By Winter Park Magazine Staff. January 15, 2026
Ekta Desai is the creative force redefining what the next generation of architecture looks like in Central Florida. As Design Lead and Partner at Schenkel Shultz, she stepped into a role that required both stewardship and reinvention—honoring the firm’s six decades of architectural tradition while guiding it toward a future that is community-focused, socially responsive and attuned to the evolving fabric of the region.
Her early experience in New York City and Mexico City confirmed her belief that architecture should function as an engine for urban innovation. Today, Ekta champions projects that make communities more resilient, inclusive and connected—from cultural institutions and educational environments to the firm’s own new Winter Park headquarters, which is a striking example of adaptive reuse and thoughtful placemaking.
