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Prime (801 Church)
Part of the Nashville Yards development and among the city’s ten tallest buildings, 801 Church—also known as Prime—was designed to reflect evolving expectations for urban living. DeSimone served as structural engineer for the 38-story residential tower, delivering a system that includes three below-grade parking levels and a full-floor amenity level at Level 11.
The building’s striking form, composed of stacked volumes, echoes its sister project Alcove. Originally designed and constructed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the tower prioritizes access to light, outdoor space, and work-from-home comfort, with many units offering balconies and built-in desk nooks.
| Client | Giarratana Development |
|---|---|
| Architect: | Goettsch Partners |
| Size | 38 Stories | 455 Feet (139 M) tall | 596,000 SF (55,370 SM) | 350 Units |
| Sustainability | Utilizes CarbonCure concrete and post-tensioned slabs to reduce overall carbon footprint |
| Office: | Chicago |
| Completion: | 2023 |
Structurally, the building is cast-in-place concrete with post-tensioned slabs. The deep rock excavation—60 feet (18 M)—required for the three cellar levels introduced significant complexity, especially where jagged perimeter conditions had to be addressed during foundation and substructure work.
DeSimone also designed a central core that accommodates a parking bay on the south side and stairwell on the northwest—maximizing leasable space. Alternating floor stacks throughout the tower required careful coordination of multiple slab types to accommodate differing layouts and loading.
The concrete mix used CarbonCure technology to lower cement content and reduce embodied carbon. This, combined with post-tensioned slabs that minimized overall material use, helped the project achieve a measurable reduction in concrete yardage and carbon tonnage.
