ABOUT ME

Kayla (Kay) McKinney

Architectural Designer | Sustainability Advocate | Mass Timber Enthusiast

Originally from Johnson City, TN and Fredericksburg, VA, I earned my Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Tech, where I discovered a deep-rooted passion for sustainable design. That passion led me straight into graduate school, supported by a full assistantship through the School of Performing Arts, where I had the unique opportunity to assist students in the Costume Department- a role that sharpened my eye for detail, design and sustainable fashion.I completed my Masters of Science in Architecture with a concentration in Digital Technologies. I’m particularly interested in the ways emerging technologies can reintroduce timber as both a sustainable and culturally meaningful material in contemporary architecture, offering a hopeful counter to the built environment’s role in climate change.With strengths in both digital and traditional media, I bring designs to life through hand drawing, Photoshop, AutoCAD, Revit, and SketchUp. Over the years, I’ve collaborated with architects, contractors, interior designers, and clients across four architecture firms, including time at the internationally recognized Stantec Inc.Let’s connect- I’d love to hear from you!