Whitney McDermott is Studio Mentor at brwarchitects, where she faciliates and organizes production and professional services. Whitney joined brwarchitects in 2017 as the lead of Southwood’s mobile home resident-led redevelopment process in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. She quickly stood out to residents and developers alike as a sensitive, egalitarian project leader – exactly the right personality for resident-driven design.

After developing the affordable housing studio, Whitney transitioned in 2022 to a Studio Mentor role to facilitate the success of all BRW staff and projects.

In her professional life, Whitney has developed an awareness of the intricate workings that define a place and its culture, and has strived to remain aware of and in awe of this beauty ever since. This awareness informs her approach to the built environment and to listening and engaging a place and—more importantly—its people during the design process.

Whitney and her husband, Ross, have three young children together. Whitney also enjoys gardening, running, making silly collages that encourage smiling, and swimming in the ocean, hiking, and biking as much as possible.

In 2020, Whitney was was awarded the Young Activist in Architecture Award by the Central Virginia Chapter of Virginia Society AIA, and also awarded the Virginia Emerging Professional Award by Virginia AIA. She currently serves on the Secretary’s Advisory Committee for AIA Virginia.