What is the AIA?

The American Institute of Architects Chicago (AIA Chicago) is the largest chapter of licensed architects, architectural interns, and allied professionals within AIA Illinois. It is the second largest AIA chapter in the country. Of the 83,000 AIA members across the country, over 3000 are in the Chicago chapter.

AIA Chicago is your local connection to others in and affiliated with the profession. AIA Chicago is the grassroots effort that provides the best forum for sharing information, ideas, and resources. Chapter boundaries include the city of Chicago and the northern lake shore of Cook County as well as all of Lake and McHenry Counties. Through seminars, committees, a lecture series, and other Chapter programs, our members exchange professional experiences and knowledge. The Chapter magazine, Chicago Architect, an electronic newsletter, and quarterly calendar of events are key publications designed to inform you of the Chapter’s activities and encourage your involvement in the AIA.

This web site is just a sampling of the benefits of your AIA membership. For a complete list of our services and information on joining, visit How to Join the AIA. Together, architects have a strength that is impossible to achieve as individuals. Your membership demonstrates your commitment to personal and professional development while giving the AIA an even stronger voice for the architectural profession.

Office Hours and Location

AIA Chicago’s new offices are in the Jewelers Building at 35 East Wacker Drive in Suite 250. Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Contract Documents may be purchased in person at our office.

Mailing Address:
35 E Wacker Drive Suite 250
Chicago, IL 60601-2116
Phone: 312/670-7770
Fax: 312/670-2422
E-mail: comments@aiachicago.org

Chapter Staff

Zurich Esposito, Executive Vice President

espositoz@aiachicago.org - 312-376-2780

Joan Pomaranc, Program Director

pomarancj@aiachicago.org - 312-376-2720

Lauren Finch, Communications Director/Chicago Architect Magazine

finchl@aiachicago.org - 312-376-2745

Steve Riforgiato, Membership Manager

riforgiatos@aiachicago.org - 312-376-2740

Allison Garwood Freedland, Program Manager

freedlanda@aiachicago.org - 312-376-2750

Penny Darnell, Office Manager & Contract Documents

darnellp@aiachicago.org - 312-670-7770

General inquiries

info@aiachicago.org

Board of Directors

President

Rand Ekman, AIA, LEED AP

Rand Ekman is director of Sustainable Design at Cannon Design, where he oversees the sustainable design of the firm's projects and practice. Rand also leads the firm's Consulting Group, which provides sustainable consulting services to organizations and institutions. Their work has been recognized with several awards. A frequent speaker on the subject of sustainability, Rand is a member of the USGBC's Regionalism and Market Sector Committees and the Chicago Architecture Foundation's Sustainable Programs Committee. Rand also served as the 2008 chair of AIA Chicago's Professional Development Conference.

President-Elect

Peter Exley, FAIA

Advocate for architecture for children, Peter Exley FAIA has created an internationally recognized practice, which elevates the standards of design for public space and learning environments through the construction of new paradigms in pedagogy, play and participatory experience. Hailing from Yorkshire, he arrived in Chicago for a year in 1985. He has been here ever since, and founded ArchitectureIsFun on April Fools' Day 1994. He is an adjunct associate professor of Architecture and Interior Architecture at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the co-host of PechaKucha Night Chicago.

Past President

Fred Brandstrader, AIA

Fred Brandstrader, AIA, is currently a senior project manager at CB Richard Ellis and has been an active member of the American Institute of Architects since 1990. He served as Steering Committee Chair for the Burnham Memorial Competition Committee since 2008 to present and received an AIA Chicago 2009 President's Citation for his service to the Committee. He served as the former Vice President of Government Affairs for the Chicago Chapter from 2005–2007 and was a past AIA Illinois Board Member and Delegate. He has also held chairman roles in our Regional and Urban Design Committee (2001–2004) and the Citizen Advisory Committee for RTA Cook-Dupage County Corridor Study (2007–2008). Fred is an active member of the Lambda Alpha—Ely Chapter since 2008. Fred currently serves as the Past President for the Grant Park Orchestral Association.

