For The Love OfHistory And Design

Say hello to Centric Architecture

01Design

Combining human need with art, science, and care for our environment to create transcendent value.

We Make It Look Great

02Preservation

Passionately reviving the landmarks of our culture so they can be enjoyed for generations to come.

We Make It Last

03Development

Initiating plans that inspire and shape the future of our communities.

We Make It Work
Superior Work In These
Work With Us.
Everyone here cares about great design, but complements that with a deep understanding of people.
See Open Positions

01Design

Combining human need with art, science, and care for our environment to create transcendent value.

We Make It Look Great

02Preservation

Passionately reviving the landmarks of our culture so they can be enjoyed for generations to come.

We Make It Last

03Development

Initiating plans that inspire and shape the future of our communities.

We Make It Work
Superior Work In These
Work With Us.
Everyone here cares about great design, but complements that with a deep understanding of people.
See Open Positions

History

Founded in 1955, Centric Architecture is proud to be one of the oldest architecture firms in Middle Tennessee. Through different names, mergers, and leadership transitions, our firm has remained committed to forward-looking design. From day one, we’ve embraced adaptability and innovation—finding opportunity in places others might overlook.

In the 1960s, we began as a historic preservation office at a time when no one really understood what “preservation” meant. That commitment carried into the 1970s, when we moved to Germantown—long before it was the thriving urban neighborhood it is today. Decades later, our office relocated into the Trolley Barns, our first adaptive reuse project. By turning the forgotten industrial structures into a vibrant, mixed use campus, the Trolley Barns not only shaped our approach to design but also helped establish our reputation as a trusted firm for transformative reuse work in Nashville.

The story repeats itself in 2021 when we turned what was once a dry cleaner and grocery store in North Nashville into our office. Today, we’re proud to call this building on Buchanan Street our home. This vibrant neighborhood has long been a cultural and commercial hub, known for its rich history and community pride. We’re honored to be part of North Nashville’s continued evolution and excited to contribute to its future with intentional, community-connected design.

Over the years, our projects have evolved—but our focus has remained the same. Today we offer full-service architecture, planning, programming, and interior design across a wide range of project types: commercial, cultural, civic, hospitality, education, multi-family, adaptive reuse, and historic preservation. Our work is united by a shared mission—to create places that are sustainable, meaningful, and lasting.

Our team of 25 includes 16 licensed architects, 10 LEED Accredited Professionals, 2 interior designers, and one of Tennessee’s only Certified Passive House Consultants. But beyond credentials, what defines us is a deep curiosity and a shared belief in the power of design to improve lives and strengthen communities.

Centric is proud to be a leader in high-performance and sustainable design. We’ve delivered numerous LEED Certified projects, in addition to having received many AIA Design Awards, ULI Excellence in Development Awards, Historic Preservation Awards, and many others.

At Centric, we’ve created a studio culture rooted in collaboration, creativity, and authenticity. We’re a tight-knit group of designers and problem-solvers who bring both experience and fresh perspective to the table. We find that when people are passionate about their work, and enjoy the people they work with, then together we can do some pretty great things. We have fun together, trust each other, and work hard together – and find that attitude spills over to our clients, consultants, and colleagues throughout our work together.

Approach

While our portfolio is varied, we do not consider ourselves “generalists” in the sense that we will work on whatever happens to stumble through the door. To the contrary, we are quite selective in the projects we take on, but find that it is less about the project-type selection than it is about client selection. We look to work with clients who seek quality, a sense of place, efficiency, and longevity—and who also appreciate the value of good design.

Our work is guided by these fundamental principles:

Influence

We work to inspire and build communities by creating unique, intentional environments that instill a compelling sense of place… And we seek to become an integral part of the communities in which we work—above and beyond architecture—through volunteerism, outreach, and service.

Quality

We carefully combine beautiful form, smart design, and high-performance solutions to ensure extraordinary results, both for today and decades into the future.

Collaboration

Guided by a passion for learning, a genuine care for ideas, and an empathy for all voices, we are committed to consensus-building within our staff, with our consultants, with our clients, and with the community at large.

Ingenuity

Working to stay ahead of the curve in building technology, sustainability, and project delivery methods; and pushing ourselves to constantly re-think how we might better serve our clients through innovation.

Legacy

We passionately strive to preserve what is historically significant while creating progressive additions to today’s culture.

And it all starts with the team. Ours is a passionate group of creative thinkers and problem solvers—who also happen to be great friends outside of the architecture grind! We have been deliberate in building a firm culture based on collaboration, creativity, and a shared vision of working hard for our clients while also having some fun while we’re at it. We find that when people are passionate about their work, and enjoy the people they work with, then together we can do some pretty cool stuff. We hang out together, have fun together, trust each other, and work hard together—and do all of that pretty darn well if we do say so ourselves.

Today, Centric isn’t standing still.  Our pioneering spirit is continuing to drive new innovation and exploration, and our passionate team is continuing to create a new architectural practice—firmly rooted in the past, planted in the community, and proudly built for the future.  If you’ve got the hankering to be a part of that journey, then don’t hesitate to give us a holler!