James McHugh Construction Co. has started work on Southall, a 325-acre farm-based resort in Franklin, Tennessee. Located in the rolling hills just south of Nashville, Southall is scheduled to open in Spring 2022 with an inn, spa and signature restaurant dedicated to sustainability.
“The development team at Southall brings extensive experience from some of the top hotels in the world and has been working for years to establish this world-class retreat completely immersed in nature,” said Ryan Keane, vice president of Nashville operations for McHugh Construction. “We’re proud to have been selected to help translate their dreams into reality – a luxury resort that will honor the agricultural legacy of Middle Tennessee and will bring joy and wonder for generations to come.”
Designed by Franklin, Tennessee-based 906 Studio Architects with interior design by Los Angeles-based Indidesign, the approximately 95,000-square-foot inn and spa at Southall will feature 62 guestrooms, an executive boardroom, breakfast and bourbon bar, and a 3,700-square-foot signature farm-to-table restaurant featuring items grown on-site.
A harmony of lush interior space in conjunction with flowing outdoor space provides an ‘inside-out’ natural sensation throughout the property. Sustainable wood materials from managed forests, including heavy timber and cross-laminated timber, will be used to construct most of the resort’s four inter-connected buildings. Retractable roofs over an outdoor whirlpool will provide on-demand cover for guests, rain or shine.
The spa will offer holistic treatments, hiking and hilltop yoga, among other amenities. According to Keane, McHugh Construction is well-suited to managing construction of this resort thanks to the firm’s long track record of building luxury hotels.
Conceived five years ago as a biodynamic working farm, focused on agricultural innovation and sustainable, responsible and productive use of the land, Southall includes orchards, greenhouses for hydroponic production and a seasonal farm stand. The working farm at Southall currently employs both advanced farming technologies and heritage farming techniques – from hydroponics and aquaculture to rotational grazing, permaculture and terracing – to create a farm of the future, with an old-world reverence. Upon completion, Southall will also include an event center, cottages and luxury treehouses. Outside of the sustainable working farm and luxury resort, 97 percent of the property will be maintained as greenspace.
Approximately 130 to 160 construction workers will be on-site each day, and McHugh Construction will be hiring approximately 30 subcontractors for the project.
