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HOUSTON’S EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN IN BUSINESS
LEGACY ARCHITECTS
After becoming Mirador Group’s first female Partner in 2025, architect Krystyn Haecker looks forward to furthering a decades-long legacy of people-centered design.
When Krystyn Haecker, AIA, sought out a Texas-based rm that o ered excellent design and ample growth opportunities in 2013, she discovered Houston’s Mirador Group, which had built a sizeable reputation despite its boutique size. Founded in 1995, Mirador Group has grown from a relatively small commercial and residential architecture studio into an award-winning, full-service design rm. Under the leadership of Todd Blitzer and Jerry Hooker, the rm has expanded its portfolio to include over 1,000 completed projects across Texas while maintaining its commitment to personalized service and design excellence.
Haecker charted a path of growth at Mirador Group. After graduating with a Masters of Architecture from Virginia Tech, Haecker started as an entry level Job Captain at Mirador Group; eventually, she moved up into various management and leadership positions within 12 years. In January 2025, she became Mirador Group’s first female Partner, the same year the firm is celebrating its 30th anniversary. With an extensive career still ahead of her, she plans to lead the firm alongside fellow Partners Blitzer and Hooker to further the team’s commitment to creativity, passion, collaboration, service, diversity, and inclusivity. Together, Mirador Group’s leadership team brings complementary expertise—Blitzer’s deep understanding of spatial relationships, Hooker’s innovative material applications, and now Haecker’s technical excellence in multifamily design—creating a powerhouse of architectural talent recognized across Houston and beyond.
While Haecker is Mirador Group’s Multifamily Practice Leader, the firm also offers residential and commercial architecture, interior architecture, and interior design. No matter the scale of a project, she and her team take a contextual approach to design by centering the people who will be using the space. is people-centered approach begins with Mirador Group’s client discovery process, involving collaborative discussions and development of program and design. is method has earned Mirador Group recognition from Architectural Digest Italia and multiple design awards, including a 2023 ULI Houston Development of Distinction honor. One of the projects Haecker remembers most fondly is Giorgetti Houston, a luxury condominium project designed in collaboration with Giorgetti, a high-end Italian furniture brand. e building’s façade was inspired by Giorgetti’s furniture line, and the interior spaces told the story of an Italian lifestyle within an urban Houston neighborhood. e immersive design process allowed those working on the project to e ectively collaborate with the brand to develop a cohesive and unique design. Other standout projects in Mirador Group’s diverse portfolio include the restoration of the historic 6 Courtlandt Place and e Sophie at Bayou Bend luxury condominiums in Houston.
“Mirador Group is not one of those rms that has one very recognizable signature style; we’re style agnostic,” says Haecker. “Whether it’s a historic home, low-income housing project, or luxury condominium, design should respond to site-speci c and people-centered needs rather than an architect’s ego.”
CONNECTION-DRIVEN CRAFT
When Haecker first began her architectural career, she didn’t see many women in leadership positions in the eld. Because of this, she forged her own network early on to further her sense of purpose and build a community. Today, she serves on the Texas Society of Architects Board of Directors as the 2025 PresidentElect. Previously, she cofounded and chaired the Women in Architecture Committee of American Institute of Architects Houston, which works to build a community of women to help support and grow their careers.
In the coming years, Haecker plans to expand Mirador Group’s brand recognition across the state of Texas. She plans to work closely with her diverse team to build out the rm’s strong portfolio and expand its service areas.
“As a young person in this industry and as a woman in this industry, I’m looking towards the future,” says Haecker. “The best part of what I do is working with my team. I love and appreciate all of them. With them by my side, I know we can continue a legacy of excellent design.”
Giorgetti Houston
PHOTOS BY DIVYA PANDE