Nashville International Airport (BNA) is expanding to keep up with the city’s growth. Its administration has developed a master plan to expand and to meet standards for a world class facility. Hawkins Partners has played an integral role in this planning and visioning process and is actively shaping several phases of the airport property. One of them is a new pedestrian and visitors’ plaza that opened in early 2021; it connects the new, short-term parking garage with the existing terminal as well as with a new administration building, both designed by Moody Nolan, that will serve BNA administration and TSA staff.

Most travelers will take a tree-lined, covered walkway straight through the plaza towards the terminal, If time allows, some will meander through the new sculpture garden, sit at a table to eat or work or let their dog enjoy a romp at the dog park before or after a long flight. Charmingly, Hawkins Partners has designed an oversized, modern set of swings in the plaza, introducing the idea that the airport plaza is Nashville’s front porch, welcoming and bidding farewell to travelers.

Hawkins Partners also designed a verdant terrace on the north side of the new administration building where airport administration and TSA Staff can eat, work and meet outdoors. A new Hilton Hotel is planned to complete the plaza, and longer term, the site design will allow the integration of a future light rail transit system