Foster + Partners is designing a green campus for Oracle, the American multinational technology company, on the Cumberland River in Nashville, Tennessee.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held to launch the project, which will transform an industrial site into the company’s Global Headquarters, with expansive green spaces that connect people with nature.
Covering approximately 70 acres and 1.2 kilometers of waterfront, the development features five office clusters, which are positioned around the edge of a vast lake and floating amphitheater.
Gerard Evenden, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners, said: “The campus will be a dynamic hub for Oracle and a new destination for the people of Nashville. We are greening the industrial site and restoring its biodiversity, while introducing acres of green space and amenities that give back to the city. Interconnected office clusters carefully balance private and communal spaces – and ensure employees retain a relationship with nature at every level.”
A new bridge crosses the river to connect the campus with the Germantown neighborhood – joining up with a pedestrian pathway that hugs the lake and weaves through the office clusters. The scheme also includes an auditorium, as well as a visitor center, logistics hub, and the first Nobu hotel in Nashville. The project introduces 16.5 acres of public green space, including a two-acre park, a plaza with retail, and a multi-modal green loop that wraps around the site.
The design team is working closely with ecologists to create a range of different ecological zones across the campus. Water enters the lake from streams that meander through the office clusters to create a serene working environment. The design encourages sustainable mobility with pedestrian routes and bicycle lanes that take Oracle employees through a flourishing nature reserve to their lakeside offices. Due to the site's location in a flood zone, all critical infrastructure is elevated above flood levels, with car parking tucked underneath the buildings. With more than 1,900 trees and habitats designed to support biodiversity, the campus is targeting LEED Gold certification.
The different buildings within the office clusters are connected by a uniform deck level and a network of elevated bridges that offer scenic views of the natural surroundings. The architectural design is inspired by the city’s industrial heritage and breaks down the massing of the traditional office to create a series of more personalized spaces for different teams, while still retaining a strong sense of community. Each cluster has its own amenities, such as libraries and dining facilities, to promote inter-departmental collaboration. The office buildings provide fully customizable spaces to meet different needs, feature light-filled atria, and offer strong visual connections to nature throughout.
Overlooking the lake and amphitheater, an elevated auditorium will be a venue for larger gatherings and events during the summer months.
