Kyle MertensMeyer is a designer, researcher, and three-time founder whose work spans architecture, technology, and the spaces where they converge. Since 2008, he has delivered over $1B in built work across four continents while founding companies that range from design practice to AI-native software. His research examines how synthetic agents, from delivery robots to anatomically accurate androids, are entering environments designed for human bodies, and what frameworks architecture must develop in response. He has taught design and technology at Tongji University and holds a Master's in Design Studies from Harvard GSD. His work has received 53 awards and nominations from institutions including the AIA, IIDA, World Architecture Festival, and Norman Foster Foundation.

UX AND TECHNOLOGY

  • A distorted and pixelated blue and white abstract background.

    algoma AI - cofounder + cheif product officer

    (2023-Present) Algoma AI is an automated calculation engine for real estate feasibility analysis, driven by AI zoning analysis and deterministic algorithms

  • Black and white photo of a mechanical robotic leg with multiple joints and wires.

    new assemblies - research + policy

    (2025-Present) Symbiogenesis, an irreversible merger producing new assemblies. This research studies what spatial actors emerge from synthetic ecology

  • A professional green screen studio with circular green floor, multiple bright studio lights, and LED screens on supporting trusses for video production.

    mixed realities film studio - research + design

    (2019-2021) Avatar Dimension’s DC project integrates volumetric capture technology and film studio design programming to create cutting-edge media.

  • Inside a modern factory with yellow industrial robotic arms assembling wooden panels.

    building of gardens - UXR + filmmaker

    (2022-2023) Documentary film following automated mass timber supply chains and manufacturing from the harvest, through installation, and replanting.

  • A light blue car, the Nissan Ariya, on display in a showroom with a white interior. There are two large horizontal screens showing car interior images above the car. A blurred walking person is passing by.

    EV futures - UXR + design

    (2020-2021) Quant and Qual insights reveal user preferences for the future of EV retail, integrating digital configurators and augmented reality.

  • A person holding a smartphone displaying a colorful, abstract background of various overlapping bubbles in shades of purple and blue with some pink highlights.

    N.A.D.A lab - research + pedagogy

    (2018-2019) Narratives for Augmented Design in Architecture is a phygital exploration of authorship, graphic arts, and digital overlays.

  • A man wearing virtual reality goggles in a room with a monitor and overhead lighting.

    kaleidoskope - cofounder

    (2018-2023) For five years, Kaleidoskope pushed the boundaries of virtual environments, including VR animation and architectural gamification.

  • A wine cellar with multiple wooden wine racks filled with wine bottles arranged in clear boxes. In the foreground, a white oval table with several wine glasses and bottles, and a modern black metal base design.

    my first robot - engineering + design

    (2015-2016) Primitive robots combine the Internet of Things with steel frames and motors, providing a unique take on the wine cellar typology.

  • A black and white illustration of a man with two women, all with angel and demon wings, holding hands and walking together during a cloudy sky scene.

    divergent AI chat bot - engineering + design

    (2025-Present) Designed as a conflicted chatbot, two voices respond to each inquiry. Each perspective then debates the other in an open chat.

  • Children and adults in a colorful indoor play area with books, greenery, and large windows showing trees outside.

    FAB lab futures - research + design

    (2018-2019) FabO Shanghai seeks to create a knowledge playground for grade schoolers to explore robotic fabrication and biology.

  • Child standing in front of a display with a model of a renewable energy facility, including wind turbines and solar panels, and a TV screen showing a sleek white car with digital graphics.

    climate technics - research + design

    (2020-2021) Envision Group brings clean energy products and education to an interactive showcase experience.

  • A humanoid robot with a human-like face wearing a transparent helmet and mechanical components on its head and body, standing in a modern, well-lit indoor setting.

    convergence - research + pedagogy

    (2023-2024) This projective research uses Object-Oriented Ontology's framing of technological adoption, as machines and humans merge physically.

  • Interior view of a modern restaurant or cafe with red lighting, round tables, and upholstered chairs, seen through a glass window.

    flavors - planning + design

    (2017-2019) A sensory dining experience is programmed to combine the colors and flavors of dishes with vibrant interiors.

