3 min read May 2024 — Invest: is joined by Matthew Gulsvig, Principal at DLR Group, to discuss how their 100% employee-owned firm has made waves in Nashville by prioritizing alignment and innovation in its work with the higher education, civic, and mixed-use sectors. “If we’re designing for today, we’re already designing for the past. So, we must always think about and consider what is needed in the future,” he said.
What has made Nashville a great place for DLR Group to do business?
We have been working with and developing strong relationships with people, institutions, and organizations across Tennessee for over a decade. With several high-profile projects underway in Nashville and the surrounding communities, we saw an opportunity last year to further immerse ourselves in the community and open our studio. Our expansion into Tennessee aligns with the firm’s commitment to meet the diverse design needs of existing education, government, hospitality, sports, mixed-use and workplace clients throughout the entire state. A key component to our success is having great relationships and clear communication to set the stage for the best possible outcome for our clients and communities.
How does DLR Group set its goals in terms of projects in the region?
Overall, we have metrics and business goals which align with the goals of Nashville and Tennessee. There are three market sectors we have initially focused our attention on, including higher education, civic and mixed-use. This diversified yet focused approach allows us to serve while achieving sustainable growth for all. Mixed-use is all encompassing and requires partnerships between private development and public entities. A big component of our work with higher education is master planning right now. Speaking from a macro perspective, these projects all have an impact. For example, student life is very important at all college campuses. It’s similar to any business, where the goal is to recruit and retain top talent. We’re fortunate as architects and design professionals to guide clients in creating beautiful environments that can benefit all current and future students. These students will become the future leaders of our communities.
What is your assessment of the growing trends such as mixed-use and mass timber in the region?
The conversation around mixed-use developments is consistent across the nation and is the same here in the Mid State. There are terms like “the 15-minute city” that we hear often and are consistent with a new urbanist mentality. This is a longstanding approach to master planning that prioritizes collocating similar type uses for the benefit of all, which creates walkability and accessibility within our communities, leading to desirable spaces.
There’s a demand and growing interest in mass timber building types as it offers a modern, more sustainable option for the future of our cities. There’s an appetite for mass timber in Nashville and we’re thrilled to have just completed a new T3 mass timber office in the Wedgewood Houston neighborhood of Nashville in partnership with Hines. Our mass timber portfolio continues to grow throughout North America as more developers and clients look for more sustainable options that provide value and can stand the test of time. It’s also a big differentiator within the marketplace as it provides warmth to the interior compared to other building materials.
What is your approach to architecture and design today?
If we’re designing for today, we’re already designing for the past. So, we must always think about and consider what is needed in the future. Each project is unique, as is every client, constraint, and design parameter, and it’s never one-size-fits-all. Our design process applies whether it’s creating a spreadsheet or designing a master plan. The critical first step is engaging with stakeholders to identify design principles and parameters; these serve as the guiding force throughout the entire process. At each milestone, we can check and balance against these goals to ensure that we are staying true to what the initial concept sought to achieve.
What is your assessment of the opportunities for architecture and design in the current economy?
I’m an eternal optimist and whether it’s a project constraint or a new technology, it creates opportunity for greater innovation. Artificial Intelligence (AI), for example, is so prominent today and can be a vital tool in the design process. I’m grateful that DLR Group has made strides towards investing in this innovation to be at the forefront of the industry. When you look at design, there is always an influence on what is going on in the market, from shifts in funding sources to changes in trends. We’re also in a post-pandemic world where there are many considerations of individual and organizational needs, so we must be intentional in how we navigate that. There’s a concept of triple constraint, which is balancing time, quality, and cost. By balancing these, along with our innovative tools and resources, we can achieve our clients’ project goals.
What is your outlook over the next two to three years?
We must continue to be good stewards of the community. There are exciting opportunities today and in the future, whether that involves revitalization of certain communities through adaptive reuse and urban planning or continued expansion. What distinguishes these projects is how we are preserving, celebrating, and elevating quality designs of the past while marrying them with new developments and innovations. It’s a part of the fabric of our successful region. We’ve been fortunate to meet with a lot of people to discuss projects and the East Bank always stands out as a major area of opportunity. With up to 100 people moving to the Nashville metropolitan area each day, there is a lot of opportunity for continued growth. Looking to the future, I look to our civic and state leaders, what their roles are, and how we can help. We have a lot of great relationships with community members, and we want to honor those in our work and remain purposeful in our approach.
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