Kelsey Jordan

Kelsey Jordan is the Associate Director of PreK-12 at Legat Architects. She is dedicated to shaping learning environments that empower students, educators, and communities. With a passion for integrating education and wellness, her nationally awarded research demonstrates how design can be a catalyst for healthier, more equitable futures. Recognized for both her leadership and innovation, Kelsey has served on national and local AIA and A4LE committees and lent her expertise as a judge for prominent design competitions, including the Learning by Design Education Facilities Design Awards, American School & University Architectural Portfolio, Learning by Design Product Innovation Awards, and the Illinois Association of School Boards Exhibition of Educational Environments.

A thought leader in her field, Kelsey shares her vision widely—through published articles, podcasts such as the Better Learning Podcast and EdMarket EdChats, and presentations at national conferences. She has also been an invitational speaker at Learning by Design’s Dialogues Conference and Creative Mornings STL, where she inspires audiences to see design as a force for transformation.

As a recipient of the EDMarket NexGen Award, Kelsey brings both expertise and heart to her work at Legat Architects, where she designs dynamic, future-ready learning spaces. Her unique background as an educator—teaching literacy through architecture and problem-solving to girls ages 11–18 at LitShop STL—fuels her belief that design can spark creativity, confidence, and opportunity.

One of only twelve Accredited Learning Environment Planners (ALEP) in Illinois, Kelsey is licensed in both Missouri and Illinois. Her impact can be seen in school renovations and additions across the region, in master planning efforts totaling over a billion dollars, and in the way she empowers communities to dream bigger through engagement, design, and referendum initiatives.