Utilize Design LLC was founded in 2024 by architect Liz Katz. With a goal of serving her local community, with affordable and thoughtful design solutions by using her love of drawing, space planning, and problem solving. Her design style is influenced by balancing functionality and minimalism with the connection and impact to the natural environment. She understands that every project, client, and site is unique. By listening to your wants, needs, and priorities she'll work with you to develop a vision for your space.

Liz spent most of her 15+ year career as an educational designer, planner, programmer, and architect. From the 550K+ Square Foot Shadow Creek High School, outside of Houston, Texas, to the diverse Wing Luke Elementary in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood, Liz has had the opportunity to be part of award-winning projects that create lasting impressions of space on future generations. 

Liz fell in love with Seattle during a summer internship, graduating from Iowa State's architecture program in the recession of 2008. The architecture job market in Seattle wasn't an option, so she went to Texas. Starting at a local Beaumont firm Long Architects, she worked with developers on affordable housing and the local school district on three of nine replacement elementaries. 

She then moved to Houston where she looked only at educational firms and joined SHW Group which eventually became Stantec. In Houston she was heavily involved with AIA Houston participating in many youth outreach programs and as a docent in the Historic Heights Bike Tour. While working on all types of educational facilities she started working on Long Range Facility Planning and programming projects, that provided a better understanding of budgets, scale, priorities, and vision. After her husband got a job overseas, she decided to finish her licensing exams and took up running, completing a few half marathons, a full marathon, and a half Iron Man... all that was left to do was to move to Seattle. 

In 2015 Liz moved to Seattle and joined NAC as a K-12 Project Architect and soon after became a mom. At NAC her interest in planning grew and she became very involved with A4LE Washington, serving on their board, participating in and then hosting 20Under40, and taking the Advanced Academy to earn the designation of ALEP (Accredited Learning Environment Planner). Working collaboratively with stakeholders and project teams on several elementary, middle, and high schools Liz got to experience many different aspects as she advanced to associate, senior associate, then PK-12 Research Strategist. With health challenges in 2019, reflecting on the pandemic and social reckoning of 2020, and a challenging kindergarten year for her son in 2021, she took a much-needed break from the industry in 2022. 

During her break, Liz revived her love of working with her hands and creating. Planting trees, flowers, and produce, staining fences and decks, building stairs, pantry doors, and a tree house. After a general contractor friend reached out to help with designing Spec DADUs for a new venture, Liz realized how much she’d missed drawing. She started offering as-built services for the Gatewood Elementary Auction and things started organically growing from there with STFI (Subject to Field Inspection) reconfigurations and DADUs. 

Utilize Design LLC is always open to discussing potential projects or collaborations. Wherever you are in the design process, whether it’s developing concept designs, creating Ed Specs or an Educational Program, help with permitting, or detail solutions during construction, feel free to Utilize Design.