Katie Taylor received her Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Cincinnati. After working for two years at a firm specializing in historic rehab, she moved to Chicago to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she received a Master of Architecture as well as a Certificate in Historic Preservation.

Katie’s work in Cincinnati led her to focus her graduate research on the issues of gentrification and displacement, and her practice quickly evolved to center on access, inclusion and participation in design. This culminated in her thesis “This is (Not) My Thesis” which explored participation as a strategy to disrupt systematic displacement.

Katie continues to expand her practice through independent research, personal projects and community involvement, including participating in a West-Side initiative called Under The Grid which seeks to transform vacant CTA lots into productive arts and education spaces. She also enjoys training her dog Chai, baking cakes and drinking wine.