Mengyu Zhao is a registered architect at Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) in New York City, a member of the American Institute of Architects, and co-founder of TrayStudio, an award-winning architecture and design practice. She holds a Master of Architecture from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Architecture from Tsinghua University. Expanding her practice across architecture, art, and design, she creates meaningful human experiences that bridge disciplines and cultures.

Her professional journey includes contributions to landmark projects worldwide, such as the San Diego International Airport (Gensler), Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 5 (KPF), and Beijing Baiziwan Social Housing (MAD). Her work has been featured by major outlets including CNN, NBC, FOX, Dezeen, and ArchDaily.

Mengyu’s projects have been recognized with numerous international honors. Her project Nature Within received the Buildner Sustainability Award in Buildner's Howard Waterfall Retreat competition. Sunken Madison Garden won Gold at both the International Design Awards and the MUSE Design Awards. De Bord en Bord received Silver at the 2025 New York Architectural Design Awards. Beach Bloom and Weaving Urban Carpet earned Honorable Mentions at the 2024 International Design Awards. Her work has also been published on prestigious platforms such as Artnet, ELLE China, Architizer, Archello, and the Harvard Urban Review.

As a multidisciplinary designer and artist, Mengyu explores the intersections of public space, memory, and identity. In 2024, she presented Letter to a Stranger at New York’s “Art in Odd Places” festival, with the work scheduled for exhibition at the CICA Museum in South Korea in 2026. She has also exhibited in Guangzhou: City of Design, featured by China News and other media.

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