SDG News

In September, SDG Principal Jeremy Salmon P.E, S.E. and Associate Principal Zak Pruitt P.E., S.E. presented their paper “Contractor-Ready Construction Documents” Part 1 & 2 at this year’s Tennessee Engineers’ Conference (TNEC) in Franklin, TN. “Contract-Ready Construction Documents” Part 1 & 2 were published in the December 2025 & January 2026 issues of STRUCTURE magazine, respectively. “Contractor-Ready Construction Documents—Part 1” “Contractor-Ready Construction Documents—Part 2”  ...

05 October, 2026

We are excited to announce, that after 27 years in our Nashville – Metro Center office building (220 Great Circle Road, Suite 106), we have moved to a new space in Brentwood, Tennessee! 210 Westwood Place, Suite 250, Brentwood, TN 37027 Westwood South is a newly renovated office building located 11 miles south of our old address, just down interstate 65. This new location will enable us to continue our important work in Middle Tennessee......

01 October, 2026

SDG is honored to have received a Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) Design Award and Honorable Mention as the Engineer of Record for the Facade Only Parking Structure and Healthcare/Medical Building categories! SDG received a Design Award for 1111 Church Street Residences and Parking Structure in Nashville, TN for the Facade Only Parking Garage category. Nestled in the heart of downtown Nashville, the 1111 Church St. parking structure features approximately 500 spaces and is the backbone......

12 May, 2026

SDG is excited to announce that Walker Trent has been promoted to Associate Principal in January, 2026! Walker began working for SDG in 2018 following his graduation from the University of Tennessee. He graduated cum laude from UTK in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and earned his Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 2018. Walker holds a Professional Engineer (P.E.) license. He is responsible for all phases of......

21 January, 2026

SDG Principal Jeremy Salmon P.E, S.E. and Associate Principal Zak Pruitt P.E., S.E. have published Part 2 of their article in the January 2026 issue of STRUCTURE magazine. “Contractor-Ready Construction Documents—Part 2”  continues to explore a holistic approach to design decisions by including contractor input during early design phases. Jeremy and Zak discuss how early contractor collaboration eliminates guesswork around contractor preferences and economical approaches while providing an early understanding of existing site and building conditions.......

15 January, 2026

SDG is thrilled to continue our traditions through contributions to the annual Gingertown event and supporting a Salvation Army Angel Tree. SDG and our generous employees were able to provide much needed gifts for children and seniors in Nashville this Christmas season. So much joy and gratitude went into fulfilling wishlists and we are blessed to participate year after year. Several of our creative employees got together to build two additions to the annual Gingertown......

11 December, 2025

SDG Principal Jeremy Salmon P.E, S.E. and Associate Principal Zak Pruitt P.E., S.E. have published an article in the December 2025 issue of STRUCTURE magazine. “Contractor-Ready Construction Documents—Part1” explores a holistic approach to design decisions by including contractor input during early design phases. Jeremy and Zak discuss the advantages of early collaboration between structural engineers, architects, and contractors during design phases in order to make the most economical decisions on structural systems and use of building......

09 December, 2025

After 26 years with the firm, Susan Higdon has retired from Structural Design Group in September 2025. Susan graduated from Tennessee Tech University with a BS in Marketing and worked for several years in a variety of marketing and client service rolls. She spent 3 years as Marketing Coordinator at Stanley D. Lindsey and Associates before joining Structural Design Group in August 1999. Susan was among the first employees hired by SDG, assuming the role......

14 October, 2025

On Tuesday, August 5th, the SDG team celebrated “National Work Like A Dog Day” to recognize not only our own dedication and hard work, but also the loyal canine companions who support us outside the office. Our wonderful admin, Heather, organized a post-lunch gathering that featured dog-themed treats and voting for our furry friends displayed on the Pup Parade Wall. The fun and relaxing afternoon offered everyone a chance to take a stretch break, enjoy......

27 August, 2025

SDG is excited to announce the addition of two new members to our design team of structural engineers. Rebekah Penn, P.E. joined SDG in June of 2025. Rebekah received her B.S. in Civil Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 2018 and she received her M.S. in Structural Engineering from Montana State University in 2020. She has her P.E. and previously worked as a design engineer for WiSEngineers Inc. / Bennett &......

20 August, 2025

SDG is excited to announce the addition of two new members to our administrative team. Kristy Northcott Downer joined SDG in October of 2024. Kristy received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Middle Tennessee State University in 2011. She has previously worked as a controller and accountant for Ragan-Smith Associates. Kristy brings 14 years of accounting experience to SDG. Sarah Richards joined SDG in June of 2025 as Marketing Coordinator. In 2023, she received......

