Earl Swensson

Earl Swensson, FAIA, renowned architect and planner, became chairholder of the Jennings and Rebecca Jones Chair of Excellence in Urban and Regional Planning in 1999. A Nashville native, Earl grew up in Old Hickory, the company town created by Dupont. He is founder and chairman of Earl Swensson Associates (ESa), a firm ranked in the top one percent of architectural firms nationally. This award-winning firm has created such noteworthy Nashville projects as the Opryland Hotel and Convention Center, BellSouth Tennessee Headquarters, and the Centennial Medical Center.

For the past five years, approximately 90 percent of ESa’s work has been in the healthcare industry. In 1998, the firm completed the 440,000 square foot Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona – combining the latest medical technology with a patient and family-friendly environment. Earl co-edited the book, Hospital and Healthcare Facility Design, Second Edition.

Swensson earned his bachelor’s degree in building design (with honors) and his master’s degree in architecture from Virginia Polytechnic Institute as well as a master’s in architecture from the University of Illinois.

He is a master planner, industrial designer, real estate developer, teacher, author, artist, and international speaker.

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