Located on the bustling corner of Second Avenue and Broadway, Chief’s Bar has become the gateway to Nashville’s legendary honky-tonk scene. Opened in the spring of 2024 by country music star Eric Church, the six-story venue is a stunning blend of historic charm and modern innovation. For Charter Construction, this project presented a unique opportunity to merge cutting-edge construction techniques with the preservation of a 130-year-old brick façade.
Andrew Lee, Charter’s Senior Project Manager, led the charge on this challenging build. Looking back, he shared how excited he was to take on a project that blends construction with a piece of Nashville’s history.
Preserving Historic Charm with Modern Precision
Chief’s Bar isn’t your average construction project. The building’s original 3-wythe brick walls and metal shoring towers had supported its structure for decades. One of the primary goals was to preserve this historic façade while seamlessly integrating a new concrete structure within it.
“This was no small task,” Andrew explained. “When you’re dealing with historic buildings, you’re often navigating nuances like hand-stacked walls and settling, which can make the process tricky.”
Charter’s team first utilized a 3D LiDAR scanner to capture the existing contours and imperfections of the walls. The scan revealed that the space within the walls was smaller than the design team had anticipated.
“This was a really valuable revelation for the project,” Andrew noted. “We were able to share those insights with the general contractor and design team, allowing them to orchestrate a structural redesign that kept the project on budget and schedule.”
The proactive approach avoided potential delays and ensured the new structure was perfectly aligned with the historic elements of the building.
Reimagining Formwork in Challenging Conditions
Forming the bond beams for Chief’s Bar was another challenge that demanded innovation. With limited space—sometimes as narrow as three inches between the new structure and the existing brick walls—Charter’s team had to think outside the box.
To address this issue, Superintendent Ethan Bruce developed a unique solution using Stayform, a galvanized metal-wire material, to form the bond beam soffits.
“Ethan’s always thinking about creative ways to solve problems,” Andrew said. “He’s become a great formwork superintendent, and his solution was instrumental in keeping the project moving forward.”
The team’s ingenuity and attention to detail ensured the new structure was securely anchored to the historic brick walls while maintaining the building’s aesthetic integrity.
Celebrating Craftsmanship and Collaboration
For Andrew, Chief’s Bar wasn’t just a project—it was a chance to bring new life to a historic building. As his first project as a project manager for Charter, the experience was both challenging and rewarding.
“Whenever I walk into Chief’s, I recognize it as one of the nicest establishments on Broadway,” Andrew said. “It’s hard not to feel a sense of pride knowing you and a great team played a part in building it.”
Chief’s Bar stands as a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to excellence. For Charter Construction, it’s another proud chapter in their ongoing journey of shaping Nashville’s skyline. The partnership between Charter, Bell Construction, and the design team resulted in a venue that honors Nashville’s rich history while creating a modern space for locals and visitors to enjoy.