Spotlight: Nick McGee
From designing the spaces that shape Hartford to filling them with the people who make our community special, Nick is building a stronger Greater Hartford—one blueprint and one connection at a time.
Urban Dor: When did you first hear about Urban Dor and what was your first event?
I first heard about Urban Dor back in 2021 when I returned back to the area after grad school. My first event was the Summer Schmooze, it was a blast to get to meet new folks and all attempt to cool off together!
What do you like most about being part of the Greater Hartford Jewish community?
The Greater Hartford community is large, but it is also strong and very close-knit. I love showing up to anything and already know many people as soon as I step through the door. And anyone I don't know will come up and introduce themselves. All in all, it's a very welcoming, friendly environment!
You grew up locally and attended HHNE, now New England Jewish Academy (NEJA). Tell us how attending a Jewish school shaped your young adulthood.
I did attend HHNE for all 4 years of high school, as well as Solomon Schechter for middle school before that. Going to HHNE for high school was a new experience for me, as I grew up going to Temple Sinai in Newington, which is a reform synagogue, and had never experienced a lot of the stuff the other kids already had the background knowledge on. Attending HHNE definitely prepared me very well for my college experience (aside from the fact that I also spent my freshman year of architecture school in a basement classroom from 8am until 5pm every day), and I'm grateful for both the skills and knowledge I obtained to be able to use as I grow older. I definitely still carry some of that with me til this day as well!
Wow, we love that you are an architect! What sparked your interest in that career path?
I've pretty much always wanted to be an architect ever since I can remember! In my many travels, I've always loved the way buildings looked, and I've always been curious of how they got built those ways. This has also sparked my hobby of architectural photography as well, capturing certain details at a zoomed-in level to really see how things come together. I'm particularly fond of blending the old with the new, which is why I pursued a concentration in Adaptive Interventions while I was receiving my undergrad degree, and why my Master's thesis reimagined Hartford's waterfront and how we could reclaim it from the highways and open it back up for the people.
When you catch a day off designing buildings, what do you enjoy doing in Connecticut?
Between designing buildings, working as Temple Sinai's Director of Youth Programming, and teaching with JTConnect, I rarely get days off. But when I do, I cherish them by catching up with friends at various breweries around CT. And occasionally having a relaxing day in my new home, doing a bunch of DIY projects, trying to get it host-ready!
If people want to connect with you or learn more about what you’re doing, what’s the best way to reach you?
You can find me in the Greater Hartford Young Jewish Professionals WhatsApp group if you'd like to send a direct message! You can also email me at nmcgee21@yahoo.com, or connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-mcgee-assoc-aia-15437051/
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Urban Dor's next event is Latke Vodka at The Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford on Saturday night, Dec 5th 2026. Tickets and details here.
Whether you’re from Greater Hartford, New Haven, Springfield, Boston, NYC or beyond, come experience the warmth and energy of the Greater Hartford Jewish community with Urban Dor.
