Opened in August 2023, Earl Swensson Associates (ESa) designed the Jack C. Massey Center’s six-story, 138,000-square-foot building to serve as Belmont University’s new, dedicated campus welcome and admissions center for prospective students and visitors. Named in honor of business leader Jack C. Massey, it also is home to the Belmont Data Collaborative, the Transformational Innovation Hub and the Cone Center for Entrepreneurship, and includes offices, computer science classrooms, Bruin Bites café and a campus spirit store.
“Situated on top of an existing, subterranean parking garage, the facility reflects the established campus context and completes the main campus quad, while its verticality creates a new monumental viewing point of the surrounding campus,” described ESa.
Framing these views, Alexander Metals installed Tubelite 400 Series Curtainwall system in 6- and 7.5-inch depths, and wide stile entrances. Promoting transparency and connection in the building’s indoor public spaces and large, inviting lobby, Tubelite INT45 interior framing systems also were installed. Along with outdoor views and interior daylight, the curtainwall’s high thermal performance supports the Center’s energy efficiency and comfort. These advantages can assist with its anticipated LEED v4 certification through the U.S. Green Building Council.
Contributing to the sustainable and aesthetic attributes of its products, Tubelite relies on Linetec as its single-source solution. Linetec provides durable painted and anodized architectural finishing, high-performance thermal improvement and stretch forming to curve Tubelite’s aluminum framing systems. For the Massey Center, a 70% PVDF resin-based architectural coating in Bone White was selected for Tubelite’s linear and curved framing systems.
As an environmentally responsible finisher, Linetec uses a 100% air capture system and regenerative thermal oxidizer to safely destroy the VOCs in liquid paints’ solvents. By managing this in its quality-controlled facility, there is no adverse environmental impact at Linetec, on the jobsite or on campus. The finished aluminum curtainwall and entrance systems require only basic care and cleaning to maintain their intended appearance.
The Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Middle Tennessee recognized R.C. Mathews Contractor and the building team with 2024 Build TN Award of Excellence in the category for new institutional $75-80 million projects. The AGC award video noted:
“The Jack C. Massey Center is an incredible addition to the university’s growing campus, serving as the university’s new front door… Every floor of the six-story building includes incredible features and craftsmanship, and is designed to encourage collaboration, innovation and creativity. The project’s tight timeline and state-of-the-art technology advances demanded precise preplanning and coordination. Each space of the Jack C. Massey Center was carefully planned for a specific use, whether that be for collaborative spaces for students, ample offices for faculty, or wowing prospective students in the admissions theater. The Jack C. Massey Center will further enrich the on-campus experience and foster collaboration for students, faculty and visitors alike.”
Continue with us on our campus tour of Belmont University as we visit performing arts spaces next week.