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So Far in 2026!

McKinney York Architects is thrilled to announce the elevation of Navvab Taylor, AIA, RID, LEED AP BD+C to Principal and Partner. Promotion to Principal recognizes individuals who have developed the expertise to lead key aspects of the practice. Principals demonstrate leadership in combination with a shared vision for firm success, as well as exceptional performance in design, management, and project execution. As Partner, Navvab will join the McKinney York leadership team, where her expertise in sustainability and passion for community engagement will be an undoubted asset to the fulfillment of our firm’s mission.

Navvab represents the very best of McKinney York: design excellence, clear communication, and a deep commitment to collaboration and community. As our Sustainability Leader, she has consistently pushed our projects to meet higher environmental standards and has reshaped how we think about our responsibility as designers. She works collaboratively with clients to develop environmentally responsible solutions with award-winning designs, including the Austin ISD Sánchez Elementary School Modernization. Working on a range of new construction and renovation projects in the education and civic market sectors, she approaches architecture not only as a design discipline, but as a form of communication—one where materials, light, and space express a sense of place, energy, and calm.

A graduate of The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture, Navvab joined McKinney York in 2010 after working in Boston, New Haven, and London, England. With over twenty years of experience as a project architect, she has led some of our most meaningful and impactful projects—most recently Comedor, Austin ISD’s Allison Elementary School, and the Texas Facilities Commission’s Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Outside of the office, she has served as chair of AIA Austin’s Architecture: K-12 Committee that hosts Architecture In Schools in collaboration with AISD’s afterschool programs. Navvab also facilitates a service-focused youth group through Baha’i Faith of Austin.

In her new role as Principal and Partner, Navvab will lead the thoughtful, sustainable design of civic and educational projects. Her leadership, grounded in thoughtful listening and a strong respect for diverse perspectives, will continue to shape the future of McKinney York Architects. Please join us in congratulating Navvab Taylor on this significant and well-earned milestone.

McKinney York Architects is proud to announce the elevation of Aaron Taylor, AIA to Associate Principal.

Over the course of his fifteen years with McKinney York, Aaron’s work across civic, educational, and residential projects consistently reflects a commitment to meeting the needs of unique and underserved user groups while balancing strong ideas with real-world constraints. As an Associate Principal, his expertise in “Design for All” methodologies will continue to foster a sense of equity, dignity, and belonging in our work. Aaron will also maintain his role as co-chair for McKinney York’s design committee, working collaboratively to blend practicality with compelling designs that are thoughtfully rooted in the communities they serve. Aaron received a Bachelor of Architecture from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Architecture from Yale University. He worked in Boston, Los Angeles, and London, England before joining McKinney York in 2010. Since then, he has played a significant role in shaping both our work and our culture. Projects such as the City of Austin Women and Children’s Shelter, Community First! Micro House, and our ongoing work for the Texas School for the Deaf speak to his ability to pair clarity of design with social responsibility. Outside of the office, he has been a member of the AIA Austin Homes Tour Committee and consistently serves as a guest critic at The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture. Aaron represents so much of what we value as a firm; his thoughtful and empathetic design approach treats architecture as both a craft and a responsibility. We are grateful to have him on our team and look forward to his future with McKinney York. Congratulations, Aaron!

We’re excited to recognize Lu Zhang, AIA and Paul Holmes, AIA on being named Associates at McKinney York Architects.

Lu joined McKinney York with eight years of experience as a design lead on flagship institutional projects recognized with AIA New England design awards. Her recent work for the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin intertwines with our ongoing work at the school, making her a perfect fit for our firm. She approaches her projects with creativity, technical rigor, sustainability, and contextual sensitivity. Her current role on the Texas Facilities Commission’s Texas State Library and Archives Commission design team highlights her ability to consistently arrive at thoughtful, well-resolved solutions. In just a short time, her technical skills, detailing, and rendering abilities have already made a meaningful impact on our work. Drawing inspiration from her hometown of Chongqing, China, Lu strongly believes that architecture can shape the chaos and beauty of everyday life.

