James J. McKay, M.Arch.
.. JJMcKay AT me.com

James J. McKay (“Jim”) is an expert in architectural research, civic engagement, and community service learning.

From 2012 to 2018, Jim McKay served as the Director of Community Engagement at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), where he also taught interdisciplinary student service-learning in architecture.

In this role, McKay was a key player in IIT’s master planning and prototyping initiatives aimed at revitalizing Bronzeville's East 35th, 43rd, 47th, and 51st corridors, focusing on streetscape and business façade improvements. Jim fostered partnerships between IIT and local small businesses and promoted historic preservation and educational tourism, particularly with regards to Black history and jazz, blues and gospel music. McKay played an instrumental role in organizing IIT-co-sponsored events such as health fairs, community planning meetings, and Black history lectures. Jim worked closely with over two dozen community and economic development organizations.

As an instructor, McKay's IPRO courses emphasized collaborative, inter-disciplinary projects between IIT students and the surrounding neighborhoods, including Bronzeville, Chicago Chinatown, and Bridgeport/Canaryville. Examples of student-to-community IPRO and architecture studio collaborations include “Sidewalk Benches for Community Sharing,” “Black Veterans’ Chess Pavilion at 35th Street Bridge,” and the “Bronzeville Match” app, which paired vacant retail space with potential tenants.

Prior to his work at IIT, McKay led digital media pedagogy at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) School of Architecture where he taught undergraduate and graduate studios from 2001 to 2010. His courses focused on design precision, digital vs. analogue design processes, and design behavior. Jim was part of the management team for the school’s public exhibitions and lecture series.

For over two decades, McKay has been recognized as an authority on retail design, with a particular focus on the architecture of Daniel Burnham, especially the Marshall Field and Company Building. His expertise has been featured in over 100 media outlets, including BBC World Service, NPR, PBS, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CBS Sunday Morning, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Reader, New City, and many other local and national media outlets.

McKay has also provided digital design consulting for major projects such as the Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile, Millennium Park Garage, and United Airlines maintenance facilities.

Earlier in his career, McKay managed digital technology for the Illinois School of Architecture and was primary technology advisor to the Dean of the University of Illinois College of Fine and Applied Arts.

McKay holds a Master of Architecture in design behavior research from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. A native Chicagoan, he remains deeply committed to the intersection of architecture, community engagement, historic preservation, culture, and all great things Chicago.