  • Man wearing glasses talking on a large telephone headset at a busy event.

    gann AI sentinel trader - engineering + design

    (2025-Present) A custom-built trading platform scrapes public sentiment from multiple sources using Grok AI, assesses, and executes trades using Claude AI.

  • augmented spaces gallery - research + design

    (2017-2018) Subterranean spaces linking Hongqiao Airport and Railway provided a canvas for digital overlays to augment space.

  • Woman with dark hair in a bun and fair skin standing among lush green ferns and trees, with eyes closed and holding a fern close to her chest in a dense forest setting

    wellness lifestyles - UXR + strategy

    (2016-2018) Research reveals that balance with nature builds a foundation for preventative methods of healthcare.

  • Four young women sitting at a wooden table, engaging with a tablet and a smartphone together, smiling and chatting in a cozy indoor setting.

    happiness within RTO - UXR + consulting

    (2022-2023) Research collaboration with Harvard Business School and Liberty Mutual explores hybrid modalities and purpose in the future of work.

  • Looking up at a spiraling wine bottle storage in a modern hotel or wine cellar, with bottles arranged in a circular pattern around a central black pool or opening.

    tasting spaces - research + design

    (2011-2012) Past and present collide at the Godolphin Bunker, where wine tasters experience a multisensory wine lifestyle.

  • A futuristic space station orbiting Earth, with a structure extending outward and clouds visible beneath.

    stratoscraper - research + design

    (2019-2021) Exploration of stratospheric launch capabilities for global and interstellar logistics and travel.

  • Black and white architectural model of a modern, multi-level building with spiral ramps, glass walls, and open spaces.

    adaptive transit - planning + design

    (2017-2018) One million square feet of unused maglev rail station finds new life as a destination for the Yangtze region.

ENERGY AND ATMOSPHERE

  • Interior of a building with a high, gabled roof made of wooden slats and trusses. The lower part features brick walls, windows with wooden shutters, and a bed of tall green grass in a brick planter. There are cement beams supporting the roof, and a person walking outside is partially visible through an opening.

    passive healing - research + design

    (2019-2022) Bethesda Medical Center in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti, provides a resilient, off-grid, net-zero campus featuring passive cooling and earth-block.

  • Close-up of a portrait of an older man with glasses, with his hand resting on his cheek.

    solar frit - research + engineering

    (2018) Deep analysis and design of the optimal frit scale and pattern to reduce solar gains on the UIC Hospital’s glass lobby facade

  • Illuminated abstract sculpture resembling a twisting, futuristic structure at night.

    living lung - research + design

    (2016-2017) The Living Lung Pavilion is a 1:1 scale air filtration experiment built at the Yangchunghu festival near Suzhou, China

  • Modern indoor space with a large green vertical garden wall on the left, curved white ceiling with black lines, and floor-to-ceiling windows on the right. There is a long wooden table with several matching wooden chairs.

    blue sky coming - engineering + design

    (2017-2019) NIO Houses incorporate air filters and living walls, tackling IAQ through active and passive measures, tracked on a digital interface.

  • People working in a lush farm with a unique architectural building in the background, under a blue sky with clouds.

    regenerative nutrition - research + design

    (2022) The Baghere Nutrition center seeks to create sustained wellness and nutritional health for the village community.

  • Modern office buildings with glass facades and a landscaped plaza with walkways, trees, and a few people walking.

    first In LEED - design + designated LEED AP

    (2011-2012) The KIC Campus, designed at Gensler for ShuiOn Land, seeks to become Shanghai’s first LEED Platinum project.

  • Night view of a Shell gas station with illuminated signs displaying gas prices, a car wash sign, and parked cars reflecting on the wet pavement.

    transient emissions - research + policy

    (2021) Research reveals that communities adjacent to petroleum sites are at risk from benzene toxin pollution.

  • Low-angle view of a tall modern skyscraper with glass windows and vertical beige concrete accents against a blue sky.

    solar gains - research + design/ca

    (2012-2015) WPP HQ, designed at Gensler, used digital simulation to validate vertical louver patterning for solar shading and natural ventilation.

  • View of Shanghai skyline with tall buildings, including the distinctive Shanghai Tower in the foreground and the Oriental Pearl Tower in the background, shrouded in haze.

    AQI tied economies - research + publication

    (2013-2016) Research reveals the importance of policy and the economic link between GDP trends and CO2 emissions.

