Karen McGraw has practiced architecture for over thirty years with a focus on continuing care and revitalization of local communities and resources. From the smallest architecture projects to community-wide conservation and rezoning her work has focused on enhancing existing community resources and building upon community and private investment. This ethic stems from a family history of over 100 years of community development and building. Her early career included airport consulting, residential development and specification writing for large projects. Several years as Executive Director of Designers' Space, an organization providing space for the arts in downtown Austin lead to appointment as Vice-Chairman of Austin's Downtown Revitalization Task Force which included co-authoring Austin's Downtown zoning code (still in effect) with Natalie deBlois, FAIA. Relocating her office from downtown to the historic Hyde Park neighborhood in 1987 set her career on a path addressing central city neighborhoods. Having rehabilitated numerous historic homes for growing families as well as traditional commercial buildings, and utilizing federal tax programs, her focus took a broader view toward neighborhood conservation. In a community where formal historic preservation has been long delayed, the creation of three large conservation districts, under Ms. McGraw's leadership, has provided protection to the basic development patterns and designs of several historic Austin neighborhoods. This effort has involved extensive planning and negotiation among property owners and community activists as well as political maneuvering, numerous presentations over the years and extensive community networking. Preservation planning projects in recent years include several national register surveys in various cities, the South Congress Preservation Plan for the City of Austin, and Architectural Review Board training services. Recent work on central Texas Courthouses has been a fascinating addition to Ms. McGraw's career and has drawn her interests to smaller communities which share similar issues with central city neighborhoods. Service to the community has included numerous City Task force assignments including a Cell Tower Task force and most recently service on Austin's McMansion Task Force. Her work over the years has resulted in recognition with awards from Hyde Park neighborhood Association, AIA Austin, the Heritage Society of Austin and the Dispute Resolution Center.