Paul joined our firm in 2024, bringing over five years of experience across single-family, commercial, and adaptive reuse projects. His current work in the educational and civic sectors is grounded in collaborative design thinking and community-oriented design. Paul’s reliability, thoughtfulness, and eye for design make him a valued leader on public projects such as Austin ISD’s Allison Elementary School and the Texas Facilities Commission’s Texas State Library and Archives Commission. He maintains an interest in always learning more—whether through his involvement with the AIA BEC, exploring evolving tools in the profession, or lessons learned in the field.

Congratulations, Lu and Paul! We can’t wait to see what you do in 2026.

It is with deep sadness that McKinney York Architects shares the news of the passing of our Principal, Al York, FAIA, RID. Over the course of three decades, Al’s leadership has had a profound impact on the growth and identity of McKinney York Architects. His simple, thought-provoking approach to architecture exposes the underlying grace of the ordinary, revealing beauty within familiar situations. As a distinguished leader and advocate in the design community, Al was a celebrated architect, cherished friend, and beloved mentor.

Al’s loss is felt profoundly by the countless lives he has touched. He spent his career pushing others forward, offering calm wisdom and unwavering generosity to all. Al leaves behind a lasting legacy of design that reflects his belief in architecture’s power to engage the mind, touch the heart, and elevate the human experience. He will be sincerely missed.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rawson Saunders School Al York Fund, or the McKinney York Architects Scholarship at The University of Texas at Austin.

Photo: Al seated in the iconic breezeway of one of his recently completed works, Inks Lake State Park Headquarters Building for the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.

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Hogg Memorial Auditorium wins 2025 American Architecture Awards for Restoration/Renovation!

McKinney York Architects is honored to be recognized by the Austin Business Journal as one of Austin’s Top 30 Fastest-Growing Companies.

Hogg Memorial Auditorium wins Preservation Texas 2025 Honor Award for Historic Rehabilitation!

 

McKinney York Architects is honored to be included in the Austin Business Journal’s list of the Women-Owned Businesses.

McKinney York Architects and Landmarks celebrate the groundbreaking of the College of Education Entry Renovation & Art Installation!

McKinney York Architects joins SOM-led Team to Design New Arrivals and Departures Hall at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Photograph of existing facilities by © Ken Griffith

Photograph of existing facilities by © Ken Griffith

McKinney York Architects is recognized by the Zweig Group as one of the Best Firms to Work For 2025!

 

Austin ISD Sánchez Elementary School featured on America ByDesign!

Writer’s Retreat wins HBA Max Award for Custom Home/Project Design, 2025!

Bookshelf's surrounding the central window of a white room.

Texas Facilities Commission, Groundbreaking for a new Archival and Records Storage Facility

St. Julian of Norwich Parish Hall wins Outstanding Construction Award, Associated General Contractors’, 2024!

We are excited to announce the elevation of Navvab Taylor, AIA, RID, LEED AP BD+C to Associate Principal and Lauren Gamboa to Associate. Navvab exhibits design excellence and employs strong communication and project management skills to build and maintain rewarding client relationships. She is a champion for sustainable design and will serve as the firm’s Sustainability Leader, working collaboratively with clients to develop environmentally responsible solutions and ensuring the firm’s practices align with rigorous standards. Lauren demonstrates skillful management of the marketing department and a remarkable ability to execute with precision, creativity, and efficiency. Her expertise and attention to detail has driven successful campaigns and streamlined the firm’s marketing processes. We value the leadership and knowledge of these team members and are thrilled to spotlight their advancement!

Looking Back at 2024…

AIA Austin WiA Profiles 2024 featuring our Associate Navvab Taylor!

Hogg Memorial Auditorium achieves LEED Platinum Certification!

View along curved rows of seats in an auditorium, facing a series of windows.

AISD Sánchez Elementary School wins TxA Design Award 2024!

straight on view of stairway that also functions as a social gathering space in elementary school, books are displayed on the levels and children and teachers are in the foreground

Comedor wins AIA Austin Design Award of Merit 2024!

