Coffee Polk, NCARB, AIA, LEED AP, of Las Vegas, Nevada, never expected to become an architect. Following a stint in the film industry working in practical effects, model making, and art departments, she left that gig lifestyle and earned a Master of Architecture from Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) and joined Cuningham’s Las Vegas office.
With almost two decades of architectural experience, Polk now serves as a Senior Associate and specializes in large-scale resort hospitality and themed entertainment projects. An integral part of Cuningham’s sustainability efforts, Polk is a Regenerative Design leader for Cuningham’s entertainment marketplace, monitoring and implementing environmentally-focused approaches to her own and others’ projects.
Polk is also a passionate advocate for equitable access to the AEC industry. In addition to her regular participation with HBCU job fairs, portfolio reviews, and critiques for a variety of design schools, Polk was involved in the Themed Entertainment Association Western Division’s “How to Build a Theme Park” presentation series, as well as a 2024 Black History Month panel discussion, and received the 2023 AIA Las Vegas Chapter’s Women Building Nevada Community Builder Award from the Women Building Nevada Symposium, put on by the organization’s Women in Architecture Committee, of which she is also a member.
Polk has been a steadfast advocate for the training, development, and licensure of aspiring architects for many years, and has a long history of involvement with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Most recently, she served as chair of the Examination Committee and on NCARB’s Governance Task Force, an initiative to create more equitable paths to leadership and to ensure all voices are represented. Other roles include participation in the organization’s ReThink Tank, and Item Development Committees. She is also an NCARB Licensing Advisor and AXP supervisor.