Employee Spotlight: Katherine Uhrin AIA, NCARB
Katherine Uhrin joined NBA in 2016 after graduating from Auburn University with a Professional Bachelor of Architecture and a Bachelor of Interior Architecture and has grown from her initial role as an Architectural Intern into a Project Manager well-respected by her peers, clients, and consultants. Katherine’s early career accomplishments and path to licensure were highlighted in this 2020 Employee Spotlight, but over the past five years, she has reached new heights filled with professional growth, leadership roles, and successfully completed projects across the country.
Read more to see what led Katherine to NBA and what she’s been up to since joining the firm…
What professional groups are you currently involved in?
Outside of NBA projects and mentoring within the firm, my professional time is predominately spent with AIA Georgia and the Auburn Architecture Advisory Council.
I joined the Auburn Architecture Advisory Council in 2019 and was recently re-nominated in 2024 for an additional four-year term. Our primary task is to meet with faculty two times a year to review program initiatives, receive Office of the Dean updates, review NAAB accreditation status and assist with reviews of student work, including portfolio reviews. I also help lead “Professional Prep Day” for Auburn architecture students, which offers all students the opportunity to meet with a Professional for mock interviews, portfolio/resume reviews, or a Q&A session. I also look forward to attending the Auburn career fair to seek the best new talent to join us at NBA.
My involvement with AIA Georgia started when I was accepted into the Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program (CKLDP) in 2023. Upon graduation, I stayed involved as the 2024 Program Chair-Elect and am now serving as the Class of 2025 Chair. The CKLDP is training the next generation of leaders in architecture through a curriculum that hones skills in firm management, collaboration, negotiation, development, equity, community engagement, and more.
Auburn Architecture Advisory Council - Fall 2024 on Campus Meeting
Day at the Capital with 2023 AIA Georgia CKLDP class
(NBAers Katherine Uhrin and Jennifer Hamilton)
2023 AIA Georgia CKLDP Graduation with fellow NBAers
What initially drew you to Architecture?
Ever since I can remember, I have always thought about how the spaces I occupied could be more user-friendly, more personable, and better designed. It started with single-family residential design, having moved multiple times while growing up and adapting to changes. When I started traveling, cities and the way people lived in them fascinated me.
My passion for Architecture has evolved to become more collaborative with the communities I am working in and the project team I am working with. I thoroughly enjoy getting to know the locales I work in, the people I work for (clients and end-users), and working with contractors through the construction process. I learn something new (almost) every day!
Why did you choose NBA compared to other companies as your first job after graduating college?
As larger firm, NBA offers an abundance of resources to assist in professional development, especially to pursue licensure. I appreciated that designers and architects are divided into smaller studios which carry projects from start to finish. This helps even young staff members get a wide range of experience. The smaller studio structure breaks down the feeling of getting lost in a large organization since you get to know who you’re working with day in and day out.
NBA also offers a runway of opportunities if you are willing to work for it. This led me to believe that I would be able to knock out my IDP/AXP hours quickly, since I was passionate about getting licensed and learning more about the industry upon graduation.
Katherine successfully passed her architectural exams in Oct. 2019 and became a licensed architect in Georgia Jan. 2020.
What was your experience leading up to Niles Bolton Associates?
I had two architectural internships. One during the summer of 2014 at Heery International in Atlanta where I worked on healthcare renovations at Air Force bases in North Carolina and Georgia. My second internship was in 2015-2016 with Christopher Architecture and Interiors in Birmingham where I worked on multiple single family projects. My favorite was a (very nice) tree house on Smith Lake in Alabama.
Additional experience included Auburn’s Urban Studio in Birmingham, Alabama, where I completed my fifth/thesis year. I also had the opportunity to study abroad in Rome, Italy with the University of Arkansas for a semester.
Camden Buckhead - Atlanta, GA
What opportunities have you been given since joining the firm?
The Bishop - Atlanta, GA
Skytop Apartments - Cincinnati, OH
Flamingo Crossings Villages - Winter Garden, FL
Immediately after joining the firm in 2016, I started working on Schematic Design for Camden Buckhead and followed the project through substantial completion in 2022.
I shadowed a Project Architect, James Stephenson during Construction Administration for a local project, The Bishop. This process was a great learning experience and helped me gain critical IDP/AXP hours. I now feel confident leading CA on my own projects, like Skytop which recently wrapped up in Ohio, partly due to fundamental skills I learned during construction of The Bishop!
Within the first two years, I was given more responsibility by always showing up and being eager to learn from those teaching me.
I helped with the early design work for Flamingo Crossings Village and was able to participate in bi-weekly design meetings with our clients, Disney and American Campus Communities, and the contractor, Faver Gray. I assisted Brian Ward and Michael Kolodzy with presentations and was able to travel to Florida and Texas to be in the room where the design decisions were made.
I hosted a series of lunch and learns to assist our interior design studio in learning Lumion. With this new skill, our collective team was able to create a virtual reality walk through of the Flamingo Crossings Village Community and Education Centers. This model allowed our client to visualize the spaces and make design changes prior to construction.
I am currently working with Atlantica Properties for Partners for Home and the City of Atlanta on a Rapid Housing Initiative for the unhoused. Waterworks, a new 100-unit community, is currently under construction and a second phase is coming soon. This is the first modular project that NBA has completed.
I manage NBA’s Design Roundtables series which is part of Niles Bolton University, our in-house continuing education program. During scheduled presentations, studios present a recent project to the firm so we can all share lessons learned and gain knowledge of what other teams are working on.
What has been your favorite thing about working at NBA?
The sky is the limit. I have a great working relationship with the people at NBA. I enjoy coming to work every day, and NBA makes that easy.
What is the most important thing you have learned from your team?
That everything we do is a team effort. The most important thing is trust and reliability. I have learned to lead by example and to pay it forward to those in my footsteps.
Katherine joined by team members Brian Ward and Michael Kolodzy at AIA Atlanta’s Residential & Hospitality Design Awards
AIA Atlanta event where NBA’s Camden Buckhead was recognized with an Honor Award
What project are you most proud of?
All of them have unique experiences that I am proud of. Most recently, I am proud to be a part of the Waterworks project with Atlantica Properties for Partners for Home and the City of Atlanta. This project has allowed me to train internal team members, collaborate with an array of project stakeholders, the community, and on-site and modular construction teams. The learning experience has been new and unparalleled.
What are some challenges you face in Architecture?
For a long time, I was (and sometimes I still am), the youngest person and the only woman in the room. I learned in college from a mentor that even though you may be the only woman in the room if you learn the facts about what you are doing and remain humble, people’s opinions can’t stand in your way.
What is your favorite part of the design process?
Design Development. I enjoy receiving and implementing feedback from our clients and getting the project team on the path to success.
Based on your experience, how did you get to this position and what would you encourage others to do as well?
Be open with your manager about what you are looking for. ASK to try new things and be willing to put in the effort to find the answer or ask questions to get you to the answer.
I am always learning from other people. No project is perfect and everyone you work with will have different opinions or a way to get to the answer. We are in a problem-solving industry. We must be collaborative, work together, and be open to change.
Get licensed. Study. Stay up to date on industry trends and changes.
What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
Hosting friends and family.
Home improvement projects!
Trying new recipes and cooking with my husband, Andrew.
Literally anything with my dog 😊 Jaxson.
Running. My sister and I recently completed the Triple Peach Race Series in Atlanta.
Interested in starting your career at NBA like Katherine? Take a look at our open positions here.