2026 Awards Jury

Taylor M. Gawthorp-Cruse

Senior Associate, Project Executive IMEG

Taylor Gawthorp-Cruse, WELL AP, is project executive and senior consultant for IMEG’s Sustainability & Energy team. She has a broad engineering background in HVAC, plumbing, fire protection, energy modeling, decarbonization master planning, and more.

Taylor brings passion and expertise to projects aimed at reducing energy use and total carbon footprint, preserving resources, and helping clients meet their sustainability goals. She has been an integral team member for various projects seeking building certifications and has performed building performance analyses on higher education, healthcare, public service, and multifamily buildings.

Taylor is also a frequent presenter and educator, dedicated to furthering the industry’s understanding of decarbonization and sustainability.

Krystyn Haecker

AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C Partner  Mirador Group, Vedetta Design 

Krystyn Haecker, AIA is a Partner who joined Mirador Group in 2013. She specializes in leading Urban Multi-Family and Mixed-Use Commercial Projects, where she enjoys engaging with how people live, work and interact with their communities at different scales. She serves on the Leadership Team as the company Integrator, and manages programs for Recruitment and Professional Development.

Krystyn currently serves on the Texas Society of Architects (TxA) Board of Directors as President for 2026. She previously served as TxA Vice President of Professional Development from 2021-2022 and Co-Chair for the TxA Conference Committee for 2024. She also served on TxA Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee from 2019-2020, the TxA Convention Futures Committee from 2018-2020 and the TxA Design Awards Committee in 2023.

In 2016, Krystyn participated in creating the Women in Architecture (WiA) Committee of AIA Houston. She served as the 2018 Committee Chair and 2017 Vice-Chair for Networking and Social Media. During her tenure as Committee Chair, WiA Houston received the TxA Mentorship Award. Krystyn was selected as a scholar for the inaugural Houston class (2018-2019) of the Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program (CKLDP) and served as the CKLDP Sponsorship Advisor for the 2019-2020 class. She also served on the AIA Houston Board of Directors for 2024.

Krystyn is a licensed architect in Texas and LEED AP BD+C professional. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Environmental Design from Texas A&M University and received a Masters of Architecture from Virginia Tech. She was recognized as a Houston Business Journal Women Who Mean Business Honoree in 2024. Krystyn was name the 2025 AIA Houston Ben Brewer Young Architect Award Winner and the 2025 Texas Society of Architects Award Early Career Professional Achievement winner.

Garrett Herbst

AIA, Senior Associate, Little 

Garrett is Little’s Director of Emerging Technologies, where he leads research and implementation of advanced computational tools, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies to enhance design, practice, and project delivery across the firm. An architect and technologist, he focuses on translating emerging tools into practical workflows that elevate design quality, improve efficiency, and expand what architects can create.

Garrett brings a diverse background in architecture and project leadership, with experience spanning high rise developments, manufacturing facilities, corporate headquarters, and complex commercial projects. He has also played a key role in several of the firm’s first large scale mass timber projects, helping explore and advance this rapidly evolving building typology as a lower carbon approach to construction.

In addition to his work at Little, Garrett serves as an adjunct professor at UNC Charlotte where he teaches computational design and explores the intersection of architecture, technology, and data driven design. His academic work also extends into facade research through the Integrated Design Research Lab, where he helped develop next generation building envelopes that integrate microalgae systems and photovoltaics.

Maria Antony Katticaran

AIA, Project Manager, HDR

Maria Katticaran is a transportation architect and urban designer, recognized for advancing the integration of mobility infrastructure, architecture, and community development. She leads Northern California’s transportation architecture practice at HDR, where she guides the planning and design of rail stations, mobility hubs, transit-oriented communities, and public realm improvements that strengthen accessibility, connectivity, and economic vitality.

Maria has helped shape major transportation initiatives for agencies including Caltrain, Bay Area Rapid Transit, LA Metro, Marin Transit, and SacRT. Her multidisciplinary expertise in architecture, urban design, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning enables her to align technical, operational, and community priorities to deliver impactful public investments.

Beyond practice, Maria provides leadership through appointments to the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority Advisory Committee where she contributes to decisions involving environmental stewardship, public investment, and community development. She also serves in a leadership capacity within the AIA Regional and Urban Design Committee, helping advance national dialogue on the role of architecture, urban design, and infrastructure in shaping resilient communities.

