Karen Braitmayer FAIA

Prior to founding Studio Pacifica in Seattle, Karen Braitmayer FAIA (BA Rice University 1982, MArch University of Houston 1985) worked with retail clients at Callison Architecture. 
Consulting for accessibility grew out of her personal experience as a wheelchair user and an architect, and became a prime area of interest for her in 1990.  Karen Braitmayer has focused her career on advocacy and design for universal accessibility.  Her work with local, state, and national building code processes in key appointed and testimonial roles has helped advance successful legislation.  Results attributable to her effort include Washington's distinction (in 1994) for adopting the first state accessibility code certified by the US Department of Justice as meeting the standards of the then-new Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines.

In 2004, ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition featured Karen and her work on the makeover of a home for the family of a boy with Osteogenesis Imperfecta. The Orange County Goodwill honored Karen with its 2005 Walter Knott Award, which recognizes individuals "for their contributions and their fortitude to follow their dreams and champion the spirit of ability."

She continues to combine community service with a portfolio of disability consulting projects, on key public and private facilities in and beyond Washington.  She currently (2006) serves on the Board of Directors of the Northwest Center and of the Braitmayer Foundation.

AIA Seattle 1990 Medallist Norman J. Johnston FAIA sponsored the nomination to the AIA College of Fellows, resulting in Karen's induction in 2004.

References:
*"Obama Appoints Karen Braitmayer to US Access Board" (2010) (Board bio)
*Karen Braitmayer honored with 2019 AIA Whitney M. Young Jr. Award
*SPU honors 2019: No Limits, No Boundaries Award to Karen Braitmayer
*"Karen Braitmayer brings unique perspective to her award-winning work toward accessible architecture" (The Seattle Times Pacific NW, September 15, 2019)
*"The Need for Architecture that Enables, not Disables" (Architect, October 25, 2019)
*"New Mobility Person of the Year 2019"
*"Karen Braitmayer on the Future of Accessible Architecture in the US" (Hunker July 2022)