  • Two people standing on an observation deck of a tall building, overlooking a city skyline with numerous skyscrapers. The photo is in black and white.

    particulate verticals - research + publication

    (2015) This research investigates at what altitude anthropogenic pollution impacts the atmosphere and built environment.

  • Modern glass building with wooden accents and greenery, situated at a busy urban intersection with traffic, pedestrians, and a bridge in the background.

    huangpu gathering - planning + design

    (2015-2016) The towers’ design delivers sustainable passive strategies while navigating site restrictions and creating views.

  • Modern dining room with a round wooden table, six yellow and black chairs, large glass window showing greenery outside, pendant light hanging from the ceiling, built-in wooden cabinets, and a small wooden stool.

    narratives of duality - research + design

    (2019-2021) Designed to integrate nature and physical space, the house explores the interplay between juxtapositions.

  • Modern office building with large glass windows, a red Nike logo on the exterior, and a metal art installation on the lawn in front.

    the springs LEED gold campus

    (2011-2012) A 2.12 million-square-foot, LEED Gold office campus in Shanghai designed at Gensler for Tishman Speyer. Leased to Nike, Henkel and Douyin.

  • kingdom innovation campus - research + design

    (2025-2026) Courtyards become microclimates as cool air is drawn from below and mixed with vegetation and water features for evaporative cooling

  • Close-up of various lush green tropical leaves with different shapes and textures.

    ecological scrubber - research + publication

    (2016) A controlled experiment over five months, tracking PM2.5 and CO2, reveals the efficacy of planting within spaces.

MATERIALITY AND CARBON

  • A framed view of exposed rocks and rubble through a black metal protective grate, with a dark floor in the foreground.

    reclaimed - planning + design

    (2013-2014) Excavated stones from the site combine with recycled rebar to create a new covering for this museum cavern.

  • Upward view of a large installation of bamboo poles arranged in a circular pattern, with the sky visible through the center.

    cloud forest - engineering + design

    (2016) Originating as a studio project at Tongji Design School, the pavilion emerges as a physical parametric bamboo cloud installation.

  • Ceiling made of wooden geometric tiles arranged in a pattern.

    bottoms up - fabrication + design

    (2015) This hand-modeled installation mirrors the flow of wine as it hovers, made completely of recycled wine crates.

  • Modern house interior with wooden walls and flooring, a bar-height table with four bar stools, and a view of a garden with colorful trees and rocks through large sliding glass doors.

    the shelter - engineering + design

    (2021-2022) A challenging divided site combines timber and earth materials to create an indoor and outdoor living.

  • A multi-story modern building with a brick facade, large glass windows, and balconies, situated on a city street with trees and cars passing by.

    terracotta framing - design + development

    (2018-2019) The Sheridan Residence in Chicago, IL, implements a low-carbon material strategy utilizing timber and terracotta.

  • Empty room with wooden ceiling and large glass windows showing a cityscape with colorful buildings and hills.

    timber economies - research + publication

    (2022-2023) Mass timber has emerged as a carbon-negative material, forever changing construction. This research seeks the financial case for timber

  • Modern multi-story building with an external artistic staircase and vertical wooden slats, illuminated windows, and greenery on balconies, with cars parked underneath and trees nearby, during dusk.

    mass timber lofts - design + development

    (2023-Present) As an Algoma project, these lofts are composed of CLT with glulam beams and columns, reducing embodied carbon while looking beautiful

  • image avenue towers - planning + design

    (2023-2024) A 300,000 SF mixed-use tall-timber project planned for type VI-A and VI-B hybrid construction, in the heart of Atlanta.

  • Interior view of a modern, stylish wine bar with a curved bar counter, bar stools, and a wall with wine bottles displayed on wooden racks. Natural light streaming in with windows showing trees outside.

    terroirs and tables - planning + design

    (2018-2019) Red Rock Wines links the wine's terroir to the design of the building through the use of a gabion stone facade.

  • A wildfire burning through trees on a hillside, with orange flames and thick black smoke rising into the sky.

    fugitive carbon - research

    (2022) Research reveals the need for better forest management to reduce the impact of rising fugitive carbon emissions.

