Mass timber buildings up to 18 stories high will now be allowed in the Music City.
Nashville Mayor John Cooper recently signed into law new ruled regulating mass timber construction in Nashville, adopting standards set by the 2021 Edition of the International Building Code (IBC) and the 2021 Edition of the International Fire Code (IFC). California enacted the same codes in July 2022.
Before the new regulations, Nashville allowed for a maximum building height of six stories for mass timber developments. The new standards “will allow certain subtypes of mass timber developments a maximum height of 18 stories,” according to an August 8 press release published by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.
Nashville already has a number of large mass timber buildings complete or under construction, including an 18,500 square-foot, two-story office building for The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee; the 122,000 square-foot, five-story office building by Panattoni Development Company on Music Row; and the city’s largest mass timber building so far, a 200,000 square-foot Class A office space called Nashville Warehouse Co., completed by AJ Capital Partners in August 2021.
An article by Ryan Gandolfo for Capital Analytics Associates, published in November 2022, describes why Nashville is making space for mass timber.
FULL STORY: Metro Adopts Updated Mass Timber Construction Standards
Nashville Doesn’t Renew Bike Share Contract, Citing Lost Federal Funding
The city’s bike share system, operated by BCycle, could stop operating if the city doesn’t find a new source of funding.
Honolulu Community College Celebrates Culture and Sustainability
Honolulu Community College brought together more than 320 students, staff, and community members for a day of Hawaiian cultural activities, music, and sustainability-focused learning at its annual Hoʻolauleʻa celebration.
Creating Ocean-Safe Plastic from Seashells
USC researchers have created a biodegradable, marine-safe plastic alternative using calcium carbonate from seashells, offering a promising solution to ocean pollution.
Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network
The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.
Seattle’s Pike Place Market Leans Into Pedestrian Infrastructure
After decades of debate, the market is testing a car ban in one of its busiest areas and adding walking links to the surrounding neighborhood.
The World’s Longest Light Rail Line is in… Los Angeles?
In a city not known for its public transit, the 48.5-mile A Line is the longest of its kind on the planet.
Quantifying Social Infrastructure
New developments have clear rules for ensuring surrounding roads, water, and sewers can handle new users. Why not do the same for community amenities?
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions