Doctor's Building and Bennie Dillon Building

Part I. Bennie-Dillon Building

One of Nashville's early skyscrapers, the Bennie-Dillon Building was made possible by local businessmen and friends George Bennie and William Dillon. Completed in 1927, this 12-story office building features glazed terracotta designs in the Renaissance Revival style. It was designed by local architectural firm Asmus and Clark and constructed by another local firm, Foster and Creighton. It follows the model of most twentieth century skyscrapers with a base, shaft, and cornice. Known for their classical designs, Christian Asmus and Richard Clark also designed the Grand Lodge Building and the Nashville Trust Building.

The original purpose of the building was office and clinic space for medical professionals. It served that purpose well for many decades, but as the city population expanded into the suburbs, the hospitals and clinics followed. In 1999, the Bennie-Dillon Building was converted into residential units; however, the lobby still retains its original marble floors.

Look south across Church Street to see the Thompson U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building. Continue listening as you walk toward the Doctor’s Building, located at 706 Church Street. The Doctor’s Building is the final part of this stop.

Part II. Thompson Federal Courthouse and Building

Across the street, on your left, you will see the Fred D. Thompson U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building. Set for completion in 2021, this 280,000 sq. ft. building was designed by Michael Graves Architecture & Design and cost nearly $200 million. Although he died in 2015, Graves is one of the most celebrated and recognized architects over the last fifty years. He is best known for his postmodernist designs, which include the Portland Building, the Humana Tower, and Walt Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin Hotels. The Thompson U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building will provide courtrooms and judges’ chambers for the U.S. District Court and work space for the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services System, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, General Services Administration, and local senatorial staff offices. 

Continue down Church Street about 500 feet to the green awnings of the Doctor’s Building.

Part III. Doctor’s Building

From mansion to medical offices to hotel, the site of Nashville’s Doctor’s Building been through it all. This location was formerly the grand home of railroad tycoon Colonel Edmund William Cole. It was the last standing residence on Church Street when it was torn down in 1915. Dr. Matthew Charles McGannon had a new vision for this property as most hospitals and medical schools were located downtown at the time, and he believed it was a central location for a facility to serve the city’s expanding medical community. McGannon was a professor of surgery at Vanderbilt’s medical school, the Surgeon-General for Tennessee, and an officer of the Tennessee-Hermitage Bank.

McGannon commissioned local architectural firm of Dougherty and Gardner for the construction. The Doctor’s Building was designed in the Renaissance Revival style with a striking exterior sheathing of glazed terracotta. It opened in 1917 with three floors, housing over twenty doctors, Nashville’s Public Health Department, and other medical suppliers. The ground floor featured retail shops. Three additional floors were added and opened in 1921. 

In 2007, the building was converted into a hotel managed by Homewood Suites to accommodate the city’s growth as a destination for tourists and conventions. As you continue on to the next stop look for the painted glass signage for “Highway 65 Records” on the building’s storefront. This portion of the building was a filming location for the TV show “Nashville,” which ran from 2012-2015 on ABC and from 2015-2018 on CMT.

Continue on Church Street and turn RIGHT on Polk Avenue. Walk up the hill for half a block until you reach the red-brick Watauga Building on your right.