Fellowship Recipient
Kim Bahnsen McCarron brings over 15 years of experience to her architectural career, building a diverse portfolio that encompasses university buildings, cultural institutions, historic districts, and private residences. Her projects reflect a deep commitment to understanding the built environment and reimagining existing structures to meet the demands of the modern world.
With a strong foundation in both architecture and historic preservation, Kim has dedicated her career to uncovering the narratives within buildings and using them to guide their transformation. Her early travels to her mother’s native Mexico and family trips to Europe instilled in her a profound appreciation for the ways cities evolve over time while preserving their historic integrity.
Kim earned her Bachelor in Architecture from the University of Washington, during which she studied abroad in Rome and explored the city’s rich architectural layering. She went on to complete her Master of Architecture and a Certificate in Heritage Conservation at the University of Southern California, where she integrated contemporary design principles with preservation-focused coursework.
Her professional experience spans large, multidisciplinary firms as well as boutique studios, enabling her to balance architectural design with preservation planning. Kim’s diverse project types have all contributed to her depth of expertise such as conducting architectural surveys to identify regional patterns, developing design guidelines to shape communities, and breathing new life into deteriorated buildings. Her work is rooted in a holistic approach that prioritizes honoring a structure’s historical significance while ensuring its functionality and sustainability for future generations.
Whether managing a small residential project or a large cultural landmark, Kim thrives on revealing the hidden stories within buildings and showcasing their value to the communities they serve. Her work reflects a passion for design that bridges the past and future, ensuring that every project contributes meaningfully to its surroundings.