MZA worked with developer Bill Barkley and a team of multidisciplinary professionals to envision 35 acres of dormant rail yard as what is now one of Nashville's most dynamic urban districts: the Gulch. The scope of the project, being three million square feet of mixed-use development, required a vision that would integrate density, sustainability, and human experience. MZA led the design of the first two major buildings, Mercury View Lofts and 1100 Demonbreun, and collaborated on the master plan with Hawkins Partners and Looney Ricks Kiss. The result is a walkable, transit-oriented community full of green space, restaurants, offices, and modern housing. The Gulch was the South's first LEED-certified neighborhood in 2009, one of only 13 globally, and was a recipient of a Metro Nashville Excellence in Development Award in 2002.