A true visionary and natural-born creative, Erin has mastered the ability to catch a client’s excitement for their project and bring ideas to life. Anyone who has met her knows the passion she exudes for design, but those of us who work alongside Erin get to see how that passion is applied to elevating how people experience the spaces around them. Whether working with workplace, hospitality or higher education clients, it is evident that for her, everything is about people. Her enthusiasm is contagious to clients and coworkers alike.

Loves: Fleetwood Mac

Jacob is a firm-leader in historic renovation projects, including his own 1885 historic home. While with Helix, he has used his wealth and depth of knowledge to renovate nearly 1 million SF of space in Kansas City. True to his people-person reputation, Jacob has earned being a trusted partner for some of Kansas City’s most prominent developers and contractors. He’s known around the office for his ever-evolving software knowledge and his ceaseless dad jokes.

Loves: Scotch

For Megan, design is a family affair. After visiting her older brother at Kansas State University while he studied landscape architecture, Megan loved seeing the school and his studio. She followed in his footsteps — and her own intuition — and studied interior architecture. Megan started her career working on national, large-scale projects, but her love of her hometown brought her to Helix, where she’s ready to harness her experience as an adaptable designer to make an impact on the local community. Outside the office, Megan can be found at one of her favorite downtown coffee shops, the farmers market, or tending to her garden.

Loves: House plants and throw blankets

Aaron always thought he wanted to be an engineer, but he fell in love with architecture and design when he discovered it perfectly blended his love of analytical thinking with creativity. Speaking of blended, Aaron also collects uncommon houseplants. His favorite is a hybrid between a philodendron melanochrysum and verrucosum, which he keeps on his desk here in the office.

Loves: Art galleries and trashy reality TV

New to Kansas City, Drew joins Helix as an experienced architect with a love for learning and organization. From a young age, he recognized his creative abilities, eventually finding that design was the perfect mix of problem solving and creativity. He believes architecture is an opportunity to connect people together, providing a space for them to meet, learn and grow. Drew enjoys travel, off-roading, hiking, camping and the great outdoors (must be the Eagle Scout in him).

Loves: Collecting concert posters

Katie studied as a civil engineer but quickly realized she is less interested in making sure buildings stand up than she is in creating spaces that are inspiring to those that inhabit them. Her constant pursuit of creating environmentally conscious buildings is guided by a favorite quote, “What if every single act of design and construction made the world a better place?” Katie reads fiction and classic novels in her spare time, enjoys traveling and is currently trying her hand at knitting.

Loves: Sweater weather and her puppy, Matilda

Walking the line between art and architecture in college, Matt switched majors several times before ultimately settling on architecture when he noticed his paintings taking on more and more linear forms. With his love for project delivery and writing specs (yes, really), it’s no wonder that Matt’s extensive experience results in impeccably executed project drawings. When he’s not living his motto — “work hard to create places where people want to be” — you can find Matt tending to his garden or rescuing animals, or you can go cheer him on in his competitive steel-tip dart league.

Loves: Collecting skateboard decks

Jeremy’s lifelong love of drawing and the arts has resulted in considerable experience as a project architect, working on complex, visionary projects around the nation. His affection for Kansas City brought him to Helix, where he can practice in the city he loves. Jeremy has a keen ability to refine the shared vision between client and designer, which makes him an asset to our projects. He also has a growing bourbon collection, which makes him an asset to our weekly happy hour.

Loves: Live music

Travis is a true maker at heart and followed his lifetime love for math and art into a career in architecture. He has since realized that a good architect must also be a historian, sociologist, and ecologist. He is excited by Helix’s contributions to the growth of Kansas City and shares our love for watching KC bloom. By day he tells stories through renderings and award-winning diagrams; by night he enjoys concocting new recipes and trying his hand at a new art media.

Loves: Rosemary and cats

Whether working with developers or revitalizing a historic gem in the heart of the city, Liz uses her broad background (in and out of architecture) as a basis for a diverse array of projects. For Liz, designing is storytelling. She believes the narrative of the buildings she works on should be compelling, yet simple enough to stand on their own. A perfect fit for growing Kansas City, she’s been urban-focused since her youth, when she could often be found designing little cities for her brother’s matchbox car collection.

Loves: Jeopardy + weekend home projects

Hailing from Iowa, Erin has dreamed of becoming an architect since she was 13 years old — even if her path initially led her to study business marketing. Her design dream now being realized, she is eager to create buildings devised for community impact. Erin thrives on visuals, whether she’s hitting the ground running with design concepts, perusing her personal collection of inspirational imagery, or creating renderings that bring a project to life. Much like Erin’s current drink of choice — KC Wine Co.’s wine slushy — she is youthful and refined.