Vice President

Scott A. Rappe, AIA, LEED AP

Scott Rappe is principal of Kuklinski + Rappe Architects, a small firm founded ten years ago to serve the needs of families, small businesses and their communities. Scott is the past co-chair of AIA Chicago's Working with an Architect Committee. He currently serves on the boards of Preservation Chicago and the East Village Association, where he chairs the group's Planning, Preservation & Development Committee. Scott worked on the establishment of the East Village Landmark District, and has successfully advocated for zoning reforms in Chicago and southwestern Michigan, to encourage historic preservation.

Vice President

Anthony LoBello, AIA

Anthony LoBello is a senior associate in the Chicago office of Gensler. He helps lead the North Central Region in Higher Education efforts—ensuring that their research, talent and resources are appropriately applied to their projects on behalf of our clients. Tony worked with some of the city's most important colleges and universities including University of Chicago, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Erikson Institute, SIU-C, Chicago State University and DePaul University. He takes particular interest in ensuring that projects are designed to meet the needs of the users, while addressing the challenges of education today and forecasting for the future. Tony is involved in furthering the profession of architecture through his work with the AIA, Society for College and University Planning and the United States Green Building Council. In the community, Tony is an active member of the Chicago Loop Alliance.

Vice President

Jackie Koo, AIA, LEED AP, IIDA

Jackie Koo is the founding principal of Koo and Associates Ltd. in Chicago Illinois. She started the firm in 2005 after working at large corporate practices for many years including DeStefano Partners where she was a Senior Associate and Richard Meier and Partners in New York where she worked on the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. Jackie is best known for theWit, a 27-story hotel, her debut project at the corner of State and Lake Streets in Chicago which opened in May of 2009, but also works on a diverse portfolio from master-planning to public housing. She also teaches an advanced design studio in the College of Architecture of the Illinois Institute of Architects. Her business affiliations include AIA, the International Interior Design Association, the US Green Building Council and the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.

Secretary

Aurelien Tsemo, AIA, NOMA

Aurelien Tsemo joined Booth Hansen in 1995 and has led mixed-income, multi-family housing projects including Hearts United and Oakwood Shores, both on Chicago's south side. His portfolio with the firm also includes the Homan Square Community Center, Old St. Patrick's Church, and a new assembly hall for Grace Lutheran Church in Milwaukee. Born in Cameroon and educated in Paris, Aurelien later received his Master of Architecture degree from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and his Diplome Par Le Gouvernement from L'Ecole d'architecture UP3 in Versailles, France. A former board member for NOMA, Aurelien was awarded the organization's Professional Citation in 2005.

Treasurer

Matt Dumich, AIA

Director

Susan Turner, AIA

Susan Turner is an architect with 28 years experience, and is the Historic Preservation Discipline Leader with Bailey Edward Architecture. She is a Canadian who has practiced in four countries and has lectured internationally. Turner is a hands-on researcher, most enjoying on-site investigations on scaffolding, up ladders and in bucket lifts. She is co-chair of the AIA Chicago's Historic Resources Committee and has authored articles for Heritage Canada, APT Bulletin, and Green Bean Chicago. In her spare time, she volunteers at Grace Place Homeless Breakfast and is on the board with New Hope Center Inc.

Director

Michael Wilkinson, AIA

Director

Mark Frisch, AIA, LEED AP BD + C

As Principal in Charge of Technical Design at Solomon Cordwell Buenz, Mark is responsible for initiatives in sustainability, innovative systems and materials, and technical oversight of all client projects. His experience includes projects across institutional, laboratory, transportation, commercial, and residential sectors. Mark is an active contributor to architectural education at the Illinois Institute of Technology's College of Architecture as well as the School of Architecture at the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign. He chairs the Large Firm Roundtable of AIA Chicago, is a member of the Advisory Board and the Sustainable Working Group of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, and is a member of Lexington Chartis Advisory Board.

Director

Michael Damore, AIA

Michael Damore joined Epstein in 1991, bringing with him over 18 years of architectural design and firm leadership experience. Michael is currently Executive Managing Director, President of Architecture and Interior Design. During his tenure with Epstein he has expanded the firm's services, project types and geographic reach, gaining recognition for quality. Under Michael's leadership Epstein's design capabilities are now equally balanced between commercial and manufacturing and include large, urban projects such as Chicago's Midway Airport Passenger Terminal and McCormick Place Convention Center. Prior to joining Epstein, Michael spent nearly two decades at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill designing high-rise, mixed use and other building types that span from Texas to Chicago and London to Japan. Specific structures include Texas Commerce Tower, the Memphis Museum of Art and Hotel Shilla in Korea.

