Dowdle Construction Wins Prestigious International ULI Jack Kemp Award for The Wilder
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 8, 2026 – Dowdle Construction Group, an award-winning Nashville-based general contractor, has been named a winner of the 2025 ULI Jack Kemp Award for Innovation in Housing for its work on The Wilder, earning one of the most respected and competitive honors in the global real estate and development industry.
Presented by the Urban Land Institute’s Terwilliger Center for Housing, the Jack Kemp Award recognizes projects that demonstrate exceptional innovation, scalability and real-world impact on housing. The award draws entries from across the globe, with only two winners selected, placing Dowdle Construction and The Wilder among an elite group of international honorees.
Dowdle transformed an underutilized motel into The Wilder, 97 units of permanent, mixed-income workforce housing in the urban core of Nashville. By reusing an existing motel building, the project delivered workforce housing faster and more cost-effectively than a typical ground-up apartment development. Those savings, combined with a creative financing and investment strategy, has allowed the project to serve households earning 60% to 100% of AMI without relying on public subsidies.
“This is a tremendous honor for our team,” said Allen Buchanan, principal at Dowdle Construction. “ULI represents the highest standard in land use and development worldwide. To be recognized with the Jack Kemp Award speaks to the quality of collaboration, execution and vision that went into The Wilder.”
The Wilder previously earned multiple industry awards in 2024, and the ULI recognition further elevates the project’s standing as a model for forward-thinking development. ULI cited the project for its innovative approach to housing, design excellence and its contribution to the surrounding community.
About the Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute is a non-profit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the institute has more than 48,000 members worldwide representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines. For more information on ULI, please visit uli.org, or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
About Dowdle Construction Group
Dowdle Construction Group is a Nashville-based general contractor specializing in both public and private sector commercial construction. For over 30 years, Dowdle has built a reputation for conducting business with integrity, honesty, and a commitment to communicating and working through the details. Dowdle’s collaborative projects have been recognized for their excellence by the Urban Land Institute Nashville, the Historical Commission of Metropolitan Nashville, the American Institute of Architects local chapter and other industry organizations. For more information visit dowdleconstruction.com.
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