Building a Legacy of It’s Own
For oysk3 Architects, every project is more than a structure—it’s a collaborative process built on trust, responsiveness, and community roots.
By Matt McGarry
Oysk3 Architects is more than a typical design firm. It’s a legacy. Originating as Odle & Young Architects, founders Jim Odle and Steve Young operated their firm for nearly three decades, many years before partnering with Cara Knapp and giving birth to osyk3 Architects. As Cara puts it, “I began collaborating on projects with Jim and Steve to see if the chemistry was right, and in 2017, we all came to the same conclusion: the chemistry was right.”
The name “3” in oysk3 reflects three guiding pillars that drive the principals, and through them, the oysk3 team—consistent, reliable, and responsive—values that Cara says are simply “non-negotiable.” “We put these pillars into practice across our organization every day and in everything we do,” she says. “Our goal, just as importantly as delivering the desired outcome, is to engage clients with a process that is collaborative and seamless.”
Diversity in Projects and Team Members
oysk3 boasts a diverse portfolio across hospitality, healthcare, restaurant, recreational, general commercial, custom homes, and historic building renovations.
“Our team of design professionals is wonderfully diverse. That diversity and cross-industry knowledge speaks to our commitment to quality in the design process and the attention we give to our clients—from residential to food processing facility—no matter the nature of their project.” – Cara Knapp
Client Focus and Community Involvement
One of the firm’s personality traits, one that is, in fact, deep in oysk3’s DNA, is its personal, hands-on collaboration with clients. Cara describes the firm’s design process as “interactive” and “tailored to clients’ needs and conscious of constraints outside the scope of the project.”
From early concept sketches to final finish selections, the oysk3 team works in close consultation with the client, ensuring that the outcome reflects both the desired personality and practicality. “It’s driven by our pillar of responsiveness. That collaboration,” Cara says, “reinforces trust: clients know they’ll be heard, understood, and supported from groundbreaking to ribbon cutting.”
Beyond their project work, oysk3 also serves nonprofits, works on designs in hospitality that emphasize local place and character, and contributes to commercial structures that enhance the built environment in East Tennessee. One project that particularly excites the team is Operation Hero’s Hill, a vital initiative launched by Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs to build tiny homes for homeless veterans.
“Projects like this one,” Cara says, “reflect the firm’s belief that architecture has a purpose beyond profitability. We believe good design should serve people first, places second.”
For oysk3, contributing design, planning ideas, or mentorship to efforts like Hero’s Hill is more than voluntary work—it’s part of the firm’s identity. A mission of serving those who served the nation, supporting skilled trades education, and breathing life into communities while preserving dignity aligns perfectly with oysk3’s values.
Building a Legacy
For clients, working with oysk3 isn’t just about getting a building—it’s about a process that feels respectful, transparent, and creative. Clients repeatedly praise the team for being attentive, professional, and for delivering projects on time and budget. Their repeat and referral business is remarkably high and for Cara, not terribly surprising. This again hearkens back to the three pillars.
As Cara puts it, “The repeat business comes from the trust we garner, which comes from consistency in communication, responsiveness to evolving project challenges, and reliability of results.”
Through Cara’s leadership, and the three pillars, the firm continues to build remarkable structures for clients in East Tennessee, as well as a legacy of its own.
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