Gensler Announces New Nashville Office and Leadership Team

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Gensler, the world’s leading architecture, design, and planning firm, announced that it is opening a new office in Nashville, and has selected a leadership team to oversee business operations. Christopher Goggin, Associate AIA, LEED AP, NCIDQ, and Kelly Cathey, AIA, will lead the Nashville office as Co-Managing Directors.

“Gensler has been active in Nashville for a number of years, and our growing volume of work indicated that it was the right time to launch an office here,” said Cindy Simpson and Judy Pesek, Co-Regional Managing Principals for Gensler’s South Central Region. “With Christopher and Kelly at the helm, we have a highly-experienced team with extensive design knowledge ranging from mixed-use and master planning to retail, that will help foster new opportunities for the Nashville office and the region.”

Christopher Goggin brings more than 30 years of experience leading innovative design projects that are focused on the future workplace and creating excellent, compelling worker engagement. Throughout his 24-year career at Gensler, he has honed his expertise in workplace interiors. He has delivered award-winning design for numerous professional services clients and global clients such as American Airlines, AT&T, and Shell, and has contributed to the successful design of over eight million square feet of office space.

“Nashville has a rich history and bright future. I am proud to serve as Co-Managing Director of the new office as we look to expand our offerings to help shape lasting projects within the city,” said Goggin. “Kelly and I are excited to partner to lead our team as we help guide the future of design in Nashville and the surrounding communities.”

Kelly Cathey brings 22 years of diverse design experience with work on civic, industrial, mixed-use, office, and retail projects. She is a design-focused practice leader and project manager with a record of building long-term client relationships and ensuring successful project delivery. Cathey has worked across multiple markets leading teams to deliver relevant, transformational project solutions while increasing profitability and growing market revenue.

“Having lived in Nashville for more than 10 years, I have seen the incredible growth and excitement around the numerous projects that are expanding the city’s scope on a national and international scale,” said Cathey. “I am honored to work with Christopher and our team to bring Gensler’s local and global expertise to the market.”

As Nashville continues to evolve into one of the nation’s top business hubs, Gensler is focused on growing key client relationships and the firm’s presence in the market, particularly for mixed-use and workplace interiors.

“We have been strategically delivering signature projects such as Fifth + Broadway and Assembly Food Hall,” said Steven Upchurch, Principal and Co-Managing Director, Gensler Dallas. “With our new office and leadership team, we’ll continue to bring a diverse portfolio of work that befits a rapidly growing city like Nashville.”

About Gensler Nashville
Gensler is a global architecture, design, and planning firm with 53 locations and more than 7,000 professionals networked across the Americas, Europe, Greater China, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. Founded in 1965, the firm works globally with more than 4,000 clients across 33 practice areas spanning the work, lifestyle, cities, and health sectors. We are guided by our mission to create a better world through the power of design, and the source of our strength is our people. By leveraging our diversity of ideas, our research and innovation, our shared values, and our One-Firm Firm culture, we are working seamlessly as a borderless firm in 140 countries and making the greatest impact on our communities as we continue to tackle the world’s challenges.

Gensler’s Nashville office is located near the Arts District at 161 Rosa Parks Blvd. Notable projects within Nashville and the surrounding area include Assembly Food Hall, Bass Berry Sims, Bradley, Essex Development’s Jefferson Street Project, Fifth + Broadway, Kimpton Aertson Hotel, and One Century Place.

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