Inside The Striking Redesign Of Nashville International Airport

As one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., the country-music capital needed to modernize and expand its airport. Corgan developed a phase program to achieve this at Nashville International Airport, with the third stage focused on renovating the terminal lobby and constructing an international arrivals facility—a 4.4 million-square-foot project completed in collaboration with Fentress Architects. By replacing common friction points with open spaces, double-height volumes, and ample natural light, the transformed hub offers travelers a more comfortable and efficient experience. A 50-foot-high glass box creates a dramatic “front door” to the airy lobby, where a wood-slat ceiling, punctuated by narrow skylights, evokes the frets of the city of Tennessee’s trademark: the guitar. A large central oculus suggests a sound hole, completing the musical allusion while illuminating a suspended sculptural installation by Jacob Hashimoto. The cascading assemblage of 9,000 washi paper kites references local iconography, architecture, and natural features, further grounding Nashville International Airport in its regional identity.

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