Architect of Opportunity: Pitts (’22) Turned Passion into Professional Impact
Kristin Pitts
When Kristin Pitts (’22) arrived at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she wasn’t starting from scratch. She already held a bachelor’s in interior design and an MBA from Samford University and had gained several years of professional experience as an interior designer, most recently practicing with local firm Design Innovation Architects.
However, she could not completely shake her dream to also pursue architecture.
Although design or architecture as a career was not a foregone conclusion or aspiration at a young age, creating was always a passion.
“Growing up, I didn’t care to dress a doll, but I was intrigued with shaping its environment,” said Pitts. “I loved figuring out how to make the things that my parents weren’t guaranteed to just buy for us.”
Her decision to return and pursue the architecture degree she had long envisioned now stands as a defining chapter in her career. It’s laid the groundwork for her inclusion in the , recognizing rising professionals making an impact in their industries and communities.
Today, Pitts practices as a project architect and designer at Gensler Atlanta, leading projects in hospitality, mixed-use, residential, workplace, retail, and sports entertainment as a licensed architect and interior designer.
Confidence Forged in the Studio
Graduate school demanded more than the creativity and technical skills Pitts already possessed. It required her to challenge, reframe, and reconstruct not only the knowledge already held, but unexpectedly, how she saw herself and believed in what could be possible her potential.
“I remember looking around and thinking, ‘There’s no way I’m as talented as the people whose work is displayed on these walls,’” she said. “But I told myself, if hard work will get me there, I’ll be there or as close as I can be.”
Rooted by the mentality forged by her experiences as a Division 1 tennis student-athlete and motivated by the passion to learn and excel in the discipline, Pitts leaned in. Central to her journey and growth were multiple experiences and opportunities which she explored. An experience that Pitts noted as being one of the most pivotal was the opportunity to research and collaborate with Maged Guerguis, associate professor of design and structural technology and McCarty Holsaple McCarty Endowed Professor.
As a research assistant with Guerguis, Pitts conducted research on advanced additive robotic manufacturing processes and emerging technologies, collaborating on fabrication efforts that translated digital concepts into built prototypes. The work required precision, experimentation, and the ability to navigate unfamiliar tools and systems. She also co-authored two publications with Guerguis.
“He took the time to pour into me,” she said. “The opportunity stretched and pushed my capabilities, and his support and encouragement nurtured a belief and confidence that I perhaps would not have gained otherwise.”
That belief in herself and the lesson learned of the importance of leaning into the uncomfortable became instrumental when Pitts continued to Gensler where she has had the opportunity to participate and lead design and construction efforts on a range of project types at a variety of scales.
One of her notable professional experiences includes leading the design and construction of ZARA’s flagship store at The Forum Shops at Caesars in Las Vegas. The more than 33,000 square-foot, three-story project required balancing brand standards with architectural and construction constraints while collaborating across teams to meet complex deliverables and tight timelines.
“It was scary,” she said. “I had never led a project like that, and was new to the project scale and the project architect role, but I had a team behind me supporting and believing in me. It reminded me of the emotions and experiences that I had begun learning to embrace at UT, being challenged and pushed out of my comfort zone, but appreciating the outcome.”
From Learning To Leading
Pitts has maintained close ties to the college, returning part-time as a lecturer for the graduate level structures course. Teaching allowed her to bridge professional practice and academic instruction, sharing insights from real-world projects with current students.
“It was a lot to balance, but I absolutely loved it,” Pitts said. “I remembered being in their shoes and it meant a lot to be in a position to not only impart practical knowledge, but also explore ways of connecting theoretical or more academic concepts to practice. Aiding in their discovery, witnessing their confidence grow, and supporting them where I could was the most inspiring and fulfilling part for me beyond a doubt.”
In Atlanta, Pitts impacts the community through mentorship and volunteer work with Project Pipeline, an initiative of the National Organization for Minority Architects (NOMA), and Club Ideate, an immersive design camp led by Gensler in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta. She has assumed leadership roles with the local NOMA chapter and is also engaged with the greater Atlanta community through community focused work assisting on pro/low-bono project efforts focused on innovative solutions to address the affordable housing crisis in Atlanta.
For Pitts, the Volunteer 40 Under 40 recognition marks a milestone.
The decision to pursue architecture at UT wasn’t about adding another credential but aligning her career with the discipline she had always been drawn to. Now, whether she’s leading projects at Gensler or mentoring the next generation of students who will shape the future of the profession, Pitts operates from that clarity.
She chose the path she always felt called toward and built a career that reflects it.