Whitney McDermott 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 specialty at the firm, she transitioned in 2022 to a Studio Mentor role to facilitate the success of all BRW staff and project types.  

After graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering, she earned her Masters in Architecture and Urban Planning in 2013. 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, welcomed daughter Mavis in the Summer of 2019 and a son, Harlan, in 2021. Whitney also enjoys gardening with her husband, making silly collages that encourage smiling, and swimming in the ocean, hiking, and biking as much as possible.

In 2020, Whitney was recognized by the AIA at both the state and local level: she was awarded with the Young Activist in Architecture Award by the Central Virginia Chapter of Virginia Society AIA and the Virginia Emerging Professional Award by Virginia Society AIA.

Whitney currently serves on the Secretary’s Advisory Committee for AIA Virginia.