The Frist Art Museum (FAM) opened in 2001 following a community-wide “visioning process” that engaged thousands of citizens in discussions about the future of the city and its surrounding areas. FAM has since become Nashville’s premier visual arts institution, welcoming over 4.5 million visitors and gaining international recognition for its exhibitions and programs. A non-collecting, nonprofit museum, FAM presents twelve to fifteen exhibitions annually to an average of more than 200,000 visitors.

The Scoping Grant will support an ASHRAE Level 2 energy audit of the museum. The project will be led by the FAM facilities team and conducted by TLC Engineering Solutions. The audit will include a more detailed analysis of FAM building systems than previously available. The audit recommendations will help FAM prioritize potential system upgrades and changes based on both progress toward sustainability goals and return on investment. The resulting data and recommendations will guide future energy efficiency projects at FAM and inform sustainability efforts at other museums and cultural organizations.