Vanderbilt's 6.1M SF Innovation Neighborhood Approved

Vanderbilt University's Innovation Neighborhood, a 40-acre mixed-use district designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, has been approved for a site bounded by West End Avenue, Natchez Trace, 31st Avenue South, and Vanderbilt Place. The project totals 6.1 million square feet across buildings up to 30 stories and 425 feet.

The district is anchored by public space: The Square, a 1.2-acre public plaza, and The Meander, a 1.5-acre pedestrian path, plus additional parks and green space. Infrastructure includes 1.7 miles of new and improved sidewalks, 1.3 miles of bikeways, and trails throughout.

Completion is slated for December 31, 2056, reflecting a long-term phased buildout. The site sits adjacent to Vanderbilt's campus along West End Avenue, with additional access from Natchez Trace and 31st Avenue South.

Correction, Oct. 21, 2026: An earlier version of this story gave the height limit as 35 stories and 475 feet and called the project Anchor Park. The approved plan caps buildings at 30 stories and 425 feet, and the project is named the Innovation Neighborhood.