Through her professional practice, civic appointments, industry leadership, and public engagement, Maria has established herself as a leading voice in transportation architecture, advancing community-centered infrastructure and demonstrating how mobility investments can create lasting social, economic, and civic value.

Samantha Markham

North Texas K12 Market Leader, Principal, Stantec Architecture 

Since joining us as a summer intern while pursuing her Master of Architecture at Louisiana Tech University, Sam has brought fresh ideas and a “can-do” attitude that showcase her love for architecture. After graduating, she moved into our Education group. Within 18 months, she earned her architectural license.

Now, in her role as market leader, Sam aims to push the envelope of great educational design, engaging with our Texas Buildings and Plano office leadership to maintain and build our K-12 education presence. Her goals are to further engage our clients and cultivate strong relationships.

Co-leading the ACE Plano Frisco Mentor Program and working with our North American Buildings Internship team, Sam exercises her dedication to mentorship and helps create challenging and exciting internship experiences. She is an active member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and has served in a variety of roles at the local, state, and national levels. AIA honored her with their 2026 Young Architect Award, and Building Design + Construction recognized her in their 2025 national 40 under 40 list.

 

Benjamen Metz

AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, Principal, ESA

With nearly 20 years of experience, Ben brings a versatile portfolio spanning education, medical training, performing arts and master planning projects. He is involved in every phase of the design process from early conversations that uncover client goals and end-user needs, to the delivery of thoughtful, high-performing solutions. 

Ben is known for his ability to translate complex ideas into designs that are both elegant and highly functional. His wide-ranging expertise allows him to shift seamlessly between project types like new athletic facilities or performing arts venues. This diversity not only keeps his work dynamic, but also fuels his passion for purposeful design. 

A trusted partner to clients, Ben combines technical knowledge with an understanding of national trends, particularly in education design. He often helps uncover hidden challenges and opportunities that elevate the final outcome. His approach consistently delivers projects that meet expectations and challenge design norms. 

Ben is an active member of the American Institute of Architects at the local, state and national levels, a member of the International Association of Venue Managers and currently serves as board president for the Civic Design Center in Nashville.

Jennifer Rittler

Associate Principal, Project Architect, Moody Nolan 

Designing spaces where students thrive.

I lead the planning and design of transformative collegiate sports, recreation + wellness, and student life projects across the nation—creating environments that promote holistic wellbeing and elevate the collegiate experience.

What I Bring:

  • 16+ years expertise in higher education architecture
  • Practice leadership in student life, recreation, and athletics facilities
  • National thought leadership in student-centered design

Industry Leadership:

  • First African American President, AIA Columbus (2023) – Leading the region’s premier architecture organization
  • 2022 AIA Young Architect Award Recipient – National recognition for exceptional leadership and contributions to the profession
  • Columbus Downtown Commissioner – Guiding development to create a vibrant, resilient downtown

Yafei Zhang

AIA, LEED AP, NCARB, Associate Principal, KPF

With over a decade of experience in the architecture field, Yafei has honed her expertise in large-scale, multi-building urban developments, with a particular focus on contemporary workplaces. 

As a BIM Leader and Associate Principal at KPF, she has led the technical execution of projects from concept through completion, notably the Bund Fosun Center in Wuhan, China. Since 2020, with her critical knowledge, Yafei has served as BIM lead for a large team executing a 1.2 million-square-foot interior office fit-out for a well-known multinational technology company at 50 Hudson Yards in New York City. Yafei also take the technical lead and BIM Lead on the high-profile project University of Michigan Center for Innovation in Detroit.

As an adjunct professor of Architecture at Kean University, she has led the Professional Practice Seminar. Imparting practical knowledge and real-world insights to aspiring next generation of architects and helping them bridge the gap between academic learning and the demands of the professional architecture industry.

With experience ranging from urban planning to commercial to interior, Yafei has built her architectural knowledge through design, construction administration, and on-site construction work. Her expertise has led her to be invited as a guest speaker at prestigious events such as the New York Build Expo in 2024, and has been honored as a jury for Muse Design International Award in 2024, and as a jury for  London Design Award in 2024,

Yafei received a Master of Architecture degree from UCLA, and is a registered architect in the state of New Jersey.