Ashley McGraw Architects Attends 2026 N4C Annual Conference

A group of people sits on tiered stone steps beside a canal during a guided tour. Trees, historic buildings, and a riverwalk create a scenic urban gathering space.

Ashley McGraw Architects attended the 54th Annual Conference of the National Coalition for Campus Children's Centers (NCCCC), on March 18-21, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas. The conference offered a unique opportunity for leaders from campus children's centers across the country to exchange insights, best practices, and innovative strategies aimed at meeting the changing needs of children, families, and the early childhood workforce within higher education. Representing Ashley McGraw at the event included Mike Lindstrom, Principal of the Early Childhood Education Studio; Kylie Durekas, Principal / Landscape Architect, Liz Hall, Associate Principal; and Brian Burns, Business Development Manager.

As long-standing supporters of NCCCC, Ashley McGraw Architects played an active role in various key conference activities. 

  • Makerspace Partnership: In partnership with Community Playthings and Ashley McGraw co-hosted an engaging makerspace during the conference, offering hands-on experiences that explored design in a fun and interactive way.

  • Roundtable Discussion on Trauma-Informed Design: On March 19 at 9:45 AM CST, Kylie Durekas, RLA, CPSI, ASLA, and Liz Hall, RA, presented “Trauma-Informed Outdoor & Playscape Design for Early Education.” During the interactive discussion, attendees collaborated with design professionals to explore how thoughtfully designed, trauma-informed outdoor environments could support children and families experiencing trauma.

  • Architecture Walking Tour: On March 20 at 5:00 PM CST, Ashley McGraw hosted a 1-hour architectural walking tour of San Antonio, TX. The architectural walking tour invited participants to view the built environment through an early childhood lens, exploring how scale, movement, sensory conditions, and spatial transitions influence human experience. Using everyday urban spaces as teaching tools, the tour highlighted how design decisions shaped comfort, curiosity, regulation, and connection.

Visitors gather beneath a sculptural canopy with a colorful leaf-patterned underside in an urban park. Modern high-rise buildings and landscaped green space surround the pavilion.
A group of adults gathers around a dining table in a modern restaurant, smiling for a photo. Floor-to-ceiling windows reveal a city skyline illuminated against the night sky.
Attendees sit in a conference room during a presentation, watching two speakers at the front of the room. A large screen displays presentation slides as participants listen from their seats.
A large group poses for a photo in a hotel lobby with floor-to-ceiling windows. Sunlight fills the space as attendees smile together during a conference or group gathering.
Previous
Previous

Alessia Randazzo (Senior Designer) Joins Ashley McGraw Architects

Next
Next

Gretchen Craig Earns Architecture License