McCarty is Tennessee’s only architect to receive the recognition this year.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has announced that Doug McCarty, of McCarty Holsaple McCarty Architects, Inc., (MHM) was elevated to its prestigious College of Fellows. AIA Fellows are recognized with the AIA’s highest membership honor for their exceptional work and contributions to architecture and society.
According to the AIA, 102 architects received the honor nationally, and McCarty was the only architect in Tennessee to be elevated as a fellow. Since the inception of the creation of this honor, only 14 architects from East Tennessee have been elevated to FAIA including Doug’s late father, Bruce McCarty, founder of MHM.
The AIA explains that architects who have made significant contributions to the profession and society and who exemplify architectural excellence can become a member of the AIA College of Fellows, and only three percent of AIA members achieve this distinction.
McCarty became President and Director of Design at MHM in 1984 and recently transitioned to the firm’s Chairman Emeritus.
MHM has partnered with other design professionals to design many iconic civic structures such as the Knoxville Convention Center, the Tennessee Theatre restoration, the McGhee Tyson Airport, and numerous projects at the University of Tennessee, including the new Student Union, Neyland Stadium, Mossman Laboratory Building, the new Zeanah Engineering Complex and the award-winning Art + Architecture Building.
McCarty has consistently played an important mentorship role at the University of Tennessee School of Architecture. He and MHM have consistently supported the school, its courses and student organizations and activities.
With his leadership team and inclusive process of employee involvement, McCarty and MHM have developed a firm culture of inclusion, consensus and fun. In recent years MHM has been recognized for its positive workplace environment. AIA Tennessee has awarded MHM the Emerging Professional Friendly Firm Award for the last three years and twice the Knoxville News-Sentinel Business Journal has selected MHM as a “Top Workplace,” the only architecture firm included.
Supporting the East Tennessee Community Design Center (ETCDC) has been the major focus of McCarty’s charitable and volunteer efforts. The ETCDC is one of the oldest continuously operating design centers in the United States. McCarty has served on the board for more than 40 years. He has led fundraising efforts and forged partnerships between the ETCDC and numerous community groups. Serving the region for more than 50 years, the ETCDC serves 16 counties in East Tennessee, with over 1,000 projects completed.
McCarty will be celebrated along with the other 2021 AIA Fellows later in the year in an investiture ceremony in Washington, DC.
Learn more about Doug’s prestigious career & contributions to architecture: 2021 FAIA Book
The MHM team is guided by an approach to the delivery of planning and design services that has been developed over the 55-year span of its practice. MHM’s collaborative effort between the design team and the client is paramount to the success of a project. The MHM approach is based upon our belief in the clarity of process, commitment to comprehensive documentation, and dedication to taking responsibility for the project from beginning to end. This design process, balanced by research, observation, and introspection, yields the best results when conducted through work sessions. MHM is dedicated to enhancing a client’s culture, image, and brand while balancing a project’s complex parameters. For more information, visit .