People seated at bar and high tables of a nice restaurant.

River Ranch County Park wins a Texas Travel Award  and gets featured in Parks and Recreation Business Magazine! Have you been there yet?

Outdoor pavilion in a field of wildflowers.

 

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Hogg Memorial Auditorium

scroll View Project Description
  • Lobby view showing restored tile floor and wood ceiling beams.
  • People walking through a lobby with a decorative wood wall.
  • View along the edge of a balcony in an auditorium.
  • Views of an auditorium from the stage, with house lights on and window shades open.
  • View along curved rows of seats in an auditorium, facing a series of windows.
  • Exterior view of the front of a restored historic stone building.

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

To realize the Owner’s vision of transforming this iconic historic structure, it was determined that more space was required for restrooms, mechanical systems, and electrical systems. Due to the historic significance of the building, preserving the exterior was a top priority, and modifying or expanding it was considered unacceptable. The additional space necessary to make the building function to modern standards would have to be found within the existing envelope.

A two-pronged approach was employed. First, auditorium space was removed, improving acoustics, reducing sight line distances, and right-sizing the seating capacity to align with the number of plumbing fixtures that could be provided in the adjacent space. Second, additional space for mechanical and electrical systems was created through excavation underneath the building.

Through this strategy, a connection was made between the timeless qualities of the building and its future, projecting hope and serendipitously evoking the wedding adage “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.”

  • The design of auditoriums focuses on the architectural section: success lies in optimizing the acoustics ad sightlines for spectators. On the orchestra level, we transformed the space beneath the balcony overhang - which presented the most acoustic and sightline challenges - into functional areas by integrating the mixing booth and restrooms. On the mezzanine level, unused space beneath the sloped seating to introduce was recaptured for new restrooms, enhancing convenience for the patrons on the upper level. In the basement, precise excavation around existing piers and footings allowed us to expand the mechanical system without disrupting the structural integrity of the building.

  • The 1932 building was designed with a small entrance vestibule and a larger lobby, with the line of sound and security separation between them. The lobby was acoustically open to the auditorium, so even minor activity there was disruptive to performances. Due to this, queuing was limited to the vestibule, which was far too small, forcing visitors to line up outside. The renovation moves the line of sound and security separation to the back wall of the auditorium, allowing the vestibule and lobby to be combined into a larger, more functional open space. This expanded area now accommodates queuing, banquets, and smaller gatherings without disturbing rehearsals or events inside the auditorium.

  • The building now offers just over 1,000 seats - a sweet spot on the UT campus between Bates Recital Hall (700 seats) and Bass Concert Hall (2900 seats). The projects 14 new restrooms align with the University's mission to provide gender-inclusive facilities, enhancing both flexibility and efficiency, particularly during high-capacity events.

  • The majority of the electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems were housed in the basement. To avoid expanding the building's footprint, we carefully excavated beneath the structure around the existing piers and footings to enlarge the mechanical basement. Much of the work was done manually, using jackhammers and a small skid steer that was lowered through an opening in the sidewalk, allowing the project to stay within the existing space while meeting modern infrastructure needs.

  • Something Old: Many of the building’s most historically significant features are found in the vestibule, and preserving these elements was essential to maintaining the building’s character. Although the physical barrier separating the vestibule from the lobby was removed, we intentionally preserved the demarcation line to honor the distinction between the historic vestibule and the new lobby. In the vestibule, several key features were carefully restored: the encaustic floor tiles were cleaned and resealed, pendant lights retrofitted with LEDs, stenciled ceilings and painted wood beams preserved, and the bulletin board niches with wood surrounds were retrofitted with modern flat panel displays.

  • Something New: The decorative wood wall draws inspiration from the intricate carved plaster surrounding the stage. Instead of replicating the original design, we abstracted the prominent geometries from the plasterwork to create a striking new backdrop for the expanded lobby. This design serves as a transitional element, bridging the flexibility of the lobby with the formality of the auditorium, enhancing the overall aesthetic and experience.

