nowlin and Dillon Dunn, NCDC Interns Hargreaves Associates, et al – Nashville Riverfront Masterplan Nashville Civic Design Center trains.com LittleJohn Engineering Hargreaves Associates, et al – Nashville Riverfront Masterplan Nashville Metro Parks – Photo: Aerial Innovations of Tennessee The Tennessean – Shelley Mays Dillon Dunn, NCDC Intern Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association The Tennessean Cumberland River Compact Vanderbilt University Rowing Nashville Rowing Club Vanderbilt University Rowing – Sam Friefeld Nashville Rowing Club Team Green Adventures – Bill Kuhn Cumberland River Compact – Paul Davis Flagship Kayaks USA WSMV News Wildside TV The Tennessean Cumberland River Compact Team Magic – Sports in Motion Photography Kayla Boys Dillon Dunn, NCDC Intern Fridrich and Clark Realty

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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Oak Ridge Regatta Dogwood Regatta Riverrock River Slackline 1 Head of the Ohio Regatta Head of the Hooch Regatta Riverrock River Slackline 2 Riverrock Kayak Launch PaddleFest Kayak with Dog Panoramic of Cumberland River Waller Creek Boathouse Patio University of Louisville Rowing Team WMS Rowers and Boathouse at Night Waller Creek Boathouse University of Louisville Rowing Team G. Garvin Brown Workout Facilities Aerial View of Louisville Riverfront WMS Boathouse Hamilton Creek Boathouse Boathouse Program Graphic Nashville Boathouse Site Plans View of Downtown from Boathouse Site Ascend Amphitheater Award-Winning UTK Student Work UTCoAD Student Work and Presentations Chesapeake Boathouse and Rafting Center Camden County Boathouse Nissan Stadium on the Riverfront Riverfront Restaurant in Knoxville Blueway System and other images on page

Oak Ridge Today Oak Ridge Rowing Association Richmond Times Dispatch – Phil Riggan Three Rivers Rowing Association Atlanta Rowing Club Venture Richmond Style Weekly – Sports Backers Wildside TV Dillon Dunn, NCDC Intern Waller Creek Boathouse University of Louisville Rowing – Lucy Cowden Steve Hall – Hedrich Blessing Photography GSC Architects The Louisville Cardinal University of Louisville Athletics Department John Gollings Photography Steve Hall – Hedrich Blessing Photography Dillon Dunn, NCDC Intern Jonathan Nowlin, NCDC Intern Dillon Dunn, NCDC Intern (aerial views provided by Google) Dillon Dunn, NCDC Intern Aerial Photography (2015) University of Tennessee College of Architecture and Design University of Tennessee College of Architecture and Design Oklahoma City’s Boathouse District Camden County Board of Freeholders Hargreaves Associates, et al – Nashville Riverfront Masterplan Patriot Photography NCDC