Vanderbilt plans to expand its campus in the West End area of Midtown, as announced June 13 in a Nashville Business Journal article. The new “innovation district” will be largely inspired by Cornell Tech in New York and Harvard’s Allston Palace. This announcement follows the previously announced plans to create additional campuses in New York City and West Palm Beach, Florida.
According to The Real Deal, the project will occupy several blocks around the west side of main campus that are currently occupied by parking lots and retail spaces. The district will offer spaces for research, parks, retail spaces, housing and offices for university-affiliated individuals and startups.
Although a design firm has not yet been chosen, the university plans to work with private developers. The design process could take more than a decade to complete because Vanderbilt first needs approval from Metro Nashville…