AIA Austin WiA Presents Site Tour // 02: Austin ISD Allison Elementary School

AIA Austin WiA Present Site Tour // 01: Austin ISD Allison Elementary School
Date: Thursday, July 30, 2026 at 4:00 – 6:00pm
Location: 6701 Ponca St.

Register Now!

PPE is Required. Street Parking is available along Vargas Rd and Ponca St.

CEU Credits PENDING.

Site Tour Description

Emerging from an earnest community engagement process, the core values of Austin ISD Allison Elementary School are expressed through the design of an inclusive, safe, and flexible learning environment. 

Inspired by the traditional Spanish-language song De Colores (“All the Colors”), the design embraces vivid colors, rhythms, and patterns throughout the building. Colors, textures, and biophilic elements promote wayfinding and identity while connecting Allison Elementary to the surrounding neighborhood. Pursuing AEGB 3-Star and LEED Silver certification, the project reflects a commitment to sustainability while celebrating its community in a child-oriented, culturally resonant, and timeless way.

Site Tour Presenters

Navvab Taylor, AIA, RID, LEED AP BD+C

Navvab Taylor, AIA, RID, LEED AP BD+C combines design excellence, sustainable innovation, and a passion for
community engagement to create projects that make a lasting impact on both people and place. With more than
two decades of experience in education and civic design, she works collaboratively with clients and consultants
across disciplines, integrating architectural vision with environmental stewardship. Known for her clear
communication and skillful project management, she has built enduring client relationships by guiding teams
confidently through every phase of design and construction. Navvab is a Principal at McKinney York Architects and
a design leader in the K-12, Civic, and Mission-Driven Organization market sectors.

Patricia Hunt, AIA

Patricia is an Associate at McKinney York and joined the firm in 2018. With over 25 years of
experience, Patricia is a skilled project manager and architect whose expertise includes space
planning, research, construction document production, client interaction, and consultant
coordination/scheduling. She is experienced in a wide range of project types including

commercial, educational, recreation, public administration, and institutional projects, and has a
passion for design that serves the greater community.

Jessica Dasher, AIA

Jessica is a dedicated design professional with a strong passion for community focused, public
sector projects that serve a broad range of stakeholders. She has
contributed to several impactful initiatives across Central Texas, with a particular
focus on projects that elevate public services through thoughtful design. Jessica
has found great fulfillment in her work on the City of Austin’s Family Violence Shelter, an
adaptive reuse project that underscores her commitment to creating spaces that serve and
protect vulnerable populations. She values the collaborative complexity of civic projects and
brings a grounded, people-first approach to every phase of the process.

Paul Holmes, AIA

Paul Holmes joined the firm as an architect in 2024, bringing over five years of
experience across single-family, multi-family, commercial, education, and adaptive re-use
projects to McKinney York. From Austin originally, he earned both his undergraduate and
graduate degrees in architecture at Tulane University, where he built a strong foundation in
design thinking and community oriented design. Paul’s expertise includes conceptual design,
detailing, and project management. He has a deep curiosity about how buildings are
made—how materials meet, come together, and how design translates from the page to the
built environment. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to design excellence, Paul
brings thoughtful insight and energy to each project team. Paul maintains an interest in always learning more—
whether through new building technologies through his involvement with the AIA
BEC, evolving tools in the profession, or lessons learned in the field.