It is a three-story Georgian-style mansion that was built as a private home for William Ridley Wills and his family in 1929.

It is on a 10-acre (4.0 ha) tract about 5 miles (8.0 km) south of the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville.

Prior to the renovation, the slate roof leaked, ceiling and wall plaster had many cracks, lead-based paint was peeling, and the residence was still heated and cooled by the original hot and cold water radiator system.

Two other major problems were the relative lack of accessibility for disabled persons, and inadequate formal dining/gathering space.

To address these problems, the Memphis-based architectural firm Archimania was selected to design what was to be named Conservation Hall, which was completed during the spring of 2010.