Katie joined OKW in 2012 out of a mutual discovery of potential. Our leaders saw in her a truly talented and grounded person with a passion for the craft, and Katie saw in OKW a firm that could punch far above its weight, and she wanted to be part of its growth.
Katie had discovered her affinity for architecture long before leaving her native St. Louis for Rice University. The university’s unique architecture program includes a fifth year, called the Preceptorship Program, that bolsters the educational experience by placing its students in a practicing office.
That’s how Katie was first exposed to the corporate world of architecture. “It was an incredible experience,” she says. “One of the projects I worked on was a cathedral in Oakland, an absolutely incredible building. I had the privilege of building models and studying how the entire structure came together. It was exceptional.”
She would accept her first job offer at another global architecture firm. During this time, she learned a tremendous amount from the diverse experience and quality project work but eventually found herself looking for the next phase in her career. She knew she wanted a firm that valued her design ideas and encouraged a culture of mentorship. And that is how she landed at OKW.
“It was just time for that next step,” she says. “I arrived during a time of great transformation, where leaders knew they were ready to bring our work and our people to the next level.”
In the time since, Katie has proven to be an instrumental piece of that puzzle. She has had her hand in many projects that have earned our clients’ trust and acclaim, but more importantly, she has brought to life projects of great personal significance. “Krispy Kreme’s Headquarters was fun, but it was more about what we can do to truly represent a brand and incorporating it into the built space. Design is most rewarding when the interior is working seamlessly with the exterior elements.”
“But Jewish Child and Family Services holds a special place in my heart,” she says fondly. “That entire experience was about seeing how the space was used. Knowing we had done the research into how people with developmental disabilities use space, seeing how that played out successfully in reality was so rewarding.”
That passion that she puts into her work is what has made her such an invaluable team member and a great leader. It redounds to the clients that she serves and the people that she mentors, which has helped OKW be the best it has ever been.