Pullman Gulch Union

The Challenge

Pullman Gulch Union was conceived as a landmark residential tower anchoring a three-phase mixed-use development at the gateway between Downtown Nashville and The Gulch neighborhood. HKS was commissioned to design this second-phase tower to stitch together the pedestrian experience between the Gulch, Broadway, and Music Row districts, delivering a 24-hour live-work hub. A unique challenge emerged mid-project when the developer pivoted from rental apartments to for-sale condominiums, creating Nashville’s first new high-rise condos in the Gulch since 2015. This required HKS to nimbly adapt the design and amenities to cater to an underserved luxury condo market while staying on schedule and within budget. The project’s urban site added complexity in coordinating construction logistics and integrating with existing and future phases of the Gulch Union master plan.

The Design Solution

HKS’s design solution is a 29-story contemporary condominium tower that gracefully responds to its prominent site and market needs. The sleek glass and precast facade high-rise features street-level retail and an active podium, enlivening the sidewalk and bridging to the surrounding neighborhood. To appeal to discerning condo buyers, HKS incorporated an incredible array of amenities including a rooftop 29th-floor sky club with a pool overlooking downtown, a sixth-floor indoor-outdoor amenity terrace with pickleball courts, green spaces and fire pits, a fitness center, co-working lounges, and even a dog park and pet spa.

The tower’s form maximizes panoramic views of downtown, Midtown, and the rolling hills beyond, with floor-to-ceiling glass and multiple corner balconies. In aesthetic homage to The Gulch’s industrial past, the podium is clad in textured metal panels and brick tones, providing warmth and human scale at the street.

HKS collaborated closely with Turner Construction (General Contractor) and engineers Brockette Davis Drake (structure), Hawkins Partners (landscape architect) and Catalyst Design Group (civil) to realize the complex design within a tight two-year construction timeline. Key development partners included Endeavor Real Estate Group (Austin-based developer) and investment partner Long Wharf Capital, who together championed the shift to condos to fill Nashville’s condo supply gap.

The Design Impact

Pullman Gulch Union’s design and market positioning yielded immediate positive impacts on Nashville’s real estate scene. Even before construction completion, the project secured over 100 condominium presales ( more than $70 million in volume), representing a sales pace of about 15 contracts per month – outperforming the rest of Nashville’s high-rise condo market (averaging 11 sales per month). This strong buyer response, with many units snapped up by local Nashvillians prior to public launch, validates the development strategy and underscores pent-up demand for new for-sale, high-rise residences. The first occupants moved in by July 2024, right on schedule.

By delivering a “thoughtfully designed, quality product” in a prime location, the tower not only achieved brisk sales but also set a new benchmark for luxury living in the Gulch. The mix of more attainable price points (units from the mid-$400k’s up to multi-million-dollar penthouses) broadened homeownership opportunities in a downtown market that often priced out local buyers.

Beyond its own residents, the project contributes to neighborhood revitalization, completing a critical link between The Gulch and surrounding districts and adding street-level retail and café spaces that enhance walkability and urban vibrancy. As Endeavor notes, the Pullman tower’s success is poised to “have a positive ripple effect on Nashville’s real estate ecosystem,” setting a precedent for innovative, sustainable urban development. Together with the 90%‐leased Phase I office building and a future hotel/residential Phase III, Gulch Union is transforming this once-vacant block into a dynamic, round-the-clock destination where people can live, work and shop.