  • Interior of a modern restaurant or lounge with a bar area at the center, surrounded by wooden tables and black stools. The back wall features shelves with glassware, and decorative elements hang from the ceiling. Warm lighting creates a cozy atmosphere.

    flask tea house - research + design

    (2019) Tea infused cocktails designed by Flask Group inspire an environment that embodies the culture of the tea house.

  • Wine bottles displayed on wooden shelves in a wine cellar with a vaulted ceiling and chandeliers.

    from bullets to bottles - planning + design

    (2013-2016) This museum utilizes recycled wine cases to bring new life to an old military bunker outside of Shanghai.

  • A wine cellar with a curved wall made of shelves filled with bottles of wine, creating a tunnel-like structure with a small glass table in the center.

    the peacock - fabrication + design

    (2019-2021) Art and sustainability inform next-use strategies for this wine cellar, utilizing uniquely glazed terracotta tiles and design for disassembly

FABRICATION AND ARTIFACT

  • A small bird perched on the edge of a modern concrete building with a geometric design, against a clear sky.

    tripartite - fabrication + design

    (2018) Composed entirely of multiples of three, the pavilion was designed and built for the World Entrepreneurs Expo in Shanghai, China.

  • A man and a woman in a classroom, the woman is sitting on a uniquely shaped bench with her hand on her lap, and the man is kneeling next to her, wearing a leather jacket and looking down.

    the bean prototype - fabrication + design

    (2015) Fabrication research exploring CNC machining using cardboard/fiberboard prototyping for carbon fiber furniture design.

  • earth blocks - research + design

    (2017) Earth blocks are fabricated into an interior finished wall and natural acoustical motif to reduce the project’s carbon footprint

  • A modern meeting space with three white tulip chairs around a white round table, hanging above is a silver, ribbed, glass pendant light, with a concrete wall in the background.

    hivemind pendant - fabrication + design

    (2019-2020) The Hive Mind Pendant's design combines a glass hive with an inspirational idea at its core to illuminate space

  • spiced gabion - fabrication + design

    (2019) A material prototype for the FLask Tea House. The Gabion brings the dried spices used within the menu directly into the entry wall finish

  • the chalice - fabrication + design

    (2014) An installation moment at the core of this cellar enables visitors to climb to a second-floor lookout through a secret stair

  • A wooden side table with three circular tiers in a modern living room, with a beige armchair and colorful ottomans visible.

    the axel totem - fabrication + design

    (2018) A series of totem tables designed for NIO Houses and inspired by the axel of the NIO ES8.

  • Stack of three white books with black spines, titled 'yuan tang' and 'brand guidelines', on a gray background.

    visioning wellness - branding + design

    (2018) This brand guide communicates a vision for wellness to a youthful generation who seek to build community

  • Close-up of a wooden structure, possibly a light fixture or decorative element, with multiple vertical wooden slats arranged in a symmetrical pattern.

    beijing secrete - fabrication + design

    (2017) Layers of secrecy conceal a special collection of wine hidden within a private cellar behind a hidden door.

  • Miniature indoor shopping mall play area with children and adults, featuring colorful furniture, a toy car, and a vertical garden wall.

    showcase mobility - fabrication + design

    (2018) This mobile flagship is comprised of modular pieces that easily roll and snap together in place for global travel.

  • A narrow, dimly lit corridor with a stone wall on the left and a row of wooden cabinets with decorative lattice fronts on the right, allowing light to filter through.

    aging gracefully - fabrication + design

    (2013-2014) The industrial design strategy for the wine locker brings luxury products to scale through manufacturing.

  • Rows of wine bottles stored on wooden wine racks.

    the shape of wine - fabrication + design

    (2016-2020) Prototyping for mass-production wine cellars explores reducing material waste through fabrication design and the use of bamboo.

  • White tube and box of Uchi CBD skin care tonic lotion with botanical illustration and green accents, on a white background.

    relaxed branding - branding + design

    (2019) An emerging CBD lotion product without HTC focuses on herbal advantages for rejuvenation and relaxation.

  • A close-up view of a wooden wine rack with multiple compartments for storing wine bottles.

    cru - fabrication + design

    (2019) A new wine-racking system explores a. curved form to hold various sizes of bottles for the artistic, avid collector

  • urban futures - research + design

    (2010-2011) This research traces urban morphology through ecological layers and time, while creating new frameworks for education and programming