Kim Yao
ArchitectCultural & CivicHealthcare & EducationPrincipal at Architecture Research Office (ARO)
Kim Yao is principal of Architecture Research Office (ARO), which she joined as an intern in 1997 and became a partner of in 2011, leading civic, cultural, and educational projects. She holds an undergraduate degree in architecture from Columbia College and a Master of Architecture from Princeton University. She served as President of AIA New York in 2020, was elected to the National Academy of Design, and sits on the board and executive committee of the Center for Architecture. She has received the AIA New York Medal of Honor and the Beverly Willis Foundation Mentorship Award, and has taught at Columbia GSAPP, Cornell, MIT, Parsons, and Barnard College.
Experience
- Current
Principal
- Current
Principal
Past projects
Brooklyn Passive House Public Schools
Healthcare-Education · Brooklyn, NY
A New Campus for the Rothko Chapel
Cultural
Dia Chelsea
Cultural · Chelsea, NY
Olana Frederic Church Center for Art and Landscape
Cultural
The Green-House at Green-Wood, Education and Welcome Center
Healthcare-Education · Brooklyn, NY
University of Washington Tacoma, Milgard Hall
Healthcare-Education · Tacoma, WA
Rice University School of Business
Healthcare-Education
Riverdale Country School, Upper Learning Building
Healthcare-Education · Riverdale, NY
Awards & press
Elected to the National Academy of Design
National Academy of Design · ARO's Principals elected in recognition of vision, artistry, and dedication to craft
AIA Architecture Firm Award
AIA · 2020
AIA New York State Firm of the Year Award
AIA New York State
Cooper Hewitt National Design Award for Architecture
Cooper Hewitt
