Kiara Gilmore, AIA

Kiara Gilmore is an Associate and the Director of Emerging Professionals at Modus Studio, where she has contributed to the firm’s creative and cultural fabric for the past nine years. 

Originally from Concord, New Hampshire, Kiara moved to Fayetteville in 2011 to attend the University of Arkansas, inspired by her childhood home, a 19th-century structure that sparked her passion for how architecture evolves and impacts lives.

At Modus, she wears many hats, from leading design and managing projects to mentoring the next generation of architects and guiding the firm’s professional development initiatives. Kiara is deeply involved in the architecture community, serving as Vice Chair of the AIA Young Architects Forum, Secretary Elect for AIA Arkansas, and a member of ULI and the ULI Young Leaders Group. 

She is particularly proud of her work on LifeHouse, a residential facility for pregnant women experiencing homelessness, which exemplifies her belief that architecture should be inclusive, purposeful, and grounded in community. 

Outside the studio, Kiara is a passionate marathon runner with 23 races under her belt, a small business owner with her husband, and a new mom. She is a proud resident of Northwest Arkansas, a region she loves for its blend of natural beauty, cultural energy, and potential for design to shape a meaningful future.