Gayle Kirchmar

Grounded in an approach that design should serve people first, Gayle is a principal and design leader who leads human-centered architecture in complex public-sector environments. Her design ethos evolved from a commitment to transform budgetary, security, and site constraints into opportunities for innovation and resilience. She designs for well-being, connection to place, and lasting value that enhances how occupants work, recover, and connect to their environments.

With a portfolio that spans office buildings, training and educational facilities, operations centers, and adaptive reuse of campuses, Gayle immerses herself in context, user needs, and operational goals to uncover a project’s full design potential. Her leadership is defined by a careful balance between program requirements and wellness strategies, sustainable practice, and human-scaled materiality. She works with her clients to maximize funding through economical and durable design that meets mission needs while enhancing occupant experience. She leverages what is already in place to maintain existing assets by repurposing underused spaces, refining programmatic layouts, and developing architectural strategies that prioritize long lifespans and lifecycle performance.

Gayle regularly shares insights on cross-disciplinary practice, risk management, and secure environments at national and industry forums, including a panel discussion of her award-winning renovation of the US Army Inter-American Defense College at the DBIA Federal Symposium. As a committee member of the AIA Knowledge Committee and a member of the Design-Build Institute of America, she works to preserve design integrity across multiple delivery models, leveraging strategic partnerships for healthier, more vital neighborhoods and communities.

Gayle is a champion of expanding access to design education and practice within KCCT, across the AEC industry, and in the broader community. She serves on the DC Board of the ACE Mentor Program and as the founder of KCCT’s Women in Architecture Committee. Within the firm, she advances a culture of design thought and discourse, driving internal standards and mentoring future leaders.