20 August, 2025

We are thrilled to see the completion of the Middle Tennessee State University Stephen & Denise Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center and are incredibly grateful to have been part of the design team alongside GMC! On July 30th, SDG Principal Jim Parker and Associate Principal Jennifer Acton attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony on campus and joined the MTSU community in celebrating this exciting new addition.        ...

31 July, 2025

On Saturday, July 19th, SDG team members attended the Nashville Soccer Club (NSC) match against Toronto FC at GEODIS Park. As NSC secured a 1-0 win over The Reds, the evening provided a great opportunity to spend time together outside of the office. Prior to the game, several members met up at local Nashville restaurant Wedge for dinner with colleagues, friends, and family. Afterward, everyone gathered at the stadium to show their team spirit and......

30 July, 2025

SDG recently celebrated Stanley Paseur’s retirement. Stanley has worked in the structural design industry for 40 years and has been a beloved member of our engineering team since he started here at SDG in 2002. Originally from Alabama, Stanley began his career as an intern and structural engineer with Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon in Huntsville. Prior to joining SDG, Stanley worked at Stanley D. Lindsey and Associates, Structural Integrity, and Ross Bryan Associates in......

11 July, 2025

SDG has appointed new corporate officers. Jim Parker will now serve as President, Kris Bomar as Vice President and Charles Haynes as Secretary. The officers, along with fellow Principals Joe Connor, Jeremy Salmon, and Will Grigg, each share in the day-to-day operation of the firm. SDG’s complete leadership group is rounded out by our four Associate Principals Jared Ganstine, Jennifer Acton, Drew Hatton, and Zak Pruitt. The partners remain committed to providing principal-level client contact......

23 May, 2025

Tom Schaeffer, one of SDG’s original founding partners, most recently serving as SDG’s President, is retiring after 45 years in the engineering industry.  Tom will continue to be involved part time at SDG as he transitions to a Principal Emeritus role with the firm. Tom was born and grew up in Nashville. He received his BE in Civil Engineering from Vanderbilt University in 1979, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and received the Dean’s Award......

16 May, 2025

The Nashville Edition Hotel and Residences on May 7 officially announced the launch of presales for 84 condominiums, which will be located at 1110 Porter St. in the Gulch neighborhood. Construction on the project, which will also include about 280 guest rooms, is slated to begin this fall. SDG is proud to work with ESa on the design for the new 28-story luxury hotel and condo tower. Take a peek at the upscale Nashville Edition......

07 May, 2025

We have been incredibly fortunate over the years to work with some of the finest architects and facility owners in the country and are proud to say the vast majority of our work each year is attributable to clients we’ve forged strong relationships with and worked with many times. Since our founding in June of 1999 by a group of six structural engineers, the current leadership group has expanded as the company has grown and......

24 March, 2025

SDG is proud to work with ESa on two new Hilton Hotels in Nashville. Nashville’s first Motto by Hilton held a topping out ceremony in February 2025 for the 13-story, 260-room hotel designed for efficient, stylish stays with flexible room configurations. Tempo by Hilton Nashville opened February 2024 in the Nashville Yards development. Opening significantly ahead of schedule and under budget, the Tempo Nashville was only the second Tempo by Hilton branded property to open......

17 March, 2025

SDG is working on the $53.6 million expansion at TriStar Hendersonville Medical Center. HCA plans the expansion to increase capacity in multiple departments and add 30,000 square feet and 24 medical or surgical inpatient beds on the hospital’s third floor. From the Nashville Business Journal, Feb 4, 2025, “We are excited to begin this major expansion project that will allow us to care for more patients as Sumner County and our surrounding communities continue to......

10 February, 2025

In January 2025, Will Grigg was promoted to Principal at SDG. Previously he was an Associate Principal in the firm. Will has been with SDG since 2006 when he began working as a Design Engineer and Project Manager immediately after receiving his M.S. degree in Structural Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from New Mexico State University. Will has worked on a wide range of projects including educational, commercial, religious,......

07 February, 2025

Smyrna High School has officially cut the ribbon on their brand new expansion. As the second largest school in Rutherford County Schools – Tennessee and one of the top 10 largest schools in Tennessee, this upgrade was more than necessary, and will provide the over 2,400 students with a modern, safe environment. Smyrna High School Addition more details Linked In – SDG is proud to be on the team        ...

06 February, 2025

SDG has been working with Blair + Mui Dowd Architects to provide structural design services for the Jim Ayers Tower, the largest facility expansion at Vanderbilt to date. The 15-level, 470,000-square-foot tower will be the new front door to Vanderbilt University Hospital. New Vanderbilt University Hospital tower        ...

29 January, 2025

This week a group from SDG went to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee and helped pack 672 boxes with canned goods for Feeding America. The 8 pallets of boxes will be sent to Florida to be distributed for hurricane relief. Thank you to Jennifer Acton, Blake Atchison, Andrew Slaven, P.E., Bryan, Josh, James, Sydney, and Sean.        ...

