Detailed plans have been submitted which offer detailed insight into Oracle’s 82.28-acre campus. The ‘already-approved’ documents were submitted for final site plan approval, meaning the submission is only administrative. The documents finally bring a level of clarity as to what is being proposed to be built, as well as activation along Cowan Street and the river. It also offers more clarity regarding activation of the overall River North District of the East Bank.
Shown for context only.
Shown for context only.
Located in Subdistrict 3 of the River North Urban Design Overlay (UDO) the plans consist of a mixed-use development which includes The Oracle Campus, its River North Hotel, Open Space, and Retail development. Here’s the quick rundown:
Oracle Campus
River North District – East Bank
| What’s Now | Cleared Site |
| What’s Next | Mixed-use |
| Developer | Oracle |
| Architects | Foster +Partners |
| Landscape | Hastings |
| Buildings | 1.3 Million SF |
| Hotel | 120-keys |
| Trees | 1,700-units |
| Parking | 2,521 Spaces |
Shown for context only.
The Oracle Campus is a secure complex which is separated by a basin along the Cumberland River/ Greenway, and a 6-10 foot fence with a landscape screen along Cowan Street. The secured campus includes 5 interconnected clusters of office buildings which:
- Range in height from 3-8 stories
- Includes lower-level parking decks
- Has a private Auditorium & Amphitheater
- Includes a separate larger network of parks and trails.
Shown for context only.
The public zone has two buildings which are part of Oracle’s campus and includes the River North Hotel and a retail strip. Last year Nobu Hospitality announced that it would plant a flag in this location. The hotel sits next to the Oxbow Apartments which is part of the Phase 1 River North mixed-use development. The secure mechanical and service cluster is located along Marine Drive, however, the secure boundary is created by a new retail strip which wraps the public facing side of this cluster of buildings.
Shown for context only.
The main public green space, which is part of Oracle’s campus, is located between waterside Drive and the west face of the retail strip. The other community green spaces includes the ramp to the pedestrian bridge to Germantown. That path wraps around the hotel before crossing the river. The other landscaped path gets you to the greenway along the riverfront.
Cowan Street will essentially remain unchanged from an activation standpoint. Cowan street includes a 14 feet sidewalk/biking path but is fenced off the entire length of Oracle’s campus. The fence is masked with landscaping along the gas easement next to the sidewalk/bike path. There are 3 access gates (drop-off points) along Cowan Street and one near the intersection of Cowan & The Greenway. The 14 feet path wraps the entire Oracle campus including along Marine Drive.
Looper’s Notes
The secured Oracle Campus anchors the bulk of the River North District, similar to Metro Center in North Nashville, sans the fence. However, the alignment of the pedestrian bridge and greenway with retail at River North and Oracle’s retail strip approaching Cowan, will give it a unique level of pedestrian activation. The connection from the pedestrian bridge to Germantown, will further expand the retail experience as well as provide one of the 1st major pedestrian-centric infrastructure projects in the urban core this generation.
Cowan Street will be interesting to watch as a Hampton Inn & Home2 is currently under construction. With Oracle essentially creating a wooded area on its side of Cowan Street, it will be interesting to see if hotels will continue to be the vertical of choice or if we start to see more residential given the composition of Oracle’s Campus.
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