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So Far in 2026!

We’re thrilled to share that McKinney York Architects has been recognized as a Longhorn 100 company, an award that celebrates the fastest-growing businesses owned by alumni of the University of Texas at Austin around the world.

This recognition reflects the dedication of our incredible team, the trust of our clients, and the support of our collaborators. It is even more special as we are proud to be part of the Longhorn entrepreneurial community and maintain strong ties to the UT family, including many proud alumni within our firm. We are honored to share this milestone with everyone who makes our work possible and look forward to the rankings reveal on April 24!

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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What Architecture Brings to Art

Living History and Culture

Art and architecture hold a unique position as tangible elements of culture, pieces of living history carrying the creative DNA of their time. They share a synergistic relationship; it’s the stained glass in Saint Chapelle that makes the building ethereal, and the embrasure of the Rothko Chapel that releases the power of the paintings. As a firm, we’ve had the opportunity to explore this powerful relationship through our work, finding ways to shape space to work in concert with the art it houses:

  • Architecture can “announce” the art through its entry sequence, preparing the visitor for their experience of the art within the experience of the building.
  • It acts as a foil and a complement to the art by providing the appropriate volume, color palette and degree of openness or intimacy. It controls natural and artificial light within a space to best display the art. It creates opportunities for edited, grouped collections which, when gathered together, are stronger than when dispersed across disparate spaces.
  • It can frame art through placement – on axis, as a surprise, in context with nature or through custom display components.
  • Lastly, the architecture can, in rare circumstances, riff on the art itself through material selection or through the embedding of commissioned art.

In making living spaces which do double duty as gallery space, we are inextricably linking the perception of the space and the art. In these projects, the pieces displayed are part of highly personal collections which provide enjoyment for the people who live with them. We have the opportunity to make spaces which heighten that enjoyment by creating context, choreography, and moments of surprise and delight.

In the Robbs Run house, designed for an artist/curator and her husband, a floating partition opposite the front door functions as both a welcoming art wall defining the foyer and a privacy screen for the staircase. Commissioned pieces – a starlit chandelier in the dining room and a colorful glass backsplash in the kitchen – were also embedded in the house.

A collection of School of Paris paintings is made more striking by the quiet context of the Ridge Oak Residence. The vibrance of the art is enhanced by the neutral colors of the space, the balanced natural light, and the intuitive circulation patterns.  The prominent displays include the hallways, sized and aligned to be galleries, and even the kitchen, providing many focal points and viewing perspectives.

The Shavano Park house was designed for a glass art collector; we saw the building itself as an opportunity to play with the wonderful characteristics of glass, imparting translucence, transparency, and layered space and color. The whole house speaks to the owner’s love of glass as a medium, starting with the commissioned glass front door handle, which is the “handshake” of the house. Inside, custom cabinetry defines galleries and rooms while framing the glass art in open or back-walled vignettes. Art is aligned to be seen on axis as well as across a courtyard, through several layers of glass walls.

At the University of Texas at Austin, the Christian-Green Gallery shows how subtle interventions into a structure can allow a collection to surprise. A glass enclosure makes the space on the second floor of Jester Center approachable and accessible, inviting visitors to discover the artistic culture of Africa and its Diaspora. The entry portal, welcome desk, and other elements were created from African hardwoods as a nod to the cultural mission of the gallery. Backlit fabric scrims provide variable illumination and create the stunning effect of ceilings which disappear. By changing the perceived volume of the space, the lighting gives a sense of drama to a broader range of art. As a whole, the space is deferential, adapting to the art rather than competing with it.

 

In our corporate work, we had the unique opportunity to repurpose a defunct mid-century Austin bank building into corporate offices for the brand development agency McGarrah Jessee. Original to the building’s formal lobby was a Seymour Fogel mural, once the centerpiece of the main banking floor.  Following a painstaking restoration to reverse years of exposure to cigarette smoke, we sought to further link the space to the experience of the art.

The building’s original escalators – the first in Austin – were refurbished, imbuing the arrival sequence with its old magic as the mural once again drifts into view. At the far end of the lobby, a site-specific mobile hangs as an artistic counterpoint created to balance the space. Walls around the mezzanine level were removed, opening the upper floor to views of the art from new vantage points. Finishes are largely subdued, but a few colors were lifted from the mural and applied sparingly throughout the building, strengthening the connection between the architecture and the art while keeping the focus squarely on the painting.

Collectively, these moves position the mural as the most memorable and compelling part of the space. The building fosters a relationship between its occupants and its art, and years after moving in, members of the McGarrah Jessee team continue to see the piece anew.

Through our own experience as practicing architects, we have seen how thoughtful architecture can enhance the daily experience of art.

If you or your organization would like more information on this topic, please email us.

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