17 October, 2024

Congratulations to SDG’s Paul Murray who was recently honored with the 2024 Engineer of the Year award by The Nashville Chapter of the Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers.  The NSPE-TN award recognizes contributions to the Engineering Profession. Paul was one of the founding partners at Structural Design Group. He retired from SDG in 2023 after working for 41 years as a structural engineer.        ...

04 April, 2024

SDG  is excited to announce two new positions and the promotions of Jason Lawson and Drew Hatton. Drew Hatton will be SDG’s new Engineering Technology Manager. Drew was recently named an Associate Principal in the firm. He will oversee the development of internal design software and be responsible for implementing and educating our staff on the effective use of our engineering software, including REVIT. In his 12 years with SDG, Drew’s innovative mindset, technical expertise,......

22 February, 2024

SDG is pleased to announce new Associate Principals Drew Hatton and Zak Pruitt. In January of 2024, both were promoted to Associate Principal from prior positions of Project Managers in the firm. Drew Hatton has been with SDG since 2012. He earned a Master’s degree in Civil/Structural Engineering from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio in 2011, where he also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 2008. Drew received the Senior Leadership Award in......

15 February, 2024

In February 2024, SDG was ranked as the 16th largest Nashville-area engineering firm on the Top 25 list published by the Nashville Business Journal. Rankings are based on the number of local licensed engineers. SDG currently has 15 licensed engineers and 47 total employees. SDG is the largest purely structural engineering firm in the Nashville area. SDG first appeared on the list in 2001, following the firm’s formation in 1999.      ...

14 February, 2024

This project, which is set to be  the largest renovation and expansion project in the hospital’s history, is featured in Healthcare Design’s August 2023 Project Showcase. SDG is honored to be working with ESa on this latest addition to the hospital campus. https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202308/index.php#/p/94 Williamson Medical Center Expansion of ER, OB and West Tower Addition        ...

24 August, 2023

Zak Pruitt recently passed the S.E. exam, the final requirement to receive his Structural Engineer (S.E.) license. The S.E. license is granted to engineering professionals who have previously passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (F.E.) exam; have earned a minimum of 4 years of structural engineering experience with 2 years in Responsible Charge directing projects; and have passed the strenuous NCEES – S.E. exam. The S.E. exam is specifically designed for engineers practicing in jurisdictions that......

19 June, 2023

We recently celebrated Paul and Lezlie Murray’s Retirements at Top Golf Nashville with all our SDG family and a few close friends.  It was a beautiful day and we had so much golfing and getting to honor them during a great luncheon....

25 May, 2023

We’d like to share the news Lezlie Murray has joined her husband Paul in retiring from SDG.  Lezlie has been with SDG since the company’s founding in 1999 serving as the firm’s accountant. Lezlie’s wisdom and calm presence, along with her experience and knowledge, have been invaluable to SDG over the years. We can’t thank her enough for her 24 years of service and dedication. Lezlie plans to spend lots more time with her family......

22 May, 2023

SDG is pleased to announce the addition of Sydney Reeder to our team of design engineers. Sydney received her M.S. in Structural Engineering from the University of Tennessee and her B.S. in Civil Engineering from UT, where she graduated summa cum laude. Sydney previously worked as a structural design engineer and auditor with Ross Bryan Associates in Nashville, and with Cooper Steel Fabricators as a Project Manager.  ...

22 May, 2023

Paul Murray, one of SDG’s original founding partners, has decided to retire and transition to a Principal Emeritus role with SDG. Paul was instrumental in the growth of SDG from the firm’s original six partners in 1999 to one of the largest structural engineering firms in Tennessee with close to 50 employees today. “I am looking forward to retirement but will certainly miss all my friends at SDG and in the local design and construction......

11 May, 2023

Middle Tennessee State University broke ground Thursday on the school’s new Student-Athlete Performance Center — a $66 million facility to be built next to Floyd Stadium on Greenland Drive in Murfreesboro. Serving as the new home for the Blue Raider football team, the three-story, 85,500-square foot venue will also house athletic training, weightlifting and nutrition areas in addition to office spaces for coaches. SDG is honored to be working with Goodwyn Mills Cawood Inc. and......

30 January, 2023

In January of 2023, Jennifer Acton was promoted to Associate Principal in the firm. Previously, she was a Design Engineer and Project Manager at SDG. Jennifer has been with SDG since 2007 following her graduation from Duke University with a Master of Engineering Management degree. Jennifer obtained a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Vanderbilt in 2006. Jennifer has over 15 years of experience in the design of a variety of projects and has specialized in......

26 January, 2023

SDG employees volunteered at Second Harvest Food Bank and sorted over 5,000 lbs. of fresh produce into 300 boxes. We provided over 4,000 meals for people in need. Thanks Jennifer, Carol, Lezlie, Lisa, Paige, Randi, Sean, William, Blake, and Andrew!...

07 November, 2022

Piedmont Medical Center – Fort Mill, located at 1000 Wellness Way, Fort Mill, SC, officially opened in September 2022. This new $170 million Medical Center consists of an approximately 200,000-square foot, 100-bed hospital located on a green field site in Fort Mill, South Carolina. https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6973335575592415232/ https://www.sdg-structure.com/portfolio_page/piedmont-medical-center-at-fort-mill/...

12 September, 2022

We are proud to be working with ESa on the new state-of-the-art pediatric hospital facility at Mary Bridge Children’s – the only Level II Pediatric Trauma hospital in Western Washington. After more than 30 years of sharing space with MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital, Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital is getting a new home and has revealed an updated $415 million hospital campus plan. When Mary Bridge first unveiled the design for its new standalone hospital in......

12 September, 2022

We’d like to share the news that Jim Stephenson has retired and transitioned to a Principal Emeritus role with SDG. In 1999, Jim was instrumental in the founding of Structural Design Group and served as our official President. Jim started his professional career 45 years ago in 1977.  After a return to graduate school, he started working at Stan Lindsey’s in 1981. He began specializing in healthcare design in the 1980’s and was involved early......

12 August, 2022

We are proud to be working with ESa on the campus of Castle Rock Hospital near Denver. The team recently celebrated the topping-out of the new medical office building and ambulatory surgery center in Castle Rock, Colo. The new four-story, 70,000 square foot MOB and ASC, slated to open in 2023, will be located adjacent to the current hospital. Services include an ambulatory surgery center with four ORs and two procedure rooms. Design features include......

11 August, 2022

We are proud to be working on the campus of Williamson Medical Center once again with ESa. This time the project is set to be  the largest renovation and expansion project in the hospital’s history. The 2-year first phase of the project is worth $200 million and includes: · Expanding capacity in WMC’s Adult ER from 28 beds to 43, including a secure 8-bed behavioral health pod; · Expanding Obstetrics from 28 beds to 34,......

05 August, 2022

We are thrilled to be working with Blair + Mui Dowd Architects on the new VUMC Link Building, the first major expansion at the hospital since 2009. The 15-story inpatient tower is situated between 21st Avenue South and Medical Center Drive. The future Link Building will connect two existing structures and sit atop an existing parking garage and will add nearly 470,000 square feet to the Vanderbilt hospital. The Link Building is expected to include......

26 July, 2022

SDG is honored to have provided structural design services for the new 91-room Lodge at Paris Landing State Park. The Lodge provides hotel resort-style vacation rentals on Kentucky Lake near Land Between the Lakes. Features include modern room design, conference space, a full-service restaurant, bar, and lounge overlooking scenic lakes and natural beauty. TN State Parks News – Lodge at Paris Landing Opens SDG Portfolio Lodge at Paris Landing    ...

06 July, 2022

SDG is honored to be on the team for the first regional Catholic elementary school in the Diocese of Nashville. Construction of the $60.2 million facility marks the first of three phases of work on the beautiful 166-acre Nolensville Catholic Campus. The 102,000-square-foot building will make abundant use of natural light and provide easy access to outdoor classroom space providing ample environmental learning opportunities fostering real-world problem-solving skills. The school will eventually serve approximately 525......

19 May, 2022

Continuing a tradition for the third year now, SDG has our own Salvation Army Angel Tree.  SDG and our generous employees were able to provide needed gifts for children and senior “angels” in Nashville this Christmas season. We had so much fun shopping their wishlists and are very thankful that we were able to participate again this year in the program.        ...

03 December, 2021

We’re proud to be on the team transforming another corner of downtown Nashville for this beautiful new hotel on Rosa Parks Blvd. The 16-story mixed-use tower will be located on a downtown surface parking lot owned by Christ Church Cathedral and developed by New Orleans-based HRI Properties. The tower will offer one hotel and retail space at the intersection of Rosa Parks Blvd. and Commerce Street. The hotel will be a Hilton Tempo. The 16-story......

18 November, 2021

We’re always grateful for the opportunity to work on local projects and eager to get started on this MAJOR athletic facility at MTSU! The project includes a $66 million, 3-story football building behind the north end zone of Floyd Stadium, the first of a three-part plan to upgrade athletics facilities costing at least $100 million. The first project is expected to be finished before the 2024 football season. The new building will be constructed on......

