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, 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
Phone: 312/670-7770
Fax: 312/670-2422
E-mail: comments@aiachicago.org

Chapter Staff

Executive Vice President

Zurich Esposito

Finance Director

Francina Holt-Berlin

Program Director

Joan Pomaranc

Communications Director

Lara Brown

Membership Manager

Steve Riforgiato

Program Manager

Megan Bell

Public Information Receptionist

Linda Freeman

Board of Directors

PRESIDENT

Walter D. Street III, AIA, NOMA

Walter Street is an architect at Johnson & Lee, Ltd. Architects/Planners and has been a member of the AIA Chicago Board of Directors, serving as Treasurer in 2008. He is a regular and active participant in the National AIA Grassroots legislative conferences in Washington, DC and the Illinois Prairie Grassroots conferences in Springfield. An active member of NOMA and an ongoing mentor to IDP candidates, Walter has also served as a member of the Chicago Architecture Foundation's committee to develop an architecture curriculum for k–12 students.

PRESIDENT-ELECT

Fred Brandstrader, AIA

Fred Brandstrader has been an active member of the American Institute of Architects since 1990. He served as Steering Committee Chair for Burnham Memorial Competition Committee since 2008 to present. He served as the former Vice President of Government Affairs for the Chicago Chapter from 2005–2007. He has also held chairman roles in our Regional & 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 Board 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.

TREASURER

James R. Arends, AIA, LEED AP

James Arends is a senior business manager at Gilbane Building Company's Midwest regional office where he oversees all the region's healthcare projects. A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in architecture, Jim holds positions with several professional organizations. He is the past co-chair and chair of the AIA Chicago Healthcare Knowledge Community, and a member of the National AIA Construction Administration Knowledge Community Start Up Committee, and a board member and instructor for Chicago non-profit Construction Committee's Project Upgrade. He is an active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

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

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.

DIRECTOR

Robert Theel, AIA

Robert Theel serves as the U.S. General Services Administration's Chief Architect in the six-state Great Lakes Region headquartered in Chicago. He is the senior advisor to the Regional Administrator of GSA and the Regional Commissioner of the Public Building Service (PBS) regarding federal architecture, design, construction policy and innovation. He provides leadership for the regional design and construction programs for United States Courthouses, Federal Office Buildings and Border Stations. A Wisconsin native and Chicago resident, Robert is a graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology and joined GSA in 1982. Prior to being appointed as the region's Chief Architect, Robert held the position of Director of Design for Property Development responsible for overseeing the Capital Project Program specifically focused on Design Excellence and Project Management. For his role in helping to establish and support GSA's Design Excellence Program, Theel is a recipient of GSA's "Excellence in Public Architecture" Award.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Yanet Herrera, Assoc. AIA

Yanet Herrera, 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 2005-2009 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.

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 National Organization of Minority Architects from 1998–2000 and as NOMA Mid-West Regional Vice President in 2001.

AIA Illinois ALTERNATE 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.

AIA Illinois 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.

Fulfilling Board of Director Terms and AIA Illinois Delegate Terms in 2010

VICE PRESIDENT

Donna V. Robertson, FAIA

Donna Robertson, dean of the College of Architecture at Illinois Institute of Technology is an academic leader of national and international stature. Demonstrating a range and depth of contemporary professional practice and knowledge, she has returned the College of Architecture to national prominence. Donna has been named as one of the top thirty most respected educators by Design Intelligence magazine for bridging the practice of architecture with higher educator. In 2007 she was recognized with an AIA Chicago Distinguished Service Award.

VICE PRESIDENT

Brett Charles Taylor, AIA, LEED AP

Brett Taylor is an associate at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill working as a Project Manager for several Middle Eastern and Federal Market projects. Brett has served on the National Young Architects Advisory Committee, chaired the Chicago chapter's Young Architects Knowledge Community, and he has served as Secretary of the Board of AIA Chicago. Brett is a member of the young professional board at the Art Institute of Chicago, and he has served as chair of the Board of Fellows at Norwich University. He is a frequent volunteer for Rebuilding Together, having served as room and house captain.

SECRETARY

Dawn Schuette, AIA

Dawn Schuette is a principal at Threshold Acoustics, LLC, an acoustical consulting firm specializing in performance, lecture, and worship spaces. She holds degrees in Architecture and City and Regional Planning from Illinois Institute of Technology, where she is now an Adjunct Professor. Dawn currently serves as a Director on the AIA Chicago Board, as well as the National AIA Advisory Committee for the Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art, and Architecture (IFRAA). She is a co-chair of the Chicago IFRAA.

PAST PRESIDENT

Grant C. Uhlir, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP

Grant Uhlir is a principal with Gensler and director of architecture for the Chicago office. Grant leads the Architectural Design Studio in Chicago, focusing on corporate, mixed-use, academic, and civic developments. He is active in AIA Chicago, currently serving as First Vice-President / President-Elect and has previously served as both Vice President of Sponsorship and Director. Grant has been a visiting lecturer and guest critic at the IIT College of Architecture, the Friends of Downtown, and Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Business.

DIRECTOR

Rand Ekman, AIA, LEED AP

Rand Ekman is director of Sustainable Design at OWP/P, 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.

DIRECTOR

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.

DIRECTOR

Amy Yurko, AIA

Amy Yurko is founder of BrainSpaces, an international consulting practice promoting brain-based considerations in the design of learning environments. Over her 20-year career, she has combined the practice of architecture with teaching positions at IIT and USC and at Drummond Magnet School in the CPS system. An active member of the AIA, Amy has held leadership positions at local, state and national levels and has served on juries for the AIA Gold Medal and Firm Awards, the CAE Design Awards, as well as the AIA Chicago Foundation's Benn-Johnck Chicago Award. Amy is chair of the National AIA Continuing Education Quality Assurance Panel.

DIRECