After spreading the gospel on the airwaves from Rocklin, California for nearly two decades, the leaders at Educational Media Foundation realized it was time for a major geographic shift in 2019.
The nation-leading Christian-media nonprofit behind K-Love, Air1 and other religious-themed brands' new home is now nearly complete in Franklin . From its new architecturally striking building — imbued with religious symbolism — most of EMF's content will be broadcast to its 18 million weekly listeners combined across stations.
“It is incredibly important to us to be somewhere that shares our values,” EMF CEO Bill Reeves said in 2021 when the company announced its cross-country relocation to Franklin .
Three years later, the evangelical media conglomerate’s new 165,000 square-foot Berry Farms campus at 2000 Reams Fleming Blvd. verges on opening in the next few months. EMF also recently bought Nashville radio station The Fish (WFFH/94 FM) from Salem Media Group , expanding its local reach.
The move brings yet another company with evangelical roots to Williamson County — which is home to the country’s top Christian music label and major artists like Chris Tomlin, Amy Grant and TobyMac. The new EMF headquarters is neighbors with Ramsey Solutions, led by Christian financial advisor and influencer Dave Ramsey, and Christian resources publisher Lifeway also recently moved to nearby Brentwood after being in Nashville for 130 years.
Thanks to strong financial planning, EMF purchased its nearly 11-acre property for $7.6 million completely debt free, K-Love Senior Vice President of Communications Bethany Davis said.
Here is a first look at the six-story EMF global headquarters, including a massive worship performance venue and pre-planned space for more growth.
Imbuing spiritual meaning into architecture
New developments in Berry Farms are subject to a number of architectural guidelines and restrictions from the city of Franklin and developer Boyle Investment Company.
Project designer Hastings Architecture made the most of the regulatory codes, said lead architect David Powell.
“We’re taking those regulations and giving them meaning,” Powell said.
From the materials to the meticulous design of the building’s facade, Powell said there is symbolism in nearly every inch of the headquarters, “embodying EMF’s mission to draw people closer to Christ.”
For example, one requirement was that the building follow a distinct “vertical rhythm” and show a clear break in the two structures that make up the headquarters, between the office and the performance venue.
Following that guideline, Powell took inspiration from two ancient Greek interpretations of time — kronos and kairos — both of which are referenced in the Bible. Kronos is sequential, measured time, while kairos represents ephemeral moments.
Vertically, there is one pattern of equally spaced lines, and horizontally, a variety of window sizes and stepped concrete edges represent the irregular nature of kairos.
In the middle of the two structures, sculptural bronze panels that will oxidize over time represent what Powell called “the ultimate moment of kairos”: the resurrection of Jesus.
There are also stone materials and “natural formations” throughout the building in reference to the tomb of Jesus.
A mini museum with EMF memorabilia
Amid preparation for the headquarters relocation, Davis said EMF discovered dozens of pieces of memorabilia in its archives, from obsolete radio technology to signed records and guitars.
The team decided to put a collection of those items on display in a mini museum on the ground floor of the new EMF headquarters. Davis said they’re still in the process of determining exactly what will make it into the museum, but possibilities include a signed record from “The Sun is Rising” singer Britt Nicole and a guitar that belonged to Steven Curtis Chapman.
Worship center with ‘infinity ceiling’
A major part of the headquarters is its state-of-the art performance facility that will double as a space for EMF employees’ daily prayers.
The venue has 1,100 seats, a large stage and a ceiling covered with twinkling lights. Powell said when the house lights go down, the ceiling is designed to appear as though it goes up for infinity.
The performance facility will be a flexible shared space with the community for ticketed concerts, up-and-coming artist rehearsals and other events.
“Basically, we just want to be a good neighbor,” Davis said. “So we can further the gospel.”
Social media content creation and broadcast studios
On the bottom floor of the headquarters, Hastings architects designed three “capture spaces” for EMF. These are separate from the eight on-air broadcasting and podcasting studios on the top floor of the building where K-LOVE and Air1 hosts will broadcast their shows.
Essentially, the capture spaces are adaptable, acoustically oriented rooms that can act as recording spaces for audio, video or anything else an artist might need.
Currently, EMF rents studio spaces for artists and radio hosts when they need it for content creation, promotional videos or photo shoots.
400 employees moving in by October
Year to date, Davis said the company has hired around 100 new employees in the Franklin headquarters.
Most of EMF’s current employees are relocating to Middle Tennessee, but she said a small team will remain in California and a few will work remotely.
“We’re easing teams in,” she said. “But everyone will be here by October.”
Meanwhile, EMF has already discussed the potential for future expansion on the south side of campus.
Hadley Hitson covers trending business, dining and health care for The Tennessean. She can be reached at hhitson@gannett.com . To support her work, subscribe to The Tennessean .
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Exclusive: Christian nonprofit Educational Media Foundation preps for Franklin HQ opening
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