18 November, 2021

SDG is incredibly proud to be on the team for this triangle of 3 projects transforming Nashville’s North Gulch – 125 11th Avenue North Residential Tower, 1111 Church Street Residential, and the luxury Edition Hotel. 125 11th Avenue North – “Flank Inc. unveils second Gulch project near Pins Mechanical Co., Asurion hub and more” 1111 Church Street Residential Nashville Edition Hotel  ...

10 November, 2021

SDG’s team had a great day at Brasfield & Gorrie’s inaugural Claude Cup Wing Cook Off at Percy Warner Park. It was a beautiful day and the wings that Randi, Chris, Jonathan, and Auston made were delicious and enjoyed by everyone there. We’re grateful for the fellowship enjoyed with others in Nashville’s design and construction industry.              ...

08 November, 2021

We are proud to support our “active” engineers. Congratulations guys! George and Andrew ran the Moosic City Dairy Dash in MetroCenter this weekend. Andrew beat George by a mere 2 seconds and they both did great. George got 3rd place in his age group and won a cowbell! Jennifer ran the 5k on the Greenway in Bellevue in 29 minutes, a (post babies) personal best.            ...

04 October, 2021

Big shout out to SDG employees who stepped up and volunteered for a CPR / AED Training Course conducted at SDG to be available in an emergency for their co-workers. Paige, Jennifer, Will, Jonathan, Rob, and David. Thank you!          ...

04 October, 2021

SDG is excited to announce the addition of 4 recent engineering graduates to our design team of structural engineers. Andrew Slaven, E.I. joined SDG in January of this year following his December graduation from Virginia Tech with an M.S. in Civil Engineering with Emphasis in Structural Engineering and Materials and a 4.0 GPA. He received a B.S. in Civil Engineering with a Minor in Mathematics and a 3.96 GPA in 2019 from Arkansas State University.......

24 September, 2021

SDG is proud to have worked with Ross Tarrant Architects on this innovative facility that is a partnership between progressive education specialists from the UK College of Education and Fayette County Public Schools. Fayette County Public Schools’ STEAM Academy is completely changing the way students learn. This building, originally built in 2007 for Imani Baptist Church, was completely renovated to create a new, state-of-the-art educational environment for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. The building......

20 August, 2021

SDG has current openings for: Senior Structural Design Engineer / Project Manager and a BIM Modeler. See our job posts at Structural Design Group Jobs on Indeed.Com. If you are interested in becoming a part of our team, submit resumes with a cover letter through Indeed or email sdg@sdg-structure.com. https://www.sdg-structure.com/careers/...

19 August, 2021

ESa and Mary Bridge Hospital unveiled architectural renderings for the new Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital building. Preliminary work is underway and construction of the new hospital building is scheduled to begin early 2022. Anticipated opening towards the end of 2024. The Outpatient Center will be incorporated into the new facility’s architectural design, bringing both inpatient and outpatient services to one location. Other design and architectural elements of the building reflect the hospital’s roots in Tacoma......

05 August, 2021

What a fun day seeing everyone’s dogs! In honor of #NationalWorkLikeADogDay, our offices today were decorated with photos of our dog babies. So much cuteness!        ...

05 August, 2021

Debbie Lowe retired in June this year after almost 15 years with SDG. Debbie started with SDG in 2006.  She was a valued member of our staff taking on almost any administrative role needed and was a key contributor in our Field Group working with members of the Construction Administration team, architects, contractors, and testing agencies. Her always smiling, always helpful, willing and grateful attitude will be greatly missed.          ...

29 June, 2021

Construction has begun at the new 200,000-square-foot, 100-bed hospital with a helipad and separate entrances for the emergency department and ambulances. An Integrated Project Delivery approach is being utilized with recurring team meetings to discuss, evaluate, and coordinate the project. https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2021/05/27/fort-mill-medical-center-construction-begins.html...

18 June, 2021

The $175 million UCF Lake Nona Medical Center is now officially open. SDG is proud to have provided structural design services with ESa. https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/ucf-lake-nona-medical-center-opens   UCF LAKE NONA MEDICAL CENTER RECEIVES LEED AWARD The UCF Lake Nona Medical Center, a 64-bed new hospital that will be the teaching hospital at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine in partnership with HCA Healthcare, was awarded LEED for Healthcare Version 4. The new hospital was designed......

07 May, 2021

The design team’s commitment to the vision of housing families with children battling illness in a home-like setting while achieving LEED Gold certification for sustainable building process and features recognized. https://www.usgbc.org/articles/homelike-design-fedexfamilyhouse Photo credit: Lisa Buser  ...

26 April, 2021

Like so many in Nashville, we were personally shocked and saddened by the Christmas Day bombing of Nashville’s historic Second Avenue. We’ve consulted on renovations to various buildings on the street throughout the years and watched as it evolved into the beautiful centerpiece of Nashville’s downtown district. We’re proud now to be part of the engineering team working to save it. SDG’s Tom Schaeffer has been onsite conducting observations and assessing the safety and stability......

