As part of Fay Jones’ birthday celebration, David McKee was honored as an inaugural recipient of the Fay Jones School Legacy Medal in Architecture. This award has been conceived to honor and extend the legacy of the school’s namesake, the architect E. Fay Jones, and his work in Arkansas, the greater region, the United States and internationally. The award was bestowed by Peter MacKeith, Dean and Professor of Architecture and Ethel Goodstein-Murphree, Associate Dean and Professor of Architecture. Cami Jones, Fay's daughter, was also in attendance!
David McKee initially gained experience in construction as a mason and carpenter while pursuing a B.F.A. at the University of Arkansas in the early 1970s. After completing his Bachelor of Architecture in 1982, he joined Fay Jones and Associates. Following Jones' retirement in 1997, McKee co-founded the firm Maurice Jennings + David McKee. In 2006, he established his own firm, David McKee Architect PLLC, specializing in the preservation, restoration, and new build designs inspired by mid-century modern, minimalist, and industrial influences, often working on projects originally designed by Fay Jones.