The Donelson Branch Library of the Metro Nashville Public Library system serves as a neighbourhood landmark and driver of long-term revitalisation. A community hub, the library is located within Donelson Plaza, a 1960s-era shopping centre being reimagined as a transit-oriented town centre. Together with its public lawn, the building supports efforts to reinvest in Donelson as a walkable, civic-focused district while preserving the area’s cultural identity.
Architecture rooted in context
Designed by HASTINGS Architecture, the building draws from the mid-century character of its surroundings, referencing ‘atomic age’ motifs and graphic design principles. Geometries are composed through a restrained palette of brick, glass, and breezeblock. White brick panels are arranged in argyle-like patterns, echoing the graphic language of the era, while breezeblock, a storied mid-century material, provides passive solar shading along the southern façade. These elements establish a contemporary building grounded in local history.
Climate-responsive form and passive strategies
Sustainability informed the library’s architecture, contributing to its achievement of LEED Gold certification. Responding to solar orientation and the axial connection to Lebanon Pike, the southern façade is articulated to form a shaded, recessed entry. A roof overhang creates a protected front porch and shaded gathering space. The porch ceiling is finished in ‘haint blue’, a regional vernacular reference that reinforces the building’s cultural resonance while supporting thermal comfort at the entry.
To support the project’s site Energy Use Intensity (EUI) target, a 33.3 kW rooftop photovoltaic array provides on-site renewable energy. The system is designed using a grid-optimised strategy suited to Nashville’s climate, reducing operational carbon and supporting long-term energy performance.
Daylighting, interior organisation, and user comfort
The interior layout prioritises clarity and flexibility. Service and staff functions are located along the western side of the building, while open library spaces occupy the eastern portion. Windows on the east and west façades balance daylight access with glare control and views. The northern elevation utilises diffused daylight, featuring a fully glazed, double-height reading room at the centre of the plan. Interior spaces support a range of uses, from quiet reading to community programming, while maintaining visual connectivity and ease of navigation.
Landscape, energy, and hidden infrastructure
A change in grade across the site allows primary parking to be located below the building, freeing the ground plane for a front lawn. This outdoor space supports reading, events, and public art commissioned in collaboration with Metro Arts Nashville. Beneath the lawn, building infrastructure operates out of sight. Thirty geothermal wells extend 500 feet into the ground, using stable earth temperatures to heat and cool the building year-round. This system reduces energy demand and operational emissions while improving occupant comfort.
