As Nashville continues its rapid growth, so does the demand for modern, high-quality residential spaces. The 1111 Church project—a striking 25-story apartment and retail tower in the heart of downtown—meets this need with sophistication and purpose. With its contemporary design and vast scale, 1111 Church exemplifies the evolution of Nashville’s skyline.
Charter Construction had the honor of serving as the lead concrete subcontractor for this monumental project, led by Yates Construction. 1111 Church involved more than 32,000 cubic yards of concrete, 2,100 tons of rebar, 638,000 pounds of post-tension cable, and 700,000 square feet of concrete slabs.
Building Strong Foundations Through Collaboration
1111 Church marked Charter Construction’s first project with Yates Construction, and the partnership proved crucial for successfully tackling the scale and scope of such a prominent build. The project demanded over 238,000 hours of work, all in a bustling downtown environment with limited room for error.
The ambitious scope of this project meant close coordination was key, and since it was our first time working with Yates, building strong communication from the start was essential. The size and complexity of 1111 Church left little room for delay, so our team worked hard to solve challenges in real time, ensuring we hit all major project milestones. To keep that momentum, we made open communication with Yates and other stakeholders a priority, creating a collaborative environment where everyone could problem-solve together efficiently.
Blending Structure and Architectural Style
One of the most distinctive aspects of 1111 Church is its concrete-forward architectural design. Throughout the 25-story structure, the concrete columns along the perimeter of the building are fully exposed, allowing the concrete itself to play a starring role in the tower’s aesthetic. This design choice meant that our concrete work would be highly visible, requiring meticulous attention to finish quality and detail.
Typically, structural concrete components are concealed, but the design for 1111 Church brought them front and center, creating a dramatic, industrial look. For our team, this was an exciting challenge. We had to think creatively about our approach to the layout of the post-tension cabling, shifting the slab-edge anchors out of the portion that would be visible from outside the building. Care had to be taken at the construction joints at the perimeter to keep the exposed columns and slabs looking clean and visually stunning. From the initial stages, we tailored our methods to ensure that the concrete columns, which run up the entire side of the building, would enhance the overall facade. This required careful planning and technique to achieve a finish that could meet structural demands while also withstanding aesthetic scrutiny.
Overcoming Unexpected Challenges in Real Time
Maintaining the project schedule was essential, especially given the high-profile nature of the 1111 Church development. Early on, we ran into an unexpected issue: some existing power lines scheduled for removal were still in place. Since parts of the structure couldn’t be built with those lines there, we faced a potential delay that could have impacted the entire timeline.
Instead of waiting, we took a proactive approach. Our team conducted a detailed scan of the area to identify the precise locations of the power lines and incorporated this data into our digital model. By working closely with the design team, we devised a solution to adjust our project sequencing. This approach allowed us to build the main structure of the tower around the power lines, keeping the project on track.
Once the power lines were removed, we returned to complete the remaining areas. This flexibility and problem-solving mindset kept the project moving forward, helping us meet the tight schedule and deliver on our commitment to excellence.
Contributing to Nashville’s Skyline
The 1111 Church project stands as a testament to Charter Construction’s dedication to quality, innovation, and collaboration. Working alongside Yates Construction on a project of this magnitude was a rewarding experience, and it strengthened our team’s capabilities as we navigated unique challenges, embraced innovative designs, and worked proactively to keep everything on schedule.