{{Short description|American architect (1930–2022)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Earl Swensson | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|1930|07|28}} | birth_place = Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2022|01|20|1930|07|28}} | death_place = Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | nationality = | other_names = | known_for = | education = | alma_mater = Virginia Tech<br/>University of Illinois | employer = | occupation = Architect | title = | networth = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | political_party = | boards = | spouse = Sue Swensson | children = 3 | parents = | relatives = }}
thumb|231x231px|Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt thumb|233x233px|Curb Event Center at Belmont University '''Earl Simcox Swensson''', FAIA (July 28, 1930 – January 20, 2022) was an American architect who was the founder of Earl Swensson Associates (ESA), an architectural firm based in Nashville, Tennessee. The firm has designed many notable buildings in Nashville, including the Batman Building, Centennial Medical Center and Opryland Hotel (including its three expansions).
==Early life== Earl Swensson was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1930.<ref name="tennesseanmanbehind">{{cite news |title=Man behind 'Batman building' optimistic about New Nashville |url=https://tennessean.com/story/news/2016/03/26/man-behind-batman-building-optimistic-new-nashville/82184472/ |accessdate=June 9, 2018 |work=The Tennessean |date=April 1, 2016}}</ref><ref name="visionsoffuture">{{cite news |last1=Bliss |first1=Jessica |title=Visions of future drive architect Earl Swensson |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/283402238/?terms=%22Earl%2BSwensson%22 |accessdate=June 9, 2018 |work=The Tennessean |date=February 14, 2010|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=registration |pages=1D; 5D}}</ref> His father worked as an engineer for DuPont.<ref name="visionsoffuture"/>
Swensson graduated from Virginia Tech, where he earned a bachelor's degree in architecture.<ref name="visionsoffuture"/> He also earned a master's degree in architecture from the University of Illinois.<ref name="visionsoffuture"/>
==Career== Swensson began his career in Nashville in 1951, when he was a student draftsman for Hart & McBryde. Swensson went to Chicago, where he worked for Perkins and Will, only to move back to Nashville.<ref name="tennesseanmanbehind"/> alt=|thumb|339x339px|AT&T Building, Nashville TN Swensson founded Earl Swensson Associates (ESa), an architectural firm based in Nashville, in 1961.<ref name="tennesseanmanbehind"/> The firm moved to a new building at 2303 21st Avenue South in 1975.<ref name="tennesseananewapproach">{{cite news |last1=Cason |first1=Albert |title=A New Approach In Design Services |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/108987963/?terms=%22Earl%2BSwensson%22 |accessdate=June 9, 2018 |work=The Tennessean |date=January 19, 1975|page=32|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=registration }}</ref> By 1998, his office was in the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel Office Building in Midtown Nashville which his namesake firm designed. In 2015, the firm, now referred to as ESa, moved to The Gulch.<ref name="nashbusinesswhynashvilleslargest">{{cite news |last1=Sichko |first1=Adam |title=Why Nashville's largest architect is moving to the Gulch |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/real-estate/2014/07/why-nashvilles-largest-architect-is-moving-gulch.html |accessdate=June 9, 2018 |work=Nashville Business Journal |date=July 9, 2014}}</ref>
Swensson's firm has designed several landmarks in Downtown Nashville, including the Batman Building and the Wildhorse Saloon.<ref name="tennesseanmanbehind" /><ref name="visionsoffuture" /> He also designed the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.<ref name="tennesseanmanbehind" /> Other significant facilities designed by ESa are the Curb Event Center on the campus of Belmont University and the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.<ref name="tennesseanmanbehind"/><ref name="visionsoffuture"/> By 2010, 80% of his practice's work focused on designing health facilities.<ref name="visionsoffuture"/>
Swensson was an adjunct professor of architecture at his alma mater, Virginia Tech, in 1971–1972.<ref name="tennesseannamedarchitect">{{cite news |last1=Cason |first1=Albert |title=Earl Swensson Named Architect School Aide |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/113154278/?terms=%22Earl%2BSwensson%22 |accessdate=June 9, 2018 |work=The Tennessean |date=October 19, 1971|page=26|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=registration }}</ref> thumb|233x233px|Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center
==Personal life== Swensson had a wife, Sue, and three children.<ref name="visionsoffuture"/> He died in Nashville on January 20, 2022, at the age of 91.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Arcelia |title=Earl Swensson, architect behind Nashville's 'Batman Building', Opryland Resort, dies at 91 |url=https://eu.tennessean.com/story/money/2022/01/24/earl-swensson-nashville-architect-batman-building-opryland-resort-dies/6636728001/ |access-date=January 25, 2022 |publisher=The Tennessean |date=January 24, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Earl Simcox Swensson |url=https://www.tennessean.com/obituaries/ten218356 |access-date=January 25, 2022 |publisher=The Tennessean |date=January 24, 2022}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Commons category|Earl Swensson Associates}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Swensson, Earl}} Category:1930 births Category:2022 deaths Category:Architects from Tennessee Category:Artists from Nashville, Tennessee Category:University of Illinois System alumni Category:Virginia Tech alumni Category:Virginia Tech faculty