Corporate environments typically reference a brand aesthetic paired with contract furnishings to support staff as they perform their daily tasks. When architects envision their own spaces, they often strive to capture a seamless blend of form and function that mirrors the firm’s signature structures.
When the Powell team envisioned their own headquarters, they decided to create a contemporary workspace that doubles as a showcase of their capabilities. “As an architecture, design, and construction firm, we wanted to bring our clients into a space where all of that was fully integrated and to show them what we can do,” says Katie Vance, partner and chief creative officer at Powell.
Located in the Berry Hill neighborhood, home of Nashville’s design district, two ordinary parcels were transformed into a three-story story structure that houses Powell’s spaces and those of another tenant, a luxury functional medicine and movement studio.
Fine craftsmanship sets the tone as soon as visitors enter the building through a first-floor lobby, where they are welcomed through an 11-foot custom white oak door. The area opens into a glass entryway punctuated by exposed steel, enlivened by terrazzo tile in shades of peach, black, cream, and hunter green.
Powell’s 3,806-square-foot office space is on the second floor. Yet rather than simply emphasize a few interiors with distinct colors and signage, this section is immersive and warm, with bold visual moments layered in. “We have a series of vignettes that you see in hospitality environments, like an amazing lounge or a booth that feels cozy,” notes Luke Tidwell, Powell partner and CEO. “These are the same types of spaces that we create, but in a smaller form.”
The studio serves as a gallery filled with unique elements produced by 13 local makers, who also frequently collaborate with Powell. In the lounge, comfortable seating is paired with a Pullman-style upholstered booth. A custom bodega-like bar sits across the room. Clad in tile, it features playful design iconography with items that begin with the letter P (for Powell, of course), including pizza, a pirate, and pretzel.
The marquee conference room is decorated with a bespoke wallpaper from New Hat, with hues and details inspired by Powell’s completed projects, each represented in its own rectangle. Greenery adds vibrancy throughout the workplace, while glass walls let light in and maintain a connection to the outdoors.
More than a place to work, Powell’s headquarters is a dimensional narrative and a living prototype that will continue to evolve alongside the firm.
To see other works by the firm, visit powellnashville.com.
Photography courtesy of Emily Dorio.
