Each year, members of the AG Team participate in the UW-Milwaukee Interview Day. They have the opportunity to meet the graduating class, the next generation of architects. In May 2023, they had the pleasure of meeting Kyra Orvis and quickly knew she was a must-have addition to the AG Design Team.
Orvis grew up in Milwaukee, right on the Milwaukee River near Lincoln Park. She was enthralled by her natural playground but also enticed by the digital world. Her passion for design emerged from YouTube tours of fantastical homes and creating imaginative Sims experiences. While some kids focus on the video game aspect, Orvis was obsessed with building houses and creating people to perfectly suit each space. Her passion for natural and built environments and aptitude for digital applications deeply influence her work today.
The love of her sister and the lessons learned helping her sister navigate the world have also had a profound effect on her personally and professionally. Observing how people treat a child with Down Syndrome and leukemia or the challenges environments present for her sister and others, makes Orvis committed to universal design and creating spaces that support a vibrant lifestyle for all.
“The built environment enhances lifestyle by allowing basic human needs to be met conveniently. For someone with mobility aids, it is critical to provide that same level of convenience so they can move and meet their needs like the rest of the world,” says Orvis. “As designers, we must identify the physical struggles that a group of people may have, design to alleviate those struggles and make the environment more accessible to everyone that will use it in the future. When we design for one, we design for all.”
When the world presents an obstacle, Orvis doesn’t take no for an answer. Her tenacity has been evident since she was young. In addition to standing up for her sister, she equally stands up for herself. When told only boys play football, she was determined to prove otherwise. She honed her skills and tried out for the middle school team. She proved herself and not only played football in middle school but continued on the Nicolet High School football team for four years as both a cornerback and wide receiver. She balanced her sporty, competitive side with the discipline and creativity of music, playing violin from grade school through high school. Not only did music fine-tune her motor skills, but it also taught her the importance of details and the impact of subtle nuances.
In addition to her extracurricular activities, Orvis continued to immerse herself in the world of architecture. AutoCAD and Revit classes combined with an inspirational field trip to Fiserv Forum made the UW-Milwaukee School of Architecture and Urban Planning a clear path for her higher education. Before joining the AG Team, she further expanded her perspective with a trip to the Nordic Region of Europe. She especially appreciated the materiality of the buildings and the bike-centric transportation. Her architectural and environmental observations during this travel adventure provide a source of inspiration for her design work.
While her career is just beginning, Orvis brings valuable technology skills, determination, a fresh perspective, and contagious energy to AG’s design process. She has been integral in the design team’s adoption of AI tools working on both image creation and test fits.
“Kyra has pioneered our exploration into the world of AI for image creation and planning,” says AG Senior Associate and Design Project Manager Justin Koeppler. “Her young mind and openness to new technology have allowed us to move out of our comfort zone with our typical software to become better storytellers. It allows us to create a multitude of concepts that we as a design team can then improve on.”
When it comes to why Orvis chose AG, it is twofold. First, she lived in a community where the idea of a new multifamily development caused controversy. She observed the debates, and in the end, saw firsthand how an AG project changed perceptions and united the community. Second, during her UWM interview with Senior Associates Justin Koeppler and Hailey Schwobe, Orvis remembers Schwobe referencing leaving the firm and then returning. To her, that relayed a positive message about AG’s culture. And, those factors left as much of a memorable impression on her as the impression she left on Koeppler and Schwobe.
“Kyra made a great first impression with her enthusiastic personality and well-composed portfolio,” says Koeppler. “Her interest in places where people live and ability to create well-considered renderings to support her ideas made her a great fit with the design team. Now, I have had the pleasure of working alongside her, watching her grow as an emerging professional as she has become an asset to AG.”
According to AG Senior Associate Andrew Alden, “An understanding of form and function is only the beginning. Architecture is about people. Kyra understands how the experience of the built environment can change lives for the better!”
Orvis feels blessed to be a part of the AG Team and is excited about her professional development and the opportunity to evolve her role within the firm.