Gresham Smith is proud to announce Jen Murphy as its new Civic Practice Leader within the Life and Work Places market. Jen rejoins the firm after a distinguished career spanning over three decades, including significant leadership roles in government real estate at the State of Tennessee.
Having dedicated the past 14 years of her career to public sector work, Jen brings firsthand insight into the complexities of civic projects, uniquely positioning her to provide tailored services to Gresham Smith’s government clients. At the State of Tennessee, she held key roles including Executive Director of Real Estate Strategy & Assistant Commissioner of Capital Projects, Design/Workplace Strategy, Leasing, and Facility Management. There, she advocated for government department leaders to ensure needs of the departments and government enterprise were aligned – leading innovative strategy initiatives that modernized citizen-facing facilities and improved public employees’ ability to deliver services effectively.
“Jen’s deep understanding of government operations and capital planning enables her to develop real estate solutions that support and advance the delivery of vital community services—furthering Gresham Smith’s mission to create healthy and thriving communities,” said Jeff Kuhnhenn, Executive Vice President of Life and Work Places. “Her expertise aligns with our strategic focus, and we look forward to accelerating the impact of our work with her on board.”
Among her key achievements, Jen spearheaded a statewide consolidation restack project that upgraded office spaces to current standards while significantly reducing third-party lease expenses. In 2016, she was a founding member in the development and implementation of Tennessee’s hybrid work initiative, the Alternate Workplace Solutions program. This led to a second consolidation restack project for offices and buildings in Nashville, set to be completed in 2026. These initiatives laid out the groundwork for the state’s robust response to workplace challenges, including those presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jen’s expertise spans strategic planning across IT, HR, policy and support services, and her leadership has helped shape sustainable hybrid work strategies, preparing state employees with the resources needed in case of natural disasters and various states of emergency.
As Gresham Smith’s Civic Practice Leader, Jen will primarily serve public sector clients within the Life and Work Place market, which includes project types such as public libraries, municipal and state administrative and courthouse buildings, and other nonprofit spaces. She will serve as a multimarket resource to provide strategy and design leadership to other government clients such as state departments of transportation, utility providers, and other municipal clients seeking to optimize their facilities and operations.
Jen holds a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from the University of Tennessee and is a registered interior designer and LEED accredited professional.
