Our Team
Together, PALA’s founding principals bring distinct yet complementary perspectives shaped by global experience, rigorous training, and diverse professional paths. One approaches design through a lens informed by service, structure, and the social impact of the built environment; the other through a deeply cultivated understanding of art, culture, and architectural craft shaped by international practice. United by a shared education and a belief in elegant, purposeful design, they are devoted to residential architecture that is thoughtful, refined, and deeply personal—homes that respond to the unique lives of their clients and foster a lasting sense of comfort, meaning, and belonging.
Patrick Alexander McKinley
A former military officer whose work overseas in Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East shaped a lasting understanding of how the built environment influences daily life and community. A Harvard GSD graduate, he brings experience from major residential and federal projects in New York City and San Francisco, now focused on a craft‑driven, family‑centered approach to single‑family residential architecture.
Co-Founder / Managing Principal
Liwen Zhang
A Harvard GSD graduate with decades of experience at major, award‑winning architecture firms, including Pritzker Prize–winning offices and high‑end single‑family residential studios, working across museums and custom homes. Originally from Hong Kong and having worked extensively in Paris, she brings a globally informed design perspective shaped by art, travel, and cultural context.
Co‑Founder / Principal