231 Public Square, Franklin, TN

A Passion for Architecture

Matt Taylor brought a passion for community design and planning with him when he moved to Nashville from Jacksonville, Florida in 1996. Becoming increasingly involved in local design and planning issues in Nashville, he wanted to make a positive impact on his adopted community by forming his own architecture and design firm, pursuing projects that were both culturally responsible and responsive to the needs of his clients.

Matt founded Studio 8 Design in 2005 with a core focus on bringing creative, responsible design to each project that he and his talented team of professionals undertook. The cornerstone of his business would be a belief that good design should be an achievable goal on each project, regardless of size or budget.

He also felt that rather than developing a specialty in the production of a single building type, he wanted to build a firm that would focus on discovering the unique characteristics of each project and highlighting those traits in the development of exceptional design ideas.

HCA Corporate Auditorium, Nashville, TN

A Track Record of Success

A review of Studio 8 Design’s impressive portfolio of successful projects and satisfied clients is a testament to his achievement of that goal. The firm’s project experience is diverse, including commercial, residential, office, multi-family, mixed-use, recreational and urban park commissions. A partial listing of high profile projects includes:
Police Department Headquarters, Franklin, Tennessee (2011 Excellence in Development Award from Urban Land Institute; LEED Gold Certification Award for environmental conservation features.)

Police Department Headquarters, Franklin, TN

231 Public Square (Complete interior and exterior renovation of the former First TN Bank Building on the Square in downtown Franklin, TN. Redevelopment plans include a ground floor restaurant, 2 floors of office space, and a rooftop bar overlooking the Square) HCA Corporate Auditorium Renovation– 2011, Nashville, Tennessee (Complete renovation of an existing 30-year old renovation to provide technologically advanced lighting and audio/visual systems, and improved acoustic performance. Published in “Curtain Call”, Design Bureau, Special Edition, 2012 and “Visual Effect”, Auditoria, Annual 2012.)* Bicentennial Park, Franklin, Tennessee (A 30-acre urban park along the Harpeth River with a continuous riverwalk, an interpretive trail following the old Interurban Railroad path, an interactive fountain in a public plaza, bench swings along the river, multiple river overlooks, a new monument on Third Avenue, streetscape improvements, & a botanical stroll garden.)

Additions & Renovation to the historic Woodlawn Mansion, Nashville, Tennessee (law offices of Kinnard, Clayton, and Beveridge in the mansion while being respectful to the history of the original plantation home.)

“We pride ourselves on our repeat work with past clients,” Matt relates, “bringing professionalism and creativity to every project. We consider our clients part of our design team and we value the relationships we build on every project. We also strive to maintain a positive workplace, infusing fun into the creative process. Our people are our strength, and the chemistry we have forged makes every project stronger. We are passionate about our work, our clients, and our co-workers. At the end of the day, it is our passion for architecture that makes the difference.”