  • Something Borrowed: As the auditorium’s use evolved over the decades, modifications were made to function more like a black box theater. Windows were boarded up to eliminate daylight and additional spotlight stations were installed at the Juliet balconies to enhance performance control. One of the most transformative improvements we made was uncovering the windows, reintroducing borrowed natural light and direct views of the surrounding trees for students during exams and lectures. At the same time, a layered system of tinted glass, motorized blackout shades, and theatrical curtains was incorporated to provide full light control when needed for performances and film screenings.

  • Something Blue: Prior to the renovation, the original seating was in poor condition. Replacement was needed to provide retractable seats to comply with egress requirements. The new seating is blue to reflect the historical color palette in the building and the University’s current branding colors. Wood backs and armrests match the existing stained wainscot paneling throughout the space. The original cast iron end caps were preserved and integrated into the new seats. The original longhorn light covers were irresistible souvenirs for graduating seniors of the 200+ aisle end caps, only 2 light covers remained. These were sent to the seating manufacturer, where molds were pulled to cast replicas, installed on the repainted end caps, maintaining a link to the auditorium’s heritage and the University’s famous logo.

Video by Story Minute

Project Details

Just in time for its 90th birthday, this renovation brought life back to one of the oldest hubs of student activity on The University of Texas at Austin campus.  Hogg Memorial Auditorium first opened in 1933 and dutifully served the university for nearly a century; however, it was struggling to support the myriad of new and diverse events for which it was now needed.  This major renovation celebrates the historic significance of the architecture and balances the technical constraints with the functional needs of the next generation.  Acoustical improvements – such as the addition of acoustical wall panels, new fabric upholstered seating, and relocation of the mixing booth – tune the auditorium to the needs of amplified performances and support a new state-of-the-art A/V system in order to attract talent and train theater students on cutting edge technologies. The windows were uncovered and motorized shades introduced to maintain complete blackout capabilities while also reintroducing natural light when the auditorium is used for final exams, sorority gatherings, and new student orientations.  However, the first thing one notices upon entering the new venue is a reconfigured lobby that has been enlarged to support the front of house crowds before events whilst preserving the ornate encaustic floor tile, stenciled ceilings, and historic light fixtures.  New decorative wood wall paneling repeats abstracted geometries inspired by the iconic carved plaster surrounding the stage to create a dramatic and distinct threshold between the new lobby and revitalized auditorium.

Hogg Memorial Auditorium is the first renovation on campus to be LEEDv4 BD+C Platinum Certified. McKinney York Architects was the architect working with the engineering prime, Jacobs.

Recognition

  • American Architecture Award for Restoration/Renovation, 2025
  • Preservation Award for Historic Rehabilitation, Preservation Texas, 2025
  • Austin Green Award for Major Renovation, 2024
  • Preservation Award for Restoration, Preservation Austin Merit Awards, 2024
  • Learning By Design Architectural & Interior Design Awards of Excellence, Outstanding Renovation Project, 2024
  • American School & University, Bronze Citation, Educational Interiors Showcase, 2024
  • Spaces4Learning, Grand Prize, Education Design Showcase, 2024
  • Outstanding Construction Award for Historical Renovations, AGC -TBB, 2024
  • Outstanding Construction Award for Historical Renovations, AGC, 2023

Publications

  • ‘Reviving A Historic Building In A Sustainable Way’, Facility Executive, Oct 2025
  • ‘That’s Entertainment’, Traditional Building Magazine, Colleges and Universities, Oct 2025
  • ’90 Years of Inclusion: Welcoming All Students’, Presented at TCUF Conference, 2024
  • American School & University, Bronze Citation, Educational Interiors Showcase 2024
  • Austin American-Statesman, UT’s Hogg Memorial Auditorium reopens after $28 million renovation, Nov 2023
  • The Daily Texan, Historic Hogg Auditorium renovations completed after decade of waiting, Nov 2023
  • UT News, Hogg Heaven, Oct 2023
  • Education Snapshots, 2024

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