Director

David Eckmann, AIA

Director

Robert Forest, AIA

Director

Stephen Yas, AIA

Associate Director

Erin Lavin Cabonargi, Assoc. AIA

Associate Director

Yanet Garcia, Assoc. AIA

Yanet Garcia, Associate AIA, works at Mercy Portfolio Services as the Community Action Plans Developer & Construction Manager. In this role, she is responsible for the management and compliance of all construction related activities of the NSP in target communities. Yanet develops master plans for targeted areas, including coordination with city departments to implement strategic plans. Along with managing various developers she also develops and implements construction, property, and sustainability standards for all acquired properties. Prior to joining MPS, she worked at Perkins Eastman Architects from 2005%ndash;2009 in various roles including Project Architect, Project Manager and Construction Manager. She has served on the executive board of The Society of Hispanic Professional Architects as President and Board Member.

Professional Affiliate

Gary Leopardo, LEED AP

Gary Leopardo is vice president of construction management at Leopardo. He is dedicated to fostering the growth of Leopardo's construction management, estimating and pre-construction programs. With 27 years of experience, including site supervision, project management and estimating, Gary's expertise is in design-build construction, fast-track scheduling, conceptual estimating and value design. A few notable clients are The University of Chicago, Juno Lighting, and The Fordham Company. Gary holds a degree in Civil Engineering from The University of Illinois. Gary worked as a Transportation Engineer for the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Cook County Highway Department. He is affiliated with The American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Institute of Architecture.

Professional Affiliate

Gregg Garmisa

Student Director

Jason Felda

AIA Illinois Delegate

Eric Davis, AIA, LEED AP

Eric Davis leads the architecture practice in the Midwest for CDM (Camp, Dresser and McKee). He has more than 20 years of experience in the planning and design of public buildings. He is a past co-chair of AIA Chicago's Regional & Urban Planning Knowledge Community. In 1996 he received the Young Architect Award from AIA Chicago. This past year he was a leader of AIA Illinois's "Prairie Grassroots" efforts in Springfield. Eric is also an elected Trustee of Oak Park Township.

AIA Illinois Delegate

Rik Master, AIA, LEED AP

Richard C. (Rik) Master is a research architect and currently Sr. Manager, Building Science for the United States Gypsum Company. His responsibilities include architectural technical support, environmental research and documentation. Rik spend 17 years at the USG Research Center as a systems developer. In addition to developing many building systems, he developed and wrote USG ACTION an integrated technical information retrieval software package for the construction professional. Rik is active in several AIA Professional Interest Areas and former Chair of AIA's Specifications and Building Technology PIA, AIA Educational Advisory Committee, Chair & Founder of the Building Envelope Council of Chicago, the 2008 President of AIA Chicago, and currently a member of the USGBC's EQ Technical Advisory Group (TAG). Rik has served on the advisory council to the AIA Initiative for Architectural Research. Prior to joining USG, Rik was a principle in an architectural firm specializing in Energy Efficient Design and still lives in a 'Passive Design' home he designed and built in 1979 which remains 70% off-the-grid.

AIA Illinois Delegate

Sharon Samuels, AIA, NOMA

Sharon Samuels received her MArch from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she was the University of Illinois winner of the Chicago Women in Architecture Essay Contest for 2001. Sharon has worked in several Chicago based firms, most recently of which was OKW Architects where she was an associate. One of her key projects was the Chatham Market, a new retail development on Chicago's south side. Sharon's taught as an adjunct faculty member at Columbia College Chicago, teaching in the MFA in Architectural studies program focused on sustainable issues in Architecture and design. In March 2008, Sharon launched her design venture, SolQuest Design Unlimited (SDU). SDU is a full%ndash;service architecture and design firm with an emphasis on producing projects that are environmentally friendly and serving the needs of its clients.

