Meet Chris McCray
Owner & Architect
Passion
What gets Chris McCray out of bed in the mornings? In terms of his career, it’s the conviction that resilient, healthy, net-zero energy architecture shouldn’t just be for luxury homes—it should be an affordable option for every home… and office, church, school, retail shop, etc. He founded Next Generation Living to ensure that everyone in the Tyler area has that option when designing their new home or business. And his designs not only meet the needs of his clients, but also contribute to a sustainable future for generations to come.
Experience
Chris has been an architect for over 30 years. During his first 15 years, he took a traditional approach to commercial and residential architecture. While he still accepts traditional projects, his passion is high-efficiency, net-zero energy, carbon-neutral design.
Inspiration
Chris McCray is a believer in Christ and seeks for inspiration from the Bible. Two passages that have guided his reason for practicing architecture are found in the book of Isaiah:
“Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In” (Isaiah 58:12).
“And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations” (Isaiah 61:14).
These verses use architectural language… dwelling, foundations, restoration. They express the inspirational theme of a restorative, resilient architecture that will define the future. The cities of the future will be beautiful places that are modern, yet restore and celebrate history… cities that promote healthy living and communities where all people can thrive regardless of their personal wealth and status.
Mission
There is something about architecture that is deeply spiritual, rooted in God’s directive to Adam and Eve to rule over the Earth. However, man’s first purpose was to tend a garden. Traditional and indigenous architecture has always been in harmony with the natural environment, balancing the acts of subduing and conserving. In our time, we have the technology to push the envelope of “green” and “sustainable” architecture in a way that is deeply responsive and harmonious with it. The mission of Next Generation Living is to help make that the normal way of doing things—completely typical and affordable to as many people as possible.
Throughout his career, Chris has had the privilege of working on diverse projects that challenge conventional design norms and promote innovative, environmentally responsive solutions. What was once just a vague catch phrase, being “green” is now essential and imperative. Next Generation Living exists to do what can be done to contribute to the work of transforming our built environment, one project at a time. We may never see the future that we build today, but we can be assured that we have done everything we can to make it a good and healthy future for the next generation.
Education
With his Master of Architecture from UTA and Business Management degree from the University of Texas, Chris McCray brings a unique blend of experience, creativity, and strategic thinking to every project.
Licenses & Certifications
Chris McCray is a Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) with the Passive House Institute of the U.S. (Phius), which specializes in energy-efficient and resilient architectural design. He is also a licensed architect in Texas (License #20055), Arkansas (License #10133), North Carolina (License #17423), and South Carolina (License #11499).