Our foundation is human-centered design.

What Drives Us

We believe that a firm’s philosophy should steer its attitudes, actions, and daily process.
These core principles guide us:

1. Listen First

Amazing things happen in architecture when open and ongoing communication takes place. And the best ideas—the creative, long-lasting, practical ones—come only after listening first. By closely partnering with our clients, we make sure that the people most impacted by the building are the ones who live and work in it.

2. Problems Have Solutions

Problems are simply disguised possibilities. We thrive on solving them with ingenuity, humility, and experience, aided by the tools of research, benchmarking, evidenced-based design, and expanding technology. 

3. Look Forward

We’re proud of our past, but our eye is on the future. With a holistic approach that celebrates both form and function, we create healthy spaces that improve the quality of life for those inside while protecting the world outside.

Where We Work

Step inside our new office space

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Ten Facts About Us

Some details on who we are, what we do, and how we excel

1.

Based on number of registered architects, The Nashville Business Journal ranks us as the largest architectural firm in Nashville. Our full-service interior design department collaborates closely with our architects to give clients responsive design solutions.

2.

Our firm has received numerous industry and design-related awards of merit, from organizations like Behavioral Healthcare Design, Learning by Design, American Public Works Association, Soliant Health, and the American Society of Interior Designers. Our awards.

3.

With architects registered in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, we have designed healthcare, senior living, hospitality, education, corporate office, and arts & community projects in 48 states and 16 countries.

4.

In the early 2000s, we became one of the first to adopt Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology, a platform that transformed the quality of project delivery and client communication. Today we have won awards for leadership in BIM integration, with over 100 employees trained in all aspects of BIM.

5.

We are committed to sustainability as a concept and in our designs. A member of the US Green Building Council, over 20% of our design professionals are LEED-accredited. Our newly designed office building achieved LEED CS - Gold certification and our office space is LEED CI - Platinum.

6.

Client service is our number one priority. As our numbers and expertise have grown, we have intentionally maintained a single corporate office location to better communicate and collaborate. We are well equipped to travel and serve all of our clients, regardless of their location.

7.

By practicing human-centered design, we create environments that shape lives. As one of only two founding members of the Planetree Visionary Design Network, we are passionate about promoting wellness in our design and our corporate culture.

8.

We are consistently ranked among the top healthcare design firms in the country by Modern Healthcare. Our healthcare design experience includes new & expanded or renovated hospitals, medical centers, specialty facilities, and medical office buildings.

9.

Our in-house Visualization Group utilizes cutting-edge digital rendering/animation technologies and model building techniques that help us provide clients a clear, precise vision of projects from initial concept to finished design.

10.

We believe we can play an active role in shaping healthy communities, and that community outreach is an extension of that role. Of the many organizations we support, most align with our key market sectors: health & wellness, education, and the arts. Recently, we were named one of The BCA Ten: Best Companies Supporting Arts in America.

A Life Well Lived:

The legacy of Earl Swensson

Earl Swensson
Earl Swensson, FAIA Emeritus, founder (1930 - 2022)

Sustainability. Human-centered design. Environments shape lives. Improve quality of life. These were integral beliefs of not only the man, but of the architect – Earl Swensson. Swensson designed spaces for people to live, create and thrive. From residential and senior living to hospitals and medical office buildings to hotels and offices, the tenets of Earl Swensson that were adopted by his work “family” live on today and will continue into the future.

Outspoken, his “Earlisms” exemplify his core beliefs and are reflected in the designs of ESa.

We must create human architecture, not architects’ architecture.

— Earl Swensson

ESa office building ESa office lounge Gulch Crossing main floor ESa office building front entry