Brittany McNairy.
Brittany McNairy, 34
Senior technical coordinator at Perkins & Will
Brittany McNairy always had a fascination with the nation’s capital.
The St. Louis native remembers every inauguration since she was 5 years old and credits her “politically conscious” parents for encouraging her interest in American history. When she became a teenager, she got to attend President George W. Bush’s 2005 inauguration and take in Washington, D.C.’s atmosphere for herself.
“The city is very diverse and the buildings aren’t particularly tall, so you can see out far and get that sense of scale,” she said. “I knew if I loved the city in the coldest days I’d definitely love it later.”
After attending college at Maryville University in St. Louis, McNairy moved to Washington in June 2014, and joined the architecture firm Perkins & Will. Two months later, an unarmed Black teenager was shot and killed in Ferguson, Mo., a suburb five miles from her family’s home. It was difficult being away because she wasn’t able to participate in demonstrations, and she had few friends she could turn to for support.
“It was tricky being here because I had recently moved and a lot of folks didn’t know I was from there or how it directly impacted me,” McNairy said. “When I went back home, it was a little jarring to see burned buildings in neighborhoods where I grew up. That was a pivotal moment for me personally, and for the country too.”
At Perkins & Will, McNairy focuses on sustainable design. She recently renovated the D.C. headquarters of the U.S. Green Building Council, which developed the widely used LEED ratings system determining a building’s energy efficiency. She helped consolidate the offices, and repurposed glass and wood elements from an unused floor for new conference rooms and two new feature walls. The project also includes a living wall with a knowledge center featuring placards that highlight materials used in the space.
“It really served as an opportunity to re-evaluate the strategies we implement on our projects and make sure we are keeping them on the leading edge of sustainability,” she said. “We just did a photo shoot of the space and they were really happy.” —A.S.
