Meet LRS interior designer and associate Darcie McConnaha, who is a project manager in our Office + Workplace studio. Originally born in Federal Way WA, she moved to the small town of McMinnville, OR at the age of eleven. She is a graduate from the University of Oregon’s Interior Architecture program.

Joined LRS: 2004

What do you like best about LRS?

I love the freedom that LRS has bestowed on me to choose my career path during my 19 years here. They’ve also been super flexible with my time so that I can focus on my other job – being a mom!

What project(s) did you recently work on?: On any given day, I jump around between many workplace tenant improvements! Some of my recent ones include KinderCare Headquarters in Lake Oswego, Prosper Portland, and the 220 Building in downtown Portland. Currently, I am leading The City of Beaverton Facilities Master Plan project.

What made you want to join the architecture and interiors field?

I’ll be honest, I loved watching HGTV when I was in high school!  When I graduated, I didn’t know what I wanted “to be when I grew up” so I decided to go to University of Oregon since it was huge and had many options. I took a few architecture classes, and the rest is history!

What has impacted you the most in your career and how?

People! One of the best things about working on workplace tenant improvements is that I get to experience the many different career paths others have taken. Getting that sneak peek into their daily lives and helping them figure out how to make their workday better for them is what keeps me going!

What is the latest design trend you are most interested in?

The workplace is so much more than a bunch of offices and workstations these days. Helping my clients determine what aspects their built environment actually needs to successfully bring their teams together in person as well as virtually, is a new challenge that I’m excited about.