A UT alumnus is part of the cast for NBC’s new weekly show American Dream Builders.
Tarrick Love, a 1997 mechanical engineering graduate, will be one of twelve cast members to enlist in a high-pressure competition designed to push the contestants’ creative reach. The show premieres at 8:00 p.m. Eastern on March 23 on NBC.
Love is a licensed general contractor and owner of two residential development companies based in Nashville, Hart-Love Enterprises and Dream Build Nashville. Love began his career as a mechanical engineer and, after being introduced to home building, found his new passion. He credits his UT education with helping realize his dream.
“UT’s College of Engineering did a tremendous job preparing me for both my career as a mechanical engineer and my transition to general contractor/home builder,” he said. “The technical fundamentals I learned helped me to understand and analyze structural loads on homes. The critical thinking and analytical processes I learned helped sharpen my problem solving skills, which I use daily as a home builder.”
Since forming his own companies in 2006, Love has served as a licensed general contractor and developer for more than a hundred new builds, renovations and additions. Love has been recognized twice by the Historic Homes Commission of Middle Tennessee as winner of the Historic Preservation Award.
“I find homebuilding so satisfying because I am helping make people’s visions and dreams of what they want in a home for their families come true,” Love said. “I also relish the art of making a project come together from the initial design inception phase to completion.”
Each week, Love and the other contestants will tackle two massive home renovation projects, each featuring unique architectural styles that result in major transformations. The winner at the end of the series will receive a grand prize of $250,000.
“The best thing about being given the opportunity on NBC is the ability to showcase my talents and abilities on a national stage. I am hoping this opportunity will help produce growth in our business and potentially some additional television opportunities,” Love said.
Love advises engineering students to know that with their engineering degree, the sky is the limit.
“Never put yourself in a box,” he said. “Our engineering degree offers us a solid foundation with a diverse array of skills that can lead to many professional paths.”
Former Tennessee Titans running back and landscape architect Eddie George and design expert featured on HGTV’s hit series Designed to Sell Monica Pedersen have been tapped as judges for the one-hour reality competition series. Interior designer and TV host Nate Berkus will serve as host, judge, and executive producer.
For more information about the show, visit NBCUniversal and Domaine Home.
For more information about Love and photos of his work, visit hartlovebuilders.com and dreambuildnashville.com.
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C O N T A C T :
Whitney Heins (865-974-5460, wheins@utk.edu)