AIA Illinois Delegate

David Bradley, AIA, LEED AP

David L. Bradley, AIA, is the Managing Director of North American Operations for Officium Design Engineering, LLC. David is a licensed architect with more than 15 years of experience in residential and commercial design. After completing his architectural training with a prominent Chicago design firm, he founded Bradley Architects in 1999. His firm focused on high-end residential and commercial design projects around Chicago. In early fall of 2008, Mr. Bradley accepted his current position with Officium Design Engineering in Stuttgart, Germany, residing there until June of 2009 when he returned to Chicago to launch and manage the North American branch of the firm. Mr. Bradley has an undergraduate degree in International Politics with a minor in German from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. He received his Master of Architecture degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

AIA Illinois Delegate

Dina Griffin, AIA, NOMA

Dina Griffin, President, Interactive Design, Inc., is an architect with 15 years of experience in varied aspects of architecture. Recently completed projects include the St. Leo Housing for Disabled Veterans and the Art Institute of Chicago's New Museum Wing with Renzo Piano Building Workshop, where she administered, managed and maintained the project web site for the design team located in four countries. She has expanded her computer interests to a graphics design venture which she runs in her spare time. Prior to joining Interactive Design, she worked as an architect in the Interiors Group at OWP/P Architects in Chicago. Other project experience includes the O'Hare International Terminal at O'Hare Airport and two cooling plants in the heart of downtown Chicago for Unicom Thermal Technologies. Ms. Griffin served as President of the Illinois Chapter of the NOMA from 1998–2000 and as NOMA Mid-West Regional Vice President in 2001.

AIA Illinois Delegate

Mark Schwamel, AIA

AIA Illinois Alternate Delegate

Eben Smith, AIA, NOMA

Eben Chaske Smith is a licensed Architect in the state of Illinois. Eben is currently A Senior Architect / Project Manager with the Firm Inspec, Inc, An Engineering / Architectural firm specializing in building envelope design, investigation and forensics. For 16 years prior to joining Inspec, Inc., Eben was co-founder and Vice President of Smith & Smith Associates, Inc Architects. Eben has designed and or has been the architect of record for over 1500 units of public and private multi-family housing units and developments, in addition to many notable Municipal, Institutional and Community Development projects thru ought the Chicago land area. Eben is Past Secretary of AIA Illinois, and has Served as Illinois delegate to AIA Chicago for 5 years. Eben is also a past president of Illinois Chapter of the National organization of minority Architects, of which he is currently a board advisor.

AIA Illinois Delegate

Kevin Pierce, AIA, CEM, LEED AP

Kevin Pierce is managing director of Shaw Sustainable Design Solutions of Illinois, LLC, an integrated firm providing comprehensive sustainable design services. Kevin is involved in projects nation-wide in energy efficiency, green infrastructure, clean energy, and green building.

Please direct questions or comments about the nominations to Zurich Esposito.

Knowledge Communities

Design

Rocco Castellano, AIA, chair

Anthony Viola, Assoc. AIA, co-chair

Design for Aging

Steven Montgomery, AIA, chair

Heidi Dahle, AIA, co-chair

Education

Burcin Moehring, AIA, chair

William Bradford, AIA, co-chair

Environment

Eileen Pedersen, AIA, chair

Jeremy Cordell, Assoc. AIA, co-chair

Jose Rodriguez, Intl. Assoc. AIA, co-chair

Vuk Vojovic, Assoc. AIA, past chair

Healthcare

Samantha Duba, Assoc. AIA, co-chair

Fran Hoerrmann, Assoc. AIA, ACHE, EDAC, co-chair

Historic Resources

Tim Scovic, Assoc. AIA, chair

Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art and Architecture

Mark Kasprzyk, AIA, co-chair

Douglas Lasch, AIA, co-chair

Interior Architecture

David Carr, AIA, co-chair

Kristen Conry, AIA, co-chair

Practice Management

Randy Kurzman, AIA, chair

Regional & Urban Planning

Drew Deering, AIA, chair

Residential Design

William Bickford, AIA, chair

Casimir Kujawa, AIA, co-chair

Small Practitioners Group

Jean Dufresne, AIA, chair

Terri Johnson, AIA, co-chair

Technical Issues

John Price, AIA, chair

Jessica Deem, Assoc. AIA, co-chair

Young Architects Forum

Adina Balasu, Assoc. AIA, chair

Chicago Members of the AIA College of Fellows