15 March, 2021

SDG’s Tom Schaeffer optimistic about pipeline of work post-Covid published in an Engineering Special Report in the March 9, 2021 issue of the Nashville Business Journal. Tom was one of a number of top local engineering firm officials quoted in the article. SDG is ranked at 16 on the list of engineering firms based on the firm’s number of local licensed engineers. https://lnkd.in/eGtW-E3    ...

10 March, 2021

The 645,000-square-foot, 25-story Avalon Midtown tower, located on Hayes Street in Nashville, will feature 308 apartment units, a top-floor amenities deck, and 58,000 square feet of office space in the two bottom levels. The high-rise’s design has undergone significant changes since its proposal in 2020. The project was being designed as a 27-story, 775,000 sq ft. mixed-use project with parking, 2 office levels, and apartments. Original plans called for two towers, not one, with 90,000......

04 February, 2021

The 43,800-square-foot building contains both the innovative entrepreneurial center and a 550-seat auditorium not only for speeches, presentations and conferences, but also for theatrical performance, concerts and other artistic productions. The school expects the building to represent “one of the most influential changes” at BGA in the last decade. We’re proud to be on the team with @ESa_Architects.   http://www.williamsonherald.com/news/bga-entrepreneurship-center-nears-opening-date/article_ae832bc4-5b54-11eb-ae1c-1f5fc6911081.html https://franklinhomepage.com/bgas-groundbreaking-on-center-for-arts-and-entrepreneurship-is-a-game-changer-for-school/ http://www.williamsonherald.com/features/education/bga-breaks-ground-on-entrepreneurship-center/article_08ee5f9a-e0c5-11e9-829d-c750864bdb32.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share...

28 January, 2021

While Christmas this year looks very different for everyone, we are especially grateful to our wonderful clients, employees, and friends and families that we are blessed to have. We are thankful that we were able to participate again this year in the Salvation Army Angel Tree program. SDG and our generous employees were able to provide needed gifts for 30 angels in Nashville this Holiday season. We are thankful that our “socially-distanced” employees chose to......

21 December, 2020

We had a great day at the annual @LoveHelps golf tournament at Vanderbilt Legends course. It was a perfect day to support the work Love Helps. inc.does in Nashville schools.        ...

08 September, 2020

SDG is proud to have been part of the design team on The Center for Advanced Healthcare at Brownwood in The Villages, FL. A fascinating concept in the future of healthcare, the CAHB is the main feature in the August Healthcare Design magazine. https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/202008/index.php#/p/30 The facility is also the cover feature of the Fall 2020 Environments for Aging magazine and in an article on “Concierge Care.” https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/efa/fall2020/index.php#/p/10 Center for Advanced Healthcare at Brownwood    ...

03 September, 2020

Phil Francis, one of the original founding shareholders at SDG, is retiring after 21 years with the firm. Phil has been involved in structural drafting and detailing in Nashville for 45 years. He has designed and modeled thousands of facilities across the United States. Phil has served as the CAD Systems Manager, IT Manager, Senior Project Coordinator, and Manager of SDG’s Structural Modelers since the firm was founded in 1999. He’s been an essential contributor......

25 August, 2020

As seen in The Tennessean. Located in Nashville’s Midtown neighborhood near Vanderbilt University, Graduate Nashville is a 12-story, 205-room hotel with decorative themes of country music and Vanderbilt University. SDG is very proud to have provided structural design services for the hotel. Nashville Lifestyles 7.7.20 Graduate Hotel Announces its New Rooftop Bar, White Limozeen  Tennessean 1.10.20 A view inside the new Graduate Nashville hotel          ...

25 August, 2020

The new 4-story Peeples Cancer Institute at Hamilton Medical Center is featured in the Aug. issue of Health Facilities Management magazine. https://www.hfmmagazine.com/articles/3979-facility-designed-with-compassion-and-care        ...

24 August, 2020

Construction on the beautiful new lodge at Fall Creek Falls State Park is moving along and should be completed by the end of the year. With ESa and Bell & Associates Construction. The new facility will have a 2-story main entrance structure and an adjacent wing with meeting spaces and support functions. An indoor pool will be located at the lower level under the main lobby area. A 3-story guestroom wing with 85 rooms will......

24 August, 2020

WKU’s Ogden College Hall just became the first educational laboratory building in the world to earn WELLv2 Gold Certification for RossTarrant Architects. We’re proud to have provided structural design services. Ogden College Hall is Western Kentucky University’s $40-million, 83,000-square-foot science laboratory facility.  RTA designed the entire building to focus on the health and wellness of its occupants including “things like making stairs more prominent than elevators to more complex concepts like how light, art and......

