We were delighted to welcome another engaged audience to this morning’s breakfast meeting, as Joshua Hughes — a partner at Anecdote Architectural Experiences — joined us to speak about his firm’s work to design and construct the 166-acre campus of St. Michael Academy in Nolensville!

Josh discussed the school’s goals of creating Catholic beauty in an inspiring learning environment for students, and the many ways in which the 166-acre campus accomplishes those goals. He and his team at Anecdote — which has engaged with projects with the Country Music Hall of Fame, Acme Feed & Seed and many more spots throughout Nashville — visited many schools throughout the country as they designed their plan for St. Michael Academy, including multiple schools in Atlanta and one in Utah. The site features expansive views with slopes throughout the campus — including at the entrance — so visitors’ first sight of the campus includes a symbolic tie to St. Michael the Archangel with a wing-like design on the roof of the building. The symbolism extends into the school’s Great Hall, which includes a stained-glass window of St. Michael surrounded by panels resembling the four Gospels.

The campus is full of innovative learning spaces for students, as the 22 traditional classrooms are supplemented with 12 specialized classrooms and 12 more outdoor learning spaces. The classrooms are adaptable to the respective grade levels, and several classrooms also feature an overhead garage door to connect to the outdoor spaces. Many of the hallways feature tiered seating areas at the end of the wing, allowing full grade levels to connect and engage together.

Thank you, Josh, for sharing these insights with all of us, and we’ll see you all for our next meeting on September 11!