he Tennessee Residence Foundation announced today it is accepting statements of qualifications to design a Conservatory Hall to be built on the grounds of The Tennessee Residence in Nashville.

The construction of a Conservatory Hall is Phase II in a four-phase plan announced by Gov. Phil Bredesen and First Lady Andre Conte in 2003 to restore and preserve The Tennessee Residence.

“I’m pleased to announce that we are now ready to move forward with planning for Phase II,” said Conte. “We have made great progress over the last two years in the fundraising efforts for the restoration, and I’m proud to announce today that we are ready to prepare for the building of the Conservatory Hall, Phase II, of the project. The Conservatory Hall is a greatly needed addition to make the residence more accommodating for state events.”

Presently, large gatherings cannot be accommodated inside the home. The Conservatory Hall will provide new meeting facilities, a commercial kitchen, and enough space to accommodate 160 seated guests, providing a long term solution to the state’s need for space to handle large groups, it was stated.

The selection process of a design team to carry out the construction of the Conservatory Hall will involve two stages. In Stage I, interested design teams will submit a Statement of Qualifications that establishes the team organization and design capabilities of the lead designer and associated design firms. In Stage II, the short-listed design teams will be asked to interview with the selection panel.

Design teams interested in submitting qualifications for the project should go to www.tennessee.gov/firstlady for more information.

The design and construction of the Conservatory Hall will be privately funded through the Tennessee Residence Foundation, a 501(c) 3 organization with a mission to provide for the preservation, protection, maintenance and enhancement of the artistic, historic and architectural value of the public and formal areas of The Tennessee Residence. A revised estimated cost for the project is $3.5 to $4 million.

In January 2003, Andrea Conte made restoring and preserving Tennessee’s Residence a priority issue for the Office of the First Lady. Ten months later, she and Gov. Bredesen unveiled a plan that had been developed for restoring the residence that would provide contemporary updates while preserving the historic integrity of the house and property. While the plan outlines four phases, the major emphasis is on Phase I, which includes key repairs and improvements to The Tennessee Residence. Phase I construction began in November 2005.

Tennessee’s Residence, originally referred to as “Far Hills” because of its beautiful view, was built in 1929 by the William Ridley Wills family, and was purchased by the state of Tennessee following the death of Mr. Wills in 1949. The third and only remaining Governor’s Residence in the state, it has hosted numerous events and celebrities during its 55 years as the state’s Executive Residence. The house has been visited by famous people such as the Reverend Billy Graham, Elvis Presley, President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy, President and Mrs. Lyndon Johnson, President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan, and numerous governors and royalty from around the world.

To make a donation to the restoration, or for more information about the project, please call the Office of the First Lady at (615) 741.7846. To make an online donation, go to www.tnanytime.org/exres/.