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Ryman Auditorium Renovation and Expansion
Ryman Auditorium_Street view of Historic Ryman Auditorium renovation_HASTINGS Architecture_Dusk

The historic Ryman Auditorium is regarded as the Soul of Nashville and 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 through a significant restoration initiative that also included a new “front-of-house” addition featuring a new entrance, lobby, restrooms, and retail. Over 20 years later, the success of the venue outgrew the 1993 addition, necessitating yet another expansion and renovation that included The Soul of Nashville Theatre, a new state-of-the-art, 3D theatrical experience. The Soul of Nashville reimagines the Ryman daytime tour experience in a new 100-seat theater custom built for the show. Created in collaboration with BRC Imagination Arts of California, The Soul of Nashville utilized cutting edge technology to surround the audience with moving images on multiple projector planes to place them in the center of the show.

Through special effects, archival images and footage, performers from the Ryman’s past become multidimensional right before the viewer’s eyes. Darius Rucker, The Fisk Jubilee Singers, Sheryl Crow, and Vince Gill appear in the film. The attraction is hosted by a virtual Lula C. Naff, the Ryman’s longtime promoter and manager (1904-1955). During her time, she brought the greatest performers and Broadway plays of the day to the venue and ushered the Grand Ole Opry into the Ryman in 1943, where it resided until 1974.

Ryman Auditorium_New Soul of Nashville Theater_HASTINGS Architecture

This 22,000-square-foot project, part renovation, and part new addition, reimagines the patron experience by enlarging and improving the main lobby, retail, ticketing, and restroom areas while adding a new “3D pre-tour theatre” space, café and event space, and back-of-house offices.

Because this project expands the addition previously completed in 1993, the design capitalizes on the opportunity for new branding. The latest addition is a balance between the continuation of the existing architecture (including a 1000-square-foot custom perforated copper feature wall) and a more contemporary glass “pavilion” stretching out to 4th Avenue to create new visibility from Broadway.

Ryman Auditorium_Entrance to the Ryman Auditorium_HASTINGS Architecture
Ryman Auditorium_Renovated concessions at the Ryman _HASTINGS Architecture
Ryman Auditorium_Retail experience
Ryman Auditorium_Renovated entrance to the Ryman_HASTINGS Architecture
Location
Nashville, Tennessee
Size
22,000 square feet
Client
Ryman Hospitality Properties
Recognition
AIA Gulf States, Merit Award
AIA Tennessee, Merit Award
AIA Middle Tennessee, Honor Award
Metropolitan Historical Commission, Preservation Award
Photography
Albert Vecerka, Esto
Videography
Spirit of Space
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