If you stand at the corner of Broadway and 8th and look in both directions, you see a Nashville that looks very different from what it did just a decade ago. According to recent census data and local development reports, Nashville is consistently ranked as one of the fastest-growing metros in the country. Our city sees nearly 100 people moving here every single day.
For 93 years, Crain Construction has had a front-row seat to that transformation. More than that, we’ve had the privilege of helping shape it. As a Nashville-based contractor with deep local roots, our work reflects both where the city has been and where it is going.
When we look back, a few projects stand out. Not just for their size or scope, but for the stories behind them.
New Construction Projects: Building Nashville from the Ground Up
TownePlace Suites
On paper, TownePlace Suites on Charlotte Avenue was a 220,000 square foot hotel on a tight downtown site. In reality, it meant building on top of a 100-year-old sewer tunnel, the oldest and longest combined sewer and stormwater tunnel in the city.
That required a level of coordination you don’t see every day. A third-party inspector worked alongside our team to monitor anything happening near the tunnel. Every step had to be deliberate. The building was ultimately designed so Metro Nashville can still access the tunnel if repairs are ever needed. It’s one of those jobs where careful planning made all the difference.
Aertson Midtown
At 17 stories and 600,000 square feet, it was one of the largest projects in our history and one of the early anchors of Midtown’s growth.
The site itself told the story. Less than two feet separated the building from a neighboring restaurant. A busy state highway ran alongside it. Vanderbilt’s campus and medical center sat just steps away. There wasn’t much room for error or excess.
Our team had to think creatively from day one. Every delivery, every phase of construction, every interaction with neighboring properties required communication and coordination. It pushed us to problem-solve in real time and stay mindful of the community around us.
Hampton Inn & Suites in SoBro
Some projects are memorable because they represent a first. The Hampton Inn & Suites in SoBro was one of the first buildings in what has now become one of Nashville’s most active districts. At the time, the area looked very different. That project also marked our first hotel build.
It opened the door to long-term relationships and growing a sizable portfolio of hospitality projects. Looking back, it’s interesting to see how that one project helped position us for the work we do today.
Hilton Garden Inn Vanderbilt
Speed and precision defined this project. We had just 16 inches of clearance between our hotel tower and an adjacent condominium building. This was zero lot line construction next to a major four-lane road. Despite the material delivery logistics and the pressure of residential neighbors, we finished the nine-story hotel and its four-story parking garage in just nineteen months. That included all demolition and sitework from day one.
Home2Suites Vanderbilt
We pride ourselves on staying ahead of the curve. This seven-story hotel was built with sustainability as a priority. We used recycled materials for lobby walls and solid surface tops. The project features high-efficiency windows, solar shades, and even a permanent on-site recycling center. It is a modern building designed for a city that cares about its future.
Adaptive Reuse and Renovation Projects: Giving History a Second Act
Acme Feed & Seed
Acme is a Nashville icon. This 1890s building at the foot of Broadway sat vacant for over 20 years before we got our hands on it. Today, it’s a four-story entertainment venue with a rooftop that looks out over the Cumberland River.
Bringing it back required more than construction. It required coordination with multiple Metro departments and careful planning around major city events like CMA Fest and the Fourth of July. Work had to continue while thousands of people filled the surrounding streets.
The goal was to preserve the building’s character while giving it a new purpose. We renovated it to historic standards, and it remains a proud part of the National Register of Historic Places.
The Fairlane Hotel
Originally a bank headquarters, the building was transformed into a boutique hotel with a mid-century modern feel.
One of the biggest challenges came early. Before any new work could begin, we had to remove massive mechanical systems from the existing structure. There was no easy way to do it. Equipment had to be cut into manageable pieces, moved by hand, and taken down to the elevators one load at a time. It’s the kind of work that isn’t always seen, but it plays a big role in the final result.
St. Cloud Corner
This project sits on the corner of 5th and Church and was formerly Harvey’s department store. We renovated it decades ago, converting it into office space while working through significant structural challenges.
What makes that project stand out is a bit more personal. Our former CEO, Lewis Rankin, remembered visiting the building as a child when it was still a department store. That personal attachment turned a hard job into a rewarding milestone. It reminds us that we aren’t just working on buildings. We are working on our own history.
Built on Relationships and Ready for What’s Next
When you look across these projects, one thing stands out. No two are the same. They are all widely different sites with different challenges and different goals.
What stays consistent is how we approach the work. We bring the responsiveness of a local contractor who knows the city and its people. At the same time, we bring the experience and structure needed to deliver complex projects at a high level. Our team grew up here. We’ve built relationships with owners, architects, and trade partners over decades. That trust shows up on every job.
Nashville will keep changing. The skyline will keep evolving. We’re grateful to have been part of the story for the past 93 years, and we’re looking forward to what comes next. If you’re planning a project in Nashville, we’d be glad to sit down and talk through it with you. Contact our team today to schedule a conversation with us.
