PRIVATE SUPPORT
A Passion for Giving: Q&A with Mark Swenson, President of ESG Architects
Laurie McGinley
Mark Swenson (BED ’71, M Arch ’73) has served as president of Elness Swenson Graham Architects, Inc., (ESG) in Minneapolis since 1990. He was president of AIA Minneapolis (2002) and AIA Minnesota (2006), and was elected to serve on the AIA National Board of Directors in 2010. Of the 28 Best in Real Estate Awards earned by ESG in the past decade, Swenson was principal-in-charge for 11 projects, including the Milwaukee Road Depot, Midtown Exchange, and W Minneapolis–The Foshay, which earned him a Career Achievement Award for Historic Preservation from the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota in 2009.
Degrees: B Arch ’00, M Arch ’11, MS Architecture-Sustainable Design ’12 Hometown: Mauston, Wisconsin Honors: Richard Morrill Thesis Award, 2011 ACARA Challenge winner Current position: designer, ESG Architects
Mark has been a generous donor, and has also encouraged others to give to support the college. In his role as a volunteer leader with AIA chapters in Minnesota, he encouraged AIA Minnesota to establish a named studio in Rapson Hall and AIA Minneapolis to create the permanent endowed fund AIA Minneapolis Fellowship. He and his partners at ESG also funded a permanent fellowship and a named studio.
“With the financial pressure of pursuing a master of architecture program, receiving the ESG Fellowship was a huge relief and a confidence builder. There are so many demands in the program—it’s a huge vote of confidence that [donors] put money forward because [they] believe in education.”
Senior development officer Sue Danielson Bretheim spoke with Swenson about his passion for giving. SDB: You have a neat story about how scholarships helped you pursue an architectural education at a time when there weren’t many—if any—scholarships aimed at U of M architecture students. MS: My favorite day every year is in February when I am invited to interview potential recipients of the Evans Scholarship [not a College of Design Scholarship]. This is a program that pays 100 percent of tuition and board for kids who caddied [at golf courses], have high academic achievement, and great financial need. Many years ago I was one of those poor scared kids who got interviewed. That same scholarship paid for my entire college education. SDB: How did that impact your own giving? MS: It taught me that small contributions by many people may change lives and impact entire families. 14 EMERGING FALL 2012
SDB: You’ve encouraged your firm and others, including AIA-Minnepolis, to give to the college. What inspires your generous support? MS: I give because I am so thankful for those people who paid for my college education, because I want to pay forward the kindness that made a huge
ESG Fellowship Recipients
MS: Architects shape the built environment and improve the lives of people. They can also remain relevant, peak performers well into their 70s!
Mike Gordon
Degrees: M Arch ’10 Hometown: Scandia, Minnesota Honors: Richard Morrill Thesis Award, Elness Swenson Graham Fellowship Current position: designer, ESG Architects “Sometimes as a graduate student you are unsure of your academic progress. Receiving a fellowship motivates you, propels you forward, and causes you to demand more from yourself. After receiving the ESG Fellowship I was fortunate to meet with my donor, Mark Swenson. Since that introduction I continued to have conversations with Mr. Swenson and am now employed as a designer at ESG. The ESG Fellowship helped lead to incredibly rewarding academic and professional experiences.”
difference in my life, and because it just feels good. SDB: Have you stayed in touch with any recipients of the ESG Fellowship? MS: Yes. I’ve had a chance to meet recipients at each fall’s donor scholar lunch. And it just so happens that two of those recipients now work at ESG. [sidebar]
For information about giving opportunities contact Mark Hintz, director of development, at 612-624-7808 or visit z.umn.edu/ designgiving.
SDB: What inspires you most about the architecture profession? @UofMDesign
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