About Us
Designing Creative Solutions with Genuine Care
Gresham Smith is a team of diligent designers, creative problem-solvers, insightful planners and seasoned collaborators who work closely with clients to improve the cities and towns we call home. Consistently ranked as a “Best Place to Work,” we are focused on creating a culture that fosters diversity of experience combined with a common goal of genuine care for each other, our partners and the outcome of our work. From roadways and pathways that connect people and places, to hospitals that promote well-being and recovery, to corporate campuses that encourage productivity and teamwork, our Core Purpose serves as our NorthStar—to plan, design and consult to create healthy and thriving communities.
Our Story
Our story began as memorable nights often do: over good conversation. Batey Gresham and Flem Smith met in 1967 during a Nashville chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) networking event. Connecting over their shared visions of starting their own ventures after stints at other architecture firms, it wasn’t long before the two forged a partnership and launched Gresham and Smith Architects.
As the duo began building their shared portfolio, they caught the opportunity of a lifetime: to become the primary architect for the newly formed Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). The work with HCA defined the direction of the firm’s future, paving the path for excellence and innovation in healthcare facility design—and beyond.
Over the next few decades, we diligently built on our healthcare portfolio, expanding into a wide range of industries and serving clients and cities across the globe. Now, as a top-ranked architecture, engineering and design firm, we provide full-service solutions for both public- and private-sector clients across a wide range of markets. Every day, we are dedicated to growing Batey and Flem’s vision and living out our tagline of Genuine Ingenuity, to develop innovative solutions for life’s most essential infrastructure and institutions.
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Where Passion Meets Profession
From architects to engineers, interior designers to planners, construction managers to commissioners, program managers to environmental consultants and everything in between, our firm is full of genuine people who are passionate about their work. We believe that loving where you work, who you’re working with, and what you’re working on is critically important, and we consistently strive to create a culture that serves as a model for A/E firms worldwide.
The quality of our personnel carries all the way to the top. With hard-earned expertise and a deep understanding of our process and culture, our leadership guides the way in breaking new ground.
From Nashville to Nationwide
Our business is focused on smart, sustainable growth without incurring any debt from outside creditors. As a result, we have the financial stability to make business decisions that support the long-term health of our firm. In addition to our headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, we’ve established offices across the southern and midwest United States as part of our strategic growth initiatives and better support our various clients.