An Architect’s Guide to Nashville
We’re so glad you’re here in Nashville for our annual conference! We’ve worked hard to make this year’s event both enriching and enjoyable. To help you make the most of your time in Music City, we’ve included a few special resources on this page designed to connect you with the local culture and spirit, ensuring a memorable experience both inside and outside the conference walls.
Nashville offers a fascinating blend of historic charm, modern creativity, and natural beauty. To help you explore it, we are thrilled to share a specially curated map. A group of local design enthusiasts has highlighted noteworthy spots across Music City, from striking architecture and inspiring interiors to coffee shops, bars, and unique spaces that celebrate design in all its forms. The map also includes recommendations for some of the city’s most beloved parks and greenways, perfect for taking in Nashville’s outdoor charm. Whether you are seeking iconic landmarks, hidden gems, or places to unwind, this map is your guide to discovering the vibrant character of Nashville.
The Grand Ole Opry Driving Tour, hosted by Nashville native Kelleigh Bannen, traces the history of the Opry from its beginnings as a 1925 radio broadcast by WSM to its current status as a cornerstone of country music. The tour, which celebrates the Opry’s upcoming 100th anniversary in 2025, was co-authored by Belmont graduate Anna Catherine Markham in consultation with museum curator and historian Brenda Colladay. It guides participants through key locations, including the Ryman Auditorium, to tell the story of legendary performers and the broader narrative of country music in Nashville. The tour can be taken as a driving or virtual experience.
Get into the Music City spirit with our exclusive conference playlist! Curated by Sophorn Kuoy Olsen with fantastic contributions from our keynote speakers, this playlist is designed to set the perfect tone for our event. Sophorn is still open to more collaborators, so if you have a favorite tune that captures the energy of Music City, she’d love to hear it!
Kim Yao
“Water Fountain” Tuneyards
“Break-Thru” Dirty Projectors
“God Knows” Tunde Adibimpe
“On Division Street” Nation of Language
“Queen of the Bees” Jack White
“Knockin’ Heart” Hamilton Leithauser
“Fisher Island Sound” Beirut
Nader Tehrani
“Just a Little Talk with Jesus” Bluegrass Cardinals
“Foggy Mountain Breakdown” Joe Maphis
“Salty Dog Blues” Benny Martin and Josh Graves
Sophorn Olsen
“Wagon Wheel (Live at the Ryman)” Old Crow Medicine Show “Nashville Skyline Rag” Bob Dylan
“Breezeblocks” alt-J
“I Will Remain” Matthew and The Atlas
“Dear August” P.J. Harding and Noah Cyrus
“Together” The Raconteurs
Pascale Sablan
“Sounds of Blackness” Optimistic
Joshua Aidlin
“Hallelujah” Rufus Wainwright
