Contact Information Please use the contact form on this website to initiate contact with me. That also sends me an instant text. You can email me at Ken@EngineerDesigner.com or reach me at (352) 821-9975, Extension 101.

Who I Am I’m Ken Risley—Engineer, Designer, and Builder with over 30 years of experience. I specialize in architectural and structural engineering, blending artistic vision with real-world construction insight. I don’t just draw plans—I help bring ideas to life.

My Story For 25 years, I was a hands-on builder—designing and constructing everything from luxury homes to commercial buildings. After 9/11, I began focusing solely on design and engineering. I left the big city of Tampa and moved to the hill country of Central Florida. My wife and I lived in a camper while we built our dream home—complete with a hangar for our airplane.

Connecting to the internet opened the door to working with clients across the U.S., and that’s when I found my ideal life: doing what I love every day—design.

Design Philosophy I love designing beautiful homes—whether hangar homes, beach homes, or something completely unique. I take ideas—mine or my clients’—and turn them into something truly special.

My time in engineering and construction has made me a better designer. I know how to keep things real. I’m not an engineer with no imagination, nor an artist with no practicality. I strike the balance—an artist with enough engineering and building horse sense to design what can actually be built.

That’s why builders and individuals enjoy working with me. You can see their testimonials throughout this site.

I’m not the cheapest—but I bring strong value. If you’re just looking to “have a house drawn up,” I may not be the right fit. But if you want to create something meaningful and realistic—something done right the first time—then I’d love to talk.

Credentials & Experience

Licenses & Certifications

  • PE (Professional Engineer)
  • Certified General Contractor

Project Locations Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Arizona, Idaho, Utah, Minnesota, North Carolina, Texas, Arkansas, Wyoming, Washington State, Virginia, Missouri, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, Oklahoma, New York, Alaska, and Ghana (Africa)

Project Types

  • Upscale residential homes
  • Hangar homes for fly-in communities
  • Beach homes
  • Medical offices
  • Retail and church buildings

Forensic Engineering I routinely consult for national firms, inspecting and reporting on construction and structural damage. My forensic evaluations are sought after throughout the country.

Professional Service

  • State Chairman, Florida Engineers in Construction
  • Chairman, Hillsborough County Code Enforcement Board (6 years)
  • State Chairman, Florida Engineering Professional Development Committee
  • Member, Florida Engineering Society, National Society of Professional Engineers
  • Former Member, Tampa Board of Realtors
  • Member, Florida Energy Commission
  • Named Outstanding Young Engineer (Hillsborough & Pinellas Counties, 1986–1987)

Beyond the Blueprints I’m also a jazz musician, a five-string banjo and fingerstyle guitar player, an avid pilot, and Extra Class Ham radio operator (W4KSR). I’ve flown patients for Angel Flights and introduced children to aviation through the Young Eagles program with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).

Earlier in life, I lived aboard and rebuilt a 50-foot wooden yawl sailboat, developing skills in ship carpentry, sailing, and self-reliance. I won a full scholarship to the University of Florida where I earned my engineering degree. During that time, I backpacked through Europe, explored caves as a spelunker, earned my scuba diving certification (1969), and served as an officer of a 90-person housing co-op.

Family Life My wife Kimberly and I live in an aviation community in Central Florida, in the airport home I designed and built. I have two grown sons::

  • David, a professional blogger and owner of PC Media. He and his wife Malika, along with their children Elyanna and Nathan, live in Tampa.
  • Bryan, a former airline pilot and now a CPA and instructor pilot. He and his wife Jena live in Lakeland.

Final Thoughts I design not only with an eye for aesthetics, but with an understanding of how things will be built—what subcontractors need to see, what questions they’ll ask, and how to streamline the construction process.

Permitting has become increasingly complex over the decades. I focus on helping builders and owners navigate this terrain by providing complete, permit-ready construction drawings—designs that are both beautiful and buildable.

For more about my personal interests, music, thoughts, and occasional musings, feel free to visit my personal site: KenRisley.com.