In Nashville’s emerging SOBRO (South of Broadway) neighborhood, architects at TVS Design created an inspired 1.2 million-square-foot convention space that artfully and subtly reflects the city’s storied country music history—though you might need a helicopter to be sure. From above, the outline of the center’s ballroom takes the shape of the body of an acoustic guitar. The building’s 178,000-square-foot green roof—nearly 40 percent of which is outfitted with photovoltaic panels—is visible from this view as well. Water is collected to recycle for irrigation and to supply the high-efficiency lavatories, which reduce water use by 80 percent. Highly automated and responsive lighting systems contribute to the center’s contention for LEED Silver certification. Making a bold statement with its color, size—it spans six city blocks—and nontraditional façade, the Music City Center has two-story window walls clad in orange-bronze panels. Pillars of the same hue stand in pairs under the canopy of the roof, which rolls like foothills from the west end but tapers like the final notes of a song toward the east.