Wiseman Hall at Belmont University
Nashville
Merit Award
Sent by: RC Mathews Contractor
Owner: Belmont University
Main design company: Earl Swensson Associates
General contractor: RC Mathews Contractor
Structural Engineer: Structural Engineers RBA
Complicated terrain conditions prompted innovative solutions for Belmont University’s largest residence hall to date. Named for women’s basketball program founder Betty Wiseman, the $137.8 million, 307,854-square-foot facility houses 729 students and includes suite- and apartment-style accommodations, a 5,200-square-foot catering kitchen, business services and sweeping views of the Nashville skyline.
At one of the busiest intersections on campus, the project team carefully timed the noise work around classes and major events to minimize disruption to nearby academic buildings, residence halls, and the adjacent neighborhood.
The relocation of 766 feet of active utilities required extensive stakeholder coordination before work began. Property acquisition restrictions then forced drill and blast operations along an irregular path. When groundwater emerged from an unknown source, the team conducted contamination tests and resequenced the work to avoid schedule impacts.
Meanwhile, the geotechnical report did not fully reflect field conditions, and crews encountered incompetent rocks throughout the site. As a result, the team redesigned the isolated bases of the structure into larger bases, reworking the sequence around the change.
Halfway through construction, the owner added an eSports field, which required A/V, electrical and acoustic upgrades and a 10-in. base adjustment for a raised computer floor. Despite the added scope, the project was completed on time and on budget in August 2025.
