Construction was recently completed on a 325-acre luxury farm resort in Franklin, Tenn., that is dedicated to agricultural innovation and sustainable, productive land use. With sustainability a key goal, The Inn and Spa at Southall was built with cross-laminated and heavy timber, and a geothermal variant refrigerant flow (VRF) heating and cooling system.
The four interconnected buildings totaling 95,000 sf feature 62 guestrooms, an executive boardroom, 15,000 sf spa, all-day dining restaurant and bar, and a 3,700 sf signature seed-to-fork restaurant, January, featuring items grown on-site. Many guestrooms include wood-burning fireplaces, exposed wood beams, and large windows overlooking the natural landscape.
Cross-laminated timber (CLT) and heavy timber were used to frame the structures. Sloped CLT for the lobby eliminated the need for cross bracing and framing to create a large, open space at the main entrance.
The HVAC system employs a water-source geothermal variant refrigerant flow (VRF) system. This system consists of 110 geothermal wells 400 feet deep under the parking lot connected to a geothermal loop within the building. The geothermal system is also used to produce hot water for the guestrooms, spa, and kitchens.
Conceived seven years ago as a biodynamic working farm, Southall, located near Nashville, includes orchards, greenhouses for hydroponic production, and a seasonal farm stand. The working farm employs both advanced farming technologies and heritage farming techniques—from hydroponics and aquaculture to rotational grazing, permaculture, and terracing—to create a farm of the future with an old-world reverence, according to a news release.
Southall also includes an event center and 16 standalone cottages. Outside of the sustainable working farm and luxury resort, 97% of the property will be maintained as green space.
“Southall’s emphasis on nature and sustainability drove the design, construction and material selection,” said John Sheridan, Executive Vice President of McHugh Construction. “We’re so accustomed to going vertical and building luxury hotel and mixed-use projects in urban areas with tight construction sites; the opportunity to apply our hospitality expertise in building a five-star resort among the bucolic rolling hills of Middle Tennessee was an honor, a challenge and, frankly, a magical experience.”
On the building team:
Owner and/or developer: Paul Mishkin
Design architect: 906 Studio Architects + Interiors
Architect of record: 906 Studio Architects + Interiors
MEP engineer: MMEA Engineers
Structural engineer: McHugh Engineering Group
General contractor/construction manager: McHugh Construction
Related Stories
Mass Timber | Mar 17, 2024
Timberlab to build its first mass timber manufacturing plant
The facility anticipates continued demand growth.
Mass Timber | Feb 21, 2024
The future of mass timber construction will depend on codes, costs, and climate change
Hines and DLR Group are moving forward on multiple projects using engineered wood.
Mass Timber | Feb 15, 2024
5 things developers should know about mass timber
Gensler's Erik Barth, architect and regional design resilience leader, shares considerations for developers when looking at mass timber solutions.
Mass Timber | Jan 2, 2024
5 ways mass timber will reshape the design of life sciences facilities
Here are five reasons why it has become increasingly evident that mass timber is ready to shape the future of laboratory spaces.
Airports | Dec 4, 2023
4 key innovations and construction trends across airport design
Here are some of the key trends Skanska is seeing in the aviation sector, from congestion solutions to sustainability.
Mass Timber | Oct 27, 2023
Five winners selected for $2 million Mass Timber Competition
Five winners were selected to share a $2 million prize in the 2023 Mass Timber Competition: Building to Net-Zero Carbon. The competition was co-sponsored by the Softwood Lumber Board and USDA Forest Service (USDA) with the intent “to demonstrate mass timber’s applications in architectural design and highlight its significant role in reducing the carbon footprint of the built environment.”
Mass Timber | Oct 10, 2023
New York City launches Mass Timber Studio to spur more wood construction
New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) recently launched New York City Mass Timber Studio, “a technical assistance program to support active mass timber development projects in the early phases of project planning and design.”
Mass Timber | Sep 19, 2023
Five Things Construction Specialties Learned from Shaking a 10-Story Building
Construction Specialties (CS) is the only manufacturer in the market that can claim its modular stair system can withstand 100 earthquakes. Thanks to extensive practical testing conducted this spring at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) on the tallest building ever to be seismically tested, CS has identified five significant insights that will impact all future research and development in stair solutions.
Mass Timber | Sep 1, 2023
Community-driven library project brings CLT to La Conner, Wash.
The project, designed by Seattle-based architecture firm BuildingWork, was conceived with the history and culture of the local Swinomish Indian Tribal Community in mind.
Mass Timber | Jul 11, 2023
5 solutions to acoustic issues in mass timber buildings
For all its advantages, mass timber also has a less-heralded quality: its acoustic challenges. Exposed wood ceilings and floors have led to issues with excessive noise. Mass timber experts offer practical solutions to the top five acoustic issues in mass timber buildings.