Loves: National Parks

Obhi has been drawn towards creative pursuits throughout his entire life. Whether he’s painting at home or developing compelling visuals for Helix, Obhi is constantly looking for new artistic outlets. When approaching architecture and design, Obhi centers his philosophy on two key elements: a deep contextual understanding of the place in which he is designing, and thinking through the temporal human experience of what he designs. He also draws from his lifelong exposure to other cultures, an asset that will help him achieve his goal of global domination — but not like that. Obhi dreams of traveling to every continent.

Likes: Triple shot Americanos

Chris believes that a truly interdisciplinary project is greater than the sum of its parts, just like our individual work improves when we embrace the fact that no one of us can do everything. While he truly values human connection, he also appreciates getting out into the wilderness when traveling across the country. He loves semicolons; but when it comes to the Oxford comma? Overrated.

Loves: Cold-smoked salmon and marshmallows

Kyle balances pragmatism and thoughtfulness to create projects that shape our city. A true urban dweller, he has spent time living and working in New York City and Washington D.C., and now calls Kansas City’s Westside neighborhood home. Kyle‘s design process starts with a pen in hand, iterating on ideas until the best design emerges. He can also make an alarmingly good cup of coffee, which we plan to take advantage of in exchange for his one true weakness: a slice of cheesecake.

Loves: Bicycling

Alexis, who returned to Kansas City after twelve years in NYC, brings an innate sense of creativity to her projects. Her mother, an artist, taught her the joy of creating, which inspired Alexis to ultimately pursue a career in design, a profession that uniquely entwines both the practical and whimsical sides of her personality. Alexis believes that architecture is the art of problem solving. She begins her design process by asking questions and seeking out solutions through analysis, deduction and creativity. She begins her weekend mornings with a good mimosa and seeking out her next art project. 

Loves: Sewing

Chandler’s life seems to revolve around architecture. He knew from an early age that he enjoyed designing and creating things, and realized that design was the perfect career for him after job shadowing his uncle, who is also an architect. He relishes the finished product, taking an idea and seeing it come to life. When Chandler first learned about Helix while studying architecture at UMKC, he began following the firm’s work and imagining himself as a Helix designer. Much like design, his vision became reality. And if he isn’t practicing architecture, he’s touring homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright while on vacation.

Likes: Woodworking, flipping houses, and being active

Bio coming soon.

Leah approaches design with an element of curiosity and joy. She finds that pushing an idea as far as it will go and asking all of the “what ifs” is not only a fun exercise, but it often results in innovative design. Actually, Leah finds joy in many aspects of her life — from making something with her hands to push through a creative block, collaborating with her colleagues, or relishing a good vegan breakfast sandwich. When she travels, Leah has three criteria for her destinations: the location needs to be old, cold, and quiet. If she cannot comfortably wear a sweater outside, it isn’t worth it.

Likes: Chairs. Old chairs, tiny chairs, homemade chairs, uncomfortable chairs.

Brennan has always centered his design philosophy on two things: creativity and collaboration, both of which have always come naturally to him. As Brennan started going to school and seeking out new ways to express his ingenuity, he found architecture to be the perfect intersection between creativity and problem-solving. But his love of architecture actually started at a much younger age — Brennan credits Legos as one of the drivers to pursuing a career in design. In fact, if you’re looking to buy Brennan a gift, he will still accept a Lego set to this day.

Likes: Accumulating house plants

Nina is the first friendly face you’ll see when you walk in the front door and first voice you’ll hear on the phone. Her great attitude paired with the ability to coordinate Helix’s inner workings makes her a crucial part of the team. We suspect Nina has the best shoe collection in town.

Loves: Eating and not gaining any weight

An almost-journalist, Carly claims her career in marketing chose her. Lucky for us! In her role as Director of Marketing & Business Development, she tells compelling stories of Helix’s contributions to the architecture & design community, propelling our firm forward. She’s also a left-handed, total concert junkie who was named after Carly Simon. Carly is constantly inspired by the architects and designers she works alongside. We have to say: the feeling is mutual.

Loves: Hazy IPAs

Paul’s penchant for numbers makes him one of the few left-brained people in the office. Don’t let that fool you though. He can schmooze with the best of them. Paul also has a knack for growing a bountiful harvest of produce and aggravating the library copier.

Loves: Courgette cake