Our Story

Established in 2001, Dryden Studio is a comprehensive architecture and interior design studio located in Nashville, Tennessee. Our work is uniquely rooted in personal history and contemporary practice. The studio was born out of our desire to make meaningful places that contribute to healthy communities and mindfully engage local resources.

We have completed an array of projects across Nashville and beyond, ranging from neighborhood master plans, mixed-use developments, adaptive reuse projects, private residences, boutique hotels, retail, restaurants, and corporate offices.

We believe in facilitating strong creative partnerships with the artists and craftspeople with whom we work. With each project, we participate in a careful analysis of the site and intent of our collaborators to create places that are beautiful, functional, and intellectually stimulating. We do not enter a project with a prescribed design solution. Instead, we work closely with our clients to establish a common design language and bring their voice to life.

  • Dryden Studio helps clients realize their creative vision for spaces with an integrative approach. We combine technical skill with human understanding, process with outcomes, and architecture with interior design.

  • Dryden Studio is a regional resource well-known for our uniquely integrated approach to design that shapes how people interact with their cities and homes. We are mentoring a new generation of designers who value facilitating the design process and the client experience as much as the technical craft of architecture and interior design.

  • Trust: We win our clients’ trust so that we can deliver impeccable design, alongside a stellar client experience. Our team trusts their leaders’ experience and leverages it as a foundation they can build upon. In turn, we invest in training, tools, and mentoring so that leaders trust their team to do their jobs when the training and skills are in place.

    Art Without Ego: We extract what the client wants and give voice to their creativity. We expertly execute the design that will most delight our clients, not the design that will most delight us.

    Experiential Learning: Our art takes experience and time to master, as it requires both technical skills and human understanding. Dryden is a safe place with the right mentors in place to help our people learn and grow, so that they can pour into themselves while they pour out for our clients.

Our Team

  • Principal

    Nick, a native Tennessean, leads Dryden with integrity and professionalism. For 20 years and counting, he and our team have been creating thoughtful and sensitive designs while building lasting relationships in the community.

  • Interior Designer

    Ann Kennedy joined Dryden in 2019 after graduating from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s in Fine Art, Interior Design. She has a keen interest in visual storytelling, revealed through her work on both commercial and residential projects.

  • Director

    Jason, a native Tennessean, joined Dryden in 2021 after working for several years as a design-build architect for a wide range of projects. This unique background allows him to guide clients through the whole process, from site selection to final inspections.

  • Director

    Maria joined Dryden in 2021 after working in both Minneapolis and Nashville. She is a confident designer whose work is driven by providing opportunities for meaningful exchanges between people and the spaces they inhabit. Maria is highly engaged in the Nashville design community and currently serves as a Programming Advisor for Nashville Design Week.

  • Operations and Purchasing Manager

    Tabitha joined Dryden in 2022 with a background in project management and a passion for design. Tabby ensures daily operations run smoothly, making sure the team has what it needs to succeed. She also uses her strong organizational skills and industry knowledge to support our design team through purchasing and installations.

  • Designer

    Catherine, a Tennessee native, joined Dryden in 2024 after spending two years honing her skills in Nashville. Passionate about space planning, she strives to uncover new opportunities and inspire both communities and individuals by redefining their potential.

  • Director

    Dale, a native Tennessean, joined Dryden in 2014 with ten years of professional experience. He leads complex projects spanning tenant build-outs to large-scale adaptive reuse with a resourceful and creative spirit while mentoring new designers and keeping our tech on point.

  • Interior Designer

    Ross joined Dryden in 2021 after working as a designer in both Chicago and Nashville. He has a refined aesthetic and approaches his work with careful consideration. Ross loves developing and maintaining close relationships with clients to help them meet their goals.

  • Designer

    Kinna joined Dryden in 2024 after earning her degree from UTK's College of Architecture & Design. With a keen eye for detail and a thoughtful approach to every project, she excels in residential & hospitality design. Known for her rapid turnaround and collaborative spirit, she's always ready to jump in and make an impact!

  • Designer

    Madison, a native Tennessean, joins our team as an intern while pursuing a degree at UTK’s College of Architecture and Design. Her passion for intentional design stems from its ability to foster meaningful connections and create positive, lasting impacts. She is eager to gain hands-on experience and contribute to impactful projects!

  • Senior Architect

    Samantha, a native Nashvillian, joined Dryden in 2021 after working locally for ten years. An intelligent and capable designer, she works to re-invigorate the Nashville community through mixed-use, commercial, adaptive reuse, and historic renovation projects.

  • Senior Architect

    Richard joined Dryden in 2022 after working in architecture for seven years in Atlanta, GA. Richard brings to the team a strong background in adaptive reuse projects, detailed design skills, and a grounded demeanor.

  • Marketing and Studio Coordinator

    Alyssa, a Native Nashvillian, joined Dryden in 2024 to enhance our internal operations and external communications. Blending organization and creativity, she conveys Dryden's story to the world while her grounded nature fosters a warm and welcoming atmosphere to those visiting the studio.

  • Designer

    Chuck, a native Tennessean, joined Dryden in 2019 with ten years of professional experience working in architecture and design in Tennessee. A natural educator, Chuck uses his background as a lecturer at Parsons and UTK’s College of Architecture in the workplace, bringing thoughtfulness and artistry into all that he does.

  • Director

    James, a native Nashvillian, joined Dryden in 2004 to focus on context-driven design and community building. He leads projects ranging in scale and scope, from multi-family to private residential, with a thoughtful and lighthearted approach.

Dryden is proud to be a certified Nashville Living Wage employer.

Our commitment to paying a living wage supports our employees, positively impacts our industry + the local economy, and exemplifies our core values.

The Nashville living Wage rate is based on the “survival wage” in the ALICE Report from United Way of Tennessee, specific to Davidson County.