15 April, 2020

In February 2020, SDG was ranked as 14th largest Nashville-area engineering firm on the Top 25 list published by the Nashville Business Journal. Rankings are based on the number of local licensed engineers. SDG is the largest purely structural engineering firm in the Nashville area. SDG first appeared on the list in 2001 ranked 20th. Nashville Business Journal “Top of the List: Nashville’s Biggest Engineering Firms”    ...

02 March, 2020

Excited to be at Vanderbilt’s ASCE Industry Night to help students discover opportunities within the civil engineering field and network with Nashville’s ASCE member firms.  ...

11 February, 2020

In January 2020, Kris Bomar was promoted to Principal at SDG. Previously, he was an Associate Principal in the firm. Kris began his engineering career in 2001 as an Engineering Intern at SDG following his graduation from the University of Tennessee. Kris received a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from Vanderbilt University in 2004.  He has significant experience in conventional and post-tensioned concrete structures, as well as steel and masonry structures. He has worked on......

16 January, 2020

We’re so pleased to have our own Salvation Army Angel Tree in the office this year to spread the joy and magic of Christmas. SDG’s generous employees have been busy shopping for gifts that will be distributed to needy families throughout Nashville this Holiday season.      ...

04 December, 2019

SDG Principal Jeremy Salmon and Brad Davis, vibration consultant and owner of Davis Structural Engineering, publish article in the December 2019 issue of MODERN STEEL CONSTRUCTION magazine. “Structural Vibration Serviceability” explores advanced design methods in AISC’s design guide on vibrations – “AISC Design Guide 11: Vibrations of Steel-Framed Structural Systems Due to Human Activity (DG 11), Second Edition.” Jeremy and Brad discuss the advantages of collaboration between structural engineers and vibration specialists in designing new......

04 December, 2019

Celebrating “finally Fall” with SDG’s Second Annual Chili Cookoff. Congratulations to Rob for repeating in first place with his fiery chili. Jennifer’s cheesy chili was a close runner-up. And surprising the competition in third place “Smorgasbord Chili” by the team of Jacob, Walker, and Blake.    ...

28 October, 2019

“BGA broke ground Thursday on a 37,000-square-foot building that will house the school’s theater program and serve as the home for BGA’s growing Entrepreneurial Leadership curriculum.” SDG is providing structural design. We’re proud to be on the team with @ESa_Architects. The centerpiece of the facility is a 550-seat theater and auditorium to be used by the school’s drama departments. It will house school productions, as well as outside programs. The Entrepreneurial Leadership Center will occupy......

03 October, 2019

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said the $17.75 million McMinn Higher Education Center will be “a model” for higher education nationwide at the ground breaking ceremony Friday. We’re proud to provide structural engineering on the team with Goodwyn Mills Cawood. The project will relocate current Cleveland State Community College classroom spaces, UT Extension, and Adult Education classes, and TCAT Vocational lab space and provide space for local industry workforce training to upgrade the existing workforce. Construction......

03 October, 2019

“Structural engineers play an essential role in designing and detailing structures to accommodate future expansion, as well as helping the owner and design team plan ahead for the intended use and functionality of the additional floors.” SDG’s Jeremy Salmon, P.E., S.E. and Jennifer Acton, P.E. discuss “Designing for Future Expansion” featured in the October issue of STRUCTURE magazine. https://www.structuremag.org/?p=15030 http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d86df6ee#/d86df6ee/12          ...

02 October, 2019

SDG was honored recently by being asked to present at HCA’s annual Partnering Meeting for Capital Deployment. Jim’s session focused on performance-based design, which originated in the Nuclear industry, and how it can contribute to the continuous operation of hospitals during and after intense wind and seismic events. SDG is grateful for our longstanding relationship with HCA Healthcare and thankful for their commitment to provide the best possible facilities for patients and their families.  ...

26 September, 2019

SDG held our 2nd Annual Cornhole tournament Friday. Congratulations to Tom and Paul for winning , coming back from a tough draw in the bracket with no first round bye and one loss and toppling the favorites, Sean and Caleb. We enjoyed a short break in Nashville’s September heat wave on a breezy day full of serious competition, trash talk, and fellowship.  ...

24 September, 2019

SDG team members, babies, and dogs supporting the American Heart Association at the Heart Walk! It was a hot September day on the Vanderbilt campus, but we had fun supporting a great cause.    ...

16 September, 2019

We had a great time participating in the 5th Annual Gulch Cornhole Tournament presented by ESa, MarketStreet Enterprises, and JE Dunn, supporting the American Heart and Stroke Association. SDG was a proud Gold Level Sponsor for the event that raised more than $15,000 for the organization. SDG’s Kris Bomar and Jared Ganstine were the first place winners. Yeah, they’re pretty good at cornhole…and it was a great afternoon socializing with others in Nashville’s design and......

