McKay Landscape Architects was founded by Michele McKay in 1982. We are a small business, certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise, practicing throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana. Our design experience scans a variety of project types and scales, including affordable, supportive and senior housing, universities, parks and private residences.

Our approach to the design of a project involves in depth discussion with the client to determine vision, program needs, budget considerations, cultural influences and aesthetics.

We believe that the natural environment that a person experiences on a day to day basis is of the greatest importance to his or her mental and physical health and well being. Particularly in a city, green spaces are critical for the microclimates they create, for the oases they provide from the built environment and for their therapeutic value.

The housing projects we work on commonly incorporate green roofs, permeable parking lots, bioswales or rain gardens to deal with site drainage and heat island effect. Recently some of our projects have included urban agriculture and even chickens.

Ultimately good design is an experiential process in which both success and failure play a significant part. We attempt to look honestly at our completed projects and to learn from them.