Bruce McCarty & Associates (1965-1970)
Principle: Bruce McCarty

In 1965, Bruce McCarty and Bob Holsaple formed the Architectural Firm of Bruce McCarty and Associates. During the following five years, the firm experienced a very active and diverse practice.

Notable projects included a new Humanities Building, a new Communications and Administration Complex and the Clarence Brown Theatre, all for the University of Tennessee. Civic projects included the new Lawson McGhee Main Library for the City of Knoxville and the Mountain View Parking Garages. The firm also designed The Reef Condominiums for an ocean side site in St. Croix, in the U.S. Virgin Islands.


McCarty Bullock Church Holsaple, Inc (1970-1972)
McCarty Bullock Holsaple, Inc (1972-1984)

Principles: Bruce McCarty, Glenn Bullock, Bob Church, & Robert Holsaple
In 1970, Bruce McCarty and Associates merged with the firm of Bullock and Church to become McCarty Bullock Church Holsaple, Inc. With the death of Bob Church in 1972, the firm became McCarty Bullock Holsaple, Inc.

During the seventies, McCarty Bullock Holsaple, with Bob Church until his premature death, designed a number of additional projects for the University of Tennessee including the Business Administration Building and the School of Veterinary Medicine.

In 1976, the firm won a statewide competition for the design of the University of Tennessee Art and Architecture building. Bruce McCarty and Doug McCarty served as co-designers and the completed project received AIA State and Regional Awards and a feature article in the May 1992 Architectural Record.


  UT Art & Architecture Building

Other projects included: The Knoxville City County Building, the TVA Office Complex in Knoxville, Town View Terrace and Towers Rent Subsidy Apartments and a number of privately developed office and residential projects.

In 1976, McCarty Bullock Holsaple, Inc. was selected as the executive Architects for the
1982 World’s Fair. Bruce McCarty, as Master Architect, and Doug McCarty as Design Coordinator (1980-1982) managed the efforts of seven architectural firms and eight design consultants. The fair attracted 11,000,000 visitors and was featured in many periodicals including "Architecture" and "Time".


McCarty Holsaple McCarty, Inc (MHM) (1984-present)

Founders: Bruce McCarty, Robert Holsaple, & Doug McCarty
Current Principals: Doug McCarty, Jeff Johnson & David Collins

In 1984, following the resignation of Glenn Bullock, Doug McCarty became a Principal and the firm’s name was changed to McCarty Holsaple McCarty, Inc. During the 1980’s, MHM continued the association with the University of Tennessee completing garages and medical office buildings for the University Hospital, the John Hodges Library, the Football Facility and the Skyboxes for Neyland Stadium. Other projects completed during this period include Prime Outlet Malls in Missouri, Virginia and California, Goody’s Family Clothing Headquarters, and the Sovran Bank Center, now known as the Bank of America Building.

After the 1982 Worlds Fair, the firm expanded its range of expertise to include Master Planning as a full service. In 1989, the firm was selected to lead a design team in the development of a master plan for the Knoxville Waterfront. The firm was also involved as the lead designers of the revitalization master plan for Kingsport, Tennessee and several campus master plans including Webb School of Knoxville, the Dunham School of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Emory and Henry University, Virginia and Maryville College in Tennessee. In the late nineties, MHM was the leading master planner for the new Knoxville Convention Center and a large scale private development for downtown Knoxville known as Renaissance Knoxville.

The development of an interior design department furthered MHM’s reputation for design excellence and turn-key services. Started in 1986 and headed by Jeff Johnson, the interior design department has risen to the top in East Tennessee, winning numerous awards for design quality. Notable projects during this period include the renovations to the TVA Knoxville headquarters, the Knoxville Utilities Board Headquarters, the Johnson City Public Library and numerous law firms and other private office facilities.

Architectural commissions throughout the 1990’s also increased substantially though joint venture partnerships with HNTB on the McGee Tyson Airport Expansion, Thompson Ventulett Stainback and Associates on the new Knoxville Convention Center, and many local Knoxville firms. McCarty Holsaple McCarty has also strengthened its ties with the University of Tennessee. Projects in the late 1990’s included the Additions of East Side Skyboxes in Neyland Stadium, the expansion and renovations to the Law School, a new Geography Building, the renovation of the Alumni Memorial Gymnasium, and the McCarty Auditorium in the Art and Architecture Building.

As MHM entered the new millennium, repeat and new clients brought us many new challenging projects. Work for the University of Tennessee includes an expansion to the Football Training Facility, the new Howard Baker Center, and the addition of Club Seating and other improvements to Neyland Stadium in an exciting multi-year renovation project.

MHM was excited to be involved in the expansion of the Webb School of Knoxville to include elementary grades and to also provide start-up services for the totally new Episcopal School of Knoxville, including master planning its 95-acre campus and the design of modular classroom buildings, a central administration and gymnasium facility and a chapel.

Religious facilities work included the completion of renovations to the First Baptist Church, a new educational facility for Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church, a new sanctuary and offices for Westminster Presbyterian, a master plan for St. John’s (Episcopal) Cathedral and major additions to Sevier Heights Baptist Church.

New public libraries for Blount County, Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia won awards and received public acclaim. Other library work included master plans, programming and conceptual work for Southern Adventist University, Washington County, Virginia, Public Library System and the Knox County, Tennessee, Library System.

MHM continued its master planning practice with Master Plans for the University of North Carolina in Asheville and for Maryville College.

Major corporate work was done for the UnumProvident Insurance Company, both at their Chattanooga, Tennessee, headquarters and also at facilities in Worcester, Massachusetts and Portland, Maine.

Other private clients included accountants Coulter & Justus and Burkhart & Company, public relations company Moxley Carmichael, corporate headquarters for the national advertising and imaging company ImagePoint, developers Lawler-Wood and First Commercial Real Estate, attorneys Ritchie Law Firm, Bernstein Stair & McAdams, and Egerton McAfee Armistead & Davis, manufacturers Alcoa and Exedy America, technology leaders IPIX and CH2MHill, financial institutions The Trust Company, 21st Mortgage, TN Bank, EdFinancial and Branch Bank & Trust, product research leader U-30, travel giant AAA, restaurants Tennessee Grill and Riverside Tavern, communication companies Comcast and Knology, non-profit organizations Helen Ross McNabb and the Salvation Army, private foundations Cornerstone and the East Tennessee Foundation and recreation industry leader Brunswick Boat Group.

MHM received local, state and national recognition for its meticulous restoration of The Tennessee Theatre, a 1928 movie palace that was also creatively expanded to provide the space and amenities required for its transformation into a state-of-the-art performing arts center. The project received awards for design, preservation and engineering from organizations including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the American Institute of Architects and Contract Magazine.

MHM is currently involved in the design of another Performing and Fine Arts Center, this time for the cities of Maryville and Alcoa, Tennessee, and Maryville College. The facility is expected to open in 2009.

Other major current projects include the Knoxville Central Station, a multi-transportation center in the downtown, the Wharton Care Center in Crossville, dormitories at East Tennessee State University and Maryville College, continuing renovations to UT’s Neyland Stadium, new freestanding YMCA’s at Knoxville’s Lakeshore and Concord Parks and the new headquarters building for Hallsdale Powell Utilities.

Always seeking out the best talent in the area and with conservative planning and growth, McCarty Holsaple McCarty has served our clients as a stable and reliable source of high quality architectural design and construction facilitation for over 40 years. As active members in our state and local social, political and professional circles, McCarty Holsaple McCarty will continue to illustrate the very best in meeting the aspirations and goals of our clients, and the responsibility of ourselves as architects for the public welfare.