UT Facilities Services is proud to announce the appointment of Ted Murphy as its next Director of Design. Ted’s career is defined by long-standing service, deep institutional knowledge, and a collaborative leadership style that has helped shape the university’s built and natural environments. We eagerly anticipate the ways he will continue to steward and elevate integrated design efforts for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville for future generations of Volunteers.
Murphy brings more than two decades of experience with the university, having most recently served as Lead Campus Landscape Architect within Facilities Services. In that role, he has been instrumental in guiding the vision and standards for the campus exterior environment, while also serving as a key design leader collaborating across disciplines such as architecture, engineering, planning, and construction. He has overseen landscape design and implementation and provided critical review for site, stormwater, utility, and infrastructure systems, ensuring that projects are not only aesthetically cohesive but also technically sound, resilient, and aligned with broader campus goals.
His connection to the university runs deep. Murphy first joined Facilities Services in 1999, managing daily grounds operations across the 900-acre campus as General Superintendent of Landscape Services. During that time, he led a team of 40 employees and managed a $2.2 million annual budget while ensuring the campus remained both functional and visually cohesive. His leadership during this period established a foundation of accountability, operational excellence, and team development that continues to define his approach today.
Murphy’s UT experience also includes time in the classroom. As an adjunct professor in the Plant Sciences Department, he taught courses in landscape construction and computer-aided design, demonstrating a commitment to mentorship and the development of future design professionals.
Before returning to UT in his current leadership trajectory, Murphy broadened his experience at the University of Central Florida, where he served as Assistant Director of Landscape & Natural Resources. There, he oversaw operations across a 1,400-acre campus and managed a team of approximately 60 employees, further strengthening his leadership capacity and his ability to align large, multidisciplinary teams around shared goals and performance expectations.
A registered landscape architect in the state of Tennessee and an active member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, Murphy holds both a Master of Science in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design from UT and a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from Purdue University. His professional background reflects a comprehensive understanding of the full design continuum, from conceptual planning through detailed execution, across both natural and built systems.
In addition to his professional responsibilities, Murphy is actively engaged in the broader community, serving as a City of Knoxville Greenways Commissioner and contributing to multiple campus committees focused on safety and facilities oversight.
As Director of Design, Murphy will lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for guiding architecture, engineering, interiors, planning and landscape design across campus. He will emphasize collaboration, innovation, and design excellence, ensuring that all projects reflect the university’s strategic priorities while advancing a cohesive, high-performing, and sustainable campus environment.