10 September, 2019

The Tennessean’s  “Nashville’s construction cranes” features the addition to First Baptist Church at 6th and Broadway. The addition is a 3-story structure with a footprint of approximately 32,700 square feet. The addition will house a new Fellowship hall, worship center, choir room, education spaces, and kitchen. Several floors will have exterior balconies or terraces. The newly constructed building is a post-tensioned concrete structure. SDG is excited to be working with Earl Swensson Associates on the......

06 September, 2019

The Tennessean’s  “Nashville’s construction cranes” features the Graduate Nashville Hotel under construction.  SDG is excited to be working with Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture on the new 12-story, 203-room boutique hotel. Tennessean 9.4.19 “Nashville’s construction cranes        ...

05 September, 2019

The Anna Shaw Children’s Institute, Hamilton Health Care System, received the highest Award of Merit in the 2019 Healthcare Design Showcase. The project was submitted and designed by Earl Swensson Associates. The prestigious Healthcare Design Showcase awards program is now in its 19th year of honoring the very best design and architecture in the healthcare industry. Seventeen jurors, appointed by our partner organizations (The Center for Health Design, IIDA, and ASID), reviewed this year’s project......

03 September, 2019

SDG is serving as a consultant to Clemson University on a research project sponsored by the Precast Concrete Institute’s (PCI) 2019/2020 Daniel P. Jenny Research Fellowship program. SDG will be providing support to Hannah Dillingham, a student at Clemson and one of only four students across the country who were awarded the Fellowship. The Daniel P. Jenny Research Fellowship program connects professors and students with industry experts to advance research in precast concrete. It is......

20 August, 2019

We’re excited to be on the team with Binkley Garcia Architecture for two new middle schools in Cowan and Winchester in Franklin County. The county is investing $48 million to build the two new middle schools and have them in use by August 2020. Each school will consist of about 80,000 square feet. They are being built on existing school campuses. Existing classroom buildings will be demolished though the gymnasiums are to remain and are......

22 July, 2019

We’re excited to be on the team with ESa for the new hotel project at 1101 Grundy Street. The 16-story hotel will contain 281 rooms along with a restaurant, concert venue and 8,900-square-foot market hall. Nashville Business Journal 7.12.19  “Gulch hotel to boast high-end Marriott brand” Tennessean 7.12.19 “Luxury Marriott Edition hotel coming north of the Gulch”      ...

12 July, 2019

SDG is celebrating our 20th anniversary this June, and we can’t wait for 20 more! Thank you to all of our amazing clients! In June of 1999, a group of like-minded structural engineers and friends started SDG. They successfully guided the firm as it has grown to a leadership group now comprised of 7 principals and 4 associates and almost 50 employees. The years have brought changes, challenges, successes and lots of great memories and......

24 June, 2019

SDG is providing structural design for the new 253,000-square-foot, 5-story tower. The tower will have 72 new beds (all private rooms) that include 36 ICU beds and 36 Medical-Surgical beds. The project also expands the Sunrise Hospital emergency department from 50 to 77 beds and expands the Sunrise Children’s Hospital emergency department from 20 to 30 beds. The state-of-the-art facility also incorporates a spacious new lobby and new public and emergency department entrances. The facility......

13 June, 2019

SDG provided structural design for the new North Alabama Medical Center that opened the doors of its brand new 485,000-square-foot, 263-bed facility in Dec. 2018. http://www.lifepointhealth.net/news/2018/12/13/north-alabama-medical-center-celebrates-grand-opening-of-new-facility http://www.laytonconstruction.com/news/north-alabama-medical-center-crossroads.htm        ...

13 June, 2019

Carilion Clinic announces plans for a 400,000-square-foot expansion of Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. SDG is providing structural engineering for the project that will provide specialized space for cardiac, behavioral health and emergency services for patients in Virginia. The project will include the addition of a new 8-story hospital tower, replacement of the neighboring Behavioral Health building, and the expansion of an existing parking garage to add 550 spaces. Construction will begin later this year and......

13 June, 2019

SDG is actively involved in development of TMS Masonry building code to make the Code more user friendly.  Charles Haynes discusses the changes in User-Friendly Tables in an article published in STRUCTURE magazine. TMS 402/602-16: Changes to the Masonry Code STRUCTURE MAGAZINE    ...

13 June, 2019

SDG sent four engineers to attend NASCC: The Steel Conference in St. Louis this April.  This AISC conference is the premier educational and networking event for the structural steel industry, bringing together structural engineers, structural steel fabricators, erectors, detailers, and architects. The Steel Conference offered practical seminars on the latest design concepts, construction techniques and cutting-edge research with topics including seismic design, design for constructability, and the future of the steel industry. Attending were Jacob......

08 April, 2019