This Design Spotlight continues the conversation from our June CityNowNext Emerge event, where we explored the trends shaping Nashville’s next wave of design. Today, we turn the focus to Lee Davis, Principal at Earl Swenson Associates (ESa). While ESa is best known for creating Nashville’s iconic “Batman” building, their work continues to leave a powerful mark on the city’s skyline with each new project.
Currently, ESa is behind two high-profile, first-to-market mixed-use towers in the Gulch that are redefining urban luxury. The Pendry Hotel & Residences Nashville has officially broken ground, bringing a new level of hospitality and residential living to the Paseo South gulch district. Located 5 minutes away, the Nashville EDITION has launched condo sales, promising an elevated residential experience unlike anything the city has seen. Lee Davis and his team are showing how great design can transform how we experience Nashville.
This spotlight offers high level insight on ESa’s approach to emerging technologies, designing with lifestyle brands, and when to engage the General Contractor. Here’s what Lee had to say:
How is AI, BIM, or other advanced tech changing your design process and how you communicate with contractors and clients?
As designers, our value lies in ingenuity, not in the repetitive tasks that technology can handle. AI helps clear out the noise and lets us focus on what we’re actually hired to do: create.
Used responsibly, AI, BIM and other immersive technologies aren’t just tools for efficiency. They help us better communicate complex ideas to clients and offer clearer visualizations. I recently loaded a full-scale model of a building into VR to walk an owner through key sight lines. It took what was an abstract conversation and made it tangible for the client as soon as they slipped on the headset.
Contractors typically aren’t as interested in the tech behind the scenes – they want accurate answers immediately. In the future, we’ll use AI to automate responses where it makes sense.”
How do lifestyle expectations differ between luxury renters and condo buyers, and how does that inform your spatial planning and amenity curation?
It really comes down to one question: who’s footing the bill? Luxury renters expect a wide range of amenities included in their lease. They’re here to enjoy the steam room, not to maintain it. Condo buyers, however, have to ask themselves (and their HOA) whether they want to pay for that experience long-term. The allure of certain features fades when you’re the one covering ongoing costs.
Our planning reflects that. In both scenarios, we start by understanding what’s most meaningful to that specific clientele, and then we design spaces that support those values. That balance of placemaking and practicality is key.”
Are hospitality partners pushing for design consistency across cities, or do they allow you to interpret their brand through a local Nashville lens?
Most lifestyle hotel brands want the public spaces, especially lobbies, to reflect the character of the destination. Guest rooms may follow brand standards for consistency, but the heart of the experience is in the local expression.
Our role is to placemake for the guest. That means creating a sense of authenticity, an experience that feels rooted in Nashville, even if it’s not a literal translation. No one’s coming here to live exactly like a local in Brentwood. They want the vibe, not the traffic. So we design for that feeling, that memorable moment, rather than strict realism. And fortunately, many of our hospitality partners trust us to interpret their brand with that lens. It’s not about matching every city to a template. It’s about crafting something that resonates with where you are.”
How early are you bringing GCs into the design process to ensure constructability and material innovation align?
As early as possible. Getting general contractors in the room at the start helps us set expectations and ensures priorities are aligned from day one.
A great example is the metal fabrication for the Tempo by Hilton. The owner wanted a naturally ventilated structure while still delivering on aesthetics. Rather than opting for an off-the-shelf screening system, we partnered with John W. McDougall Co. to co-create something striking and functional. By tessellating the metal panels, we achieved both structural rigidity and air flow at a fraction of the cost.
That collaboration was only possible because we brought them in early. Their expertise complemented ours, creating a well-rounded team with diverse strengths. When you match skillsets and enthusiasm across the board, you get something better than any one team could do alone.”
Are there Southeast U.S. cities pushing design innovation you believe Nashville should benchmark itself against?
I wouldn’t say benchmark, but Charlotte, N.C. offers an interesting point of comparison. I was there recently on a Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce trip, and what stood out was how open they are to partnering. Public and private groups are working together to solve problems, and they’re not afraid to say, “Here’s what we need, and here’s how we’re going to get it done.”
They’ve also done a good job making room for pedestrian spaces downtown. It’s mostly office towers and banks, but there’s a noticeable effort to create places where people actually want to spend time, especially outside of work. It’s a different kind of energy than Nashville, and that’s okay. Every city moves at its own rhythm. It’s just interesting to see how others are approaching similar challenges with a slightly different playbook.”
To learn more about opportunities with ESa check out their website by clicking the link (here)
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