Belmont has a long-standing reputation for its beautiful campus in the heart of Nashville, well-rounded student body, and competitive academic programs — including the region’s first undergraduate architecture program. Belmont announced its new five-year Bachelor of Architecture program in 2019, the first of its kind in Middle Tennessee and the second in the state (after the University of Tennessee at Knoxville). With Nashville’s rapid growth showing no signs of slowing, we can expect big things from the O’More College of Architecture & Design!
Students at Belmont’s O’More College of Architecture & Design get hands-on, real-world experience by working closely with local architecture firms in the community.
The architecture program welcomed its first class in 2020, and the school’s leading class is now in its third year. With no one ahead of them to set the standard, the students are shaping it independently — an exciting and daunting task.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Nashville has just over 600 architects, falling behind other similarly-sized cities like Austin, Texas, and Charlotte, North Carolina, each employing over 1000. Atlanta and Dallas come in with over 2,000. With over one million people expected to move to the Nashville area by 2035, architects will be a hot commodity as the city continues to experience exponential growth.
With 300 students enrolled, the architecture program makes up a third of O’More College of Architecture & Design at Belmont.
Now located alongside the iconic Music Row, O’More combines interior design, fashion merchandising, and architecture, representing three complementary disciplines that fit seamlessly into the vibrant, creative culture for which Nashville is known and loved.
President of the inaugural class Heidi Gabriel says one of the perks of being in a smaller program is the supportive, tight-knit community. “I love the architecture program because it is a family,” she says. “We have all become extremely close, and everyone is willing to help or give feedback on what you are working on. I know the professors care about us, which makes it even better.”
The program’s inaugural class is completing its third year as the school approaches national accreditation.
Currently, Belmont does not offer a master’s program in architecture, but students interested in continuing their education post-undergrad can pursue master’s degrees nearby at the University of Tennessee Knoxville or at The University of Memphis, as well as hundreds of other schools across the country. Thomas says he has witnessed a growing number of students coming to the architecture school to pursue a second career, as Belmont offers a 40% discount for those who qualify for the school’s Adult Degree Program. “This is definitely something we’re building on as we continue to develop the program,” he says.
In 2021, the school was granted a candidacy for accreditation. According to Thomas, that means the school shows promise in producing a program that meets the standards set by professional architecture organizations regarding society’s health, safety, and welfare. The school has its second accreditation visit this fall and a final visit in 2025, which would grant accreditation.
As one of the region’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas, Nashville employs around 600 architects, a relatively low number compared to cities of a similar size. Leaders at the school are hopeful that this new program will help that number increase in years to come.
As one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, the school’s leaders are hopeful that the program will help produce future architects who can help contribute to the area’s massive growth, personally and professionally. In speaking with Thomas, it is clear that the school is focused on “building” holistically, which includes a strong focus on character-building in its students.
“Architecture affects all of us, and it’s our mission to not only produce good architects but people of character who contribute to society and become leading citizens whether or not they practice architecture,” he says.
To learn more, visit belmont.edu.
All photography provided by Belmont University.
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