Nashville, Tennessee, USA
After decades of abandonment and deterioration along the banks of the Cumberland River, Nashville’s historic Neuhoff meat-packing plant has been transformed into a vibrant mixed-use destination.
At the heart of the revitalized 14-acre Neuhoff District stands the Curve Building, a remarkable adaptive reuse project that honors the site’s industrial heritage while embracing a new urban future.
Neuhoff Curve Building by Smith Gee Studio, won an American Architecture Award 2025 from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design.
Located in Nashville’s historic Germantown neighborhood, an area shaped by its industrial roots and immigrant communities, The Neuhoff Abattoir and Packing Company was founded in 1906 by German settlers Henry and Lorenz Neuhoff.
As one of the city’s earliest meat-processing facilities, the plant became a major employer and economic engine for the neighborhood.
Its success fueled decades of growth, and by the 1930s Neuhoff products were distributed throughout the Southeast.
The company’s prominence eventually attracted Chicago-based Swift & Company, which acquired the facility and continued operations until 1979, when consolidation efforts led to its closure.
For nearly forty years, the abandoned complex suffered extensive fire and water damage.
Yet the McRedmond family, which ultimately acquired the property, recognized its extraordinary character and historical significance.
Their commitment to preserving the site laid the foundation for one of Nashville’s most ambitious preservation efforts.
In the late 1990s, they established the Nashville Cultural Arts Project (NCAP), a nonprofit initiative dedicated to exploring the future of the Neuhoff campus through art, architecture, and public dialogue.
Over the years, architects, artists, and cultural leaders were invited to envision new possibilities for the site, transforming perceptions of the neglected industrial complex.
Following years of planning and numerous redevelopment proposals, the family partnered with a development team that shared their vision for preservation.
Together, they launched a $550 million mixed-use redevelopment that would retain the spirit of Neuhoff while introducing new opportunities for work, dining, recreation, and community engagement.
The Curve Building serves as the centerpiece of this transformation. Constructed in nine phases throughout the twentieth century, the five-story structure evolved alongside the plant’s operations.
Built along a curved rail spur that once serviced the site, the building developed into a complex network of interconnected spaces, ramps, passageways, and catwalks.
Its irregular geometry and varied construction methods presented significant design and engineering challenges, requiring an adaptive and highly responsive renovation process.
Rather than erase the building’s history, the design team embraced it. Selective demolition removed irreparably damaged sections while preserving defining architectural elements.
Original brick floors, drainage channels, structural components, and approximately 65 percent of the steel windows were restored and reincorporated into the project.
Salvaged materials were reused throughout the site, while sustainable strategies—including energy-efficient systems, water conservation measures, and a green roof—contributed to the project’s LEED BD+C Core and Shell Silver certification.
Today, the Curve Building accommodates offices, retail spaces, restaurants, and public gathering areas that animate the district throughout the day.
A carefully integrated modern core supports contemporary use while contrasting with the building’s weathered industrial fabric.
New terraces open toward the Cumberland River, creating connections between architecture, landscape, and history.
Through thoughtful preservation and adaptive reuse, the Curve Building has become a powerful symbol of renewal.
Its transformation demonstrates how architecture can preserve memory, foster community, and create meaningful places for future generations while ensuring that the soul of a historic landmark endures.
Project: The Neuhoff Curve Building
Architect of Record: Smith Gee Studio
Design Architect: S9 Architecture
Design Team: Hunter Gee, Omar Bakeer, Kristen Gruhn, Claire Monette-Weil, Andy Berry, John Clifford, Cannelle Legler, and Dryden Razook
General Contractor: JE Dunn Construction Group
Client: New City Properties, LLC.
Photographers: Christopher Payne, Seth Parker, and New City Properties
