ruraljuror

I think the picture was taken from across Demonbreun so that 12th would run down toward the Icon just out of the framing on the left side of the picture. If that's the case, then we're looking across the empty Eakin lot which is why the building seems set back so far.

Wow. I was sure those pictures had some kind of processed effect. In any case, very cool.

What kind of camera/filter/processing are you using, UTgrad? That's the good kind of surreal.

I agree that they most likely looked into doing this on the old convention center site as well as other locations downtown and in lower broadway, but given that they chose to write 'Midtown' across the front of the building, I think they may have chosen to go in another direction. Of course, that could just be a result of the whims of the rendering designer or even a deliberate red herring, but I think it's more likely that they did it on purpose. In either case, I doubt either the mayor or the House of Blues would view the gulch as being as uniformly pretentious as other people might. The black spot on the right of the rendering could definitely be the Ryman's gabled roof and whatever's in the lower left of the rendering could easily be the edge of the bridgestone peeking out. I assumed that the gabled roof shadow was a place holder for the Farifield, and I have no good explanation for what could be the Bridgstone other that what I listed in my previous post. That said, as far as evidence goes, I think the Midtown sign and the background towers' resemblance to the Terrazzo and Icon are more telling of the rendering's intent than shadows and road grading.

Thanks! The way I see it, this whole complex is nestled between the Terrazzo and the forthcoming Fairfield Inn. The 'Midtown' sign is designed to attract the attention from 40w/65N traffic as they're heading toward the Demonbreun which will be especially effective with 12th and Laurel there, as well. The House of Blues is counting on those passers-by, too. And the fact that it's shaped like the body of an acoustic guitar makes me think that this concept either predates the convention center, or they're trying to create a consistent structural motif along that stretch of the highway and apparently aren't worrying about overdoing the concept (though they maybe should be). That said, I'm not sure what's going on with the pedestrians and cars in the lower left hand corner of the rendering. If I"m right about the location, they're all walking straight toward the interstate. It could be just stock borders that the rendering artist just threw in to paint a more complete picture. It could also be a pedestrian bridge or something to connect with 12th, but that seems unlikely. If it's anything, I'd guess its either a little park or some art or a sound barrier, but the more obstruction that's there, the less effective the Midtown sign and House of Blues location will be, so who knows.

Long time listener, first time caller. I think the rendering posted in the thread shows the back of the Icon and the Terrazzo in the background.