RAY and VELA today celebrated a landmark moment in the construction of Ray Nashville, its 32-story design-forward mixed-use tower – featuring residential with ground-floor retail. The topping out milestone moves the project closer to its anticipated Spring 2027 opening as the tower has already taken its place on the Nashville skyline. Ray Nashville is located at 601 Lafayette Street in PieTown; it is walking distance to Lower Broadway and major retail in The Gulch neighborhood.
As one of the first high-rises in Pie Town, Ray Nashville signals the beginning of a new era in Nashville’s skyline, while also representing the latest expansion of RAY’s vision to integrate, “fine art, world-class architecture, and intentional design”, into residential living. Co-developed by RAY and VELA, Ray Nashville encompasses approximately 575,000 square feet, including 367 residential units, featuring works by artists with ties to Tennessee, and a commissioned mosaic work by Invader as part of the specially designed outdoor pool.
I had the opportunity to ask Nick Benjamin 4 questions on the upcoming tower to get his take on what Ray Nashville means for the area. Here’s what he had to say:
1. How has the process from vision to this phase of construction been?
“Bringing this project from concept to reality has been both incredibly rewarding and intentionally disciplined. From the outset, our goal was to create something that feels timeless but also distinctly connected to Nashville’s next chapter. That required a lot of collaboration between design, construction, and community stakeholders, to ensure we weren’t just building a tower, but contributing meaningfully to the neighborhood. Seeing Ray Nashville now rise in the skyline is a strong validation of the work, patience, and clarity that went into getting it here.”
2. What will Ray Nashville offer that you won’t find anywhere else?
“What sets Ray Nashville apart is the intentionality behind every detail. This isn’t just about high-end finishes or amenities, though we have those; it’s about how the building lives and breathes on a daily basis and the relationship between the building’s architecture and the daily resident experience within that architecture.
We’ve focused heavily on creating a lifestyle-driven environment that blends elevated design with genuine comfort and functionality. From curated amenity spaces meant to showcase museum-quality art to thoughtfully designed residences, everything is meant to feel cohesive and human centered. There’s also a strong emphasis on creating moments, whether that’s how natural light moves through a space or how residents interact with shared environments, that you simply don’t find in more conventional developments.”
3. How do you see the development fitting into the fabric of the upcoming Pie Town area with other projects?
“Pie Town is at an exciting inflection point, growing and transforming perhaps faster than any other neighborhood in Nashville, and we see Ray Nashville as both a contributor to and a catalyst for that momentum. The neighborhood has a unique opportunity to evolve into one of the city’s most dynamic and design-forward districts, and we’ve approached our role with that in mind. With its prominent positioning at the northern gateway to the neighborhood, we believe Ray Nashville will play a meaningful role in shaping the identity of Pie Town as it continues to emerge.”
Shown for context only.
4. What should potential residents expect when they step foot on the property and once they move in?
“From the moment residents arrive, the experience is designed to feel elevated yet approachable. There’s a sense of arrival, but also a sense of ease, something that feels both refined and welcoming.
Once living here, residents can expect a highly curated lifestyle. That includes not just the physical environment or the integration of art in the public spaces, but the level of service, attention to detail, and overall flow of daily life within the building. It’s about creating a place where people genuinely enjoy spending time, whether they’re at home, working remotely, or engaging with the community.”
Ray Nashville is designed by architectural firm Johnston Marklee & Associates, in partnership with Lamar Johnson Collaborative. Amenities are designed by Parts and Labor Design in collaboration with RAY’s in-house design team. Landscapes are by Grace Fuller Design while Layton serves as the General Contractor.
“We’re proud to celebrate this important milestone as we look ahead to the opening of Ray Nashville in 2027. This is our fourth project – following Ray Phily, Ray Harlem, and Ray Phoenix – and each city has pushed us to sharpen what we’re doing and why. Nashville feels like a natural fit for RAY – a city with a distinct cultural identity and a vibrant creative energy. We are grateful for our many incredible partners who are helping us to realize our vision for Nashville and how it will play a role in Pie Town and the greater Nashville community in the future.”
Will Kluczkowski, Head of Real Estate at RAY
“Congratulations to the entire Ray Nashville team,” . “This accomplishment reflects the collective strength of dedicated professionals working together toward a shared vision. The Ray will shape the Nashville skyline for years to come, and Layton Construction is honored to be part of it.”
Randy Patterson, Executive Vice President of Layton Construction
“The topping out of Ray Nashville marks a major milestone not only for this project, but for the continued evolution of downtown Nashville and the rapidly growing Pie Town neighborhood. More than five years after we first looked at this site and saw its tremendous potential as the front door of Pie Town, we’ve now gone five stories underground and 32 stories up and are less than a year from moving in our first residents. We’re incredibly grateful for our partnership with Layton Construction and their team of subcontractors who have done extremely difficult work with great skill to get us to this point. We can’t wait to reveal the finished product, which will be unlike anything the market has seen to date, to the Nashville community in Spring 2027.”
Nick Benjamin, Principal at VELA.
Here’s a look at views from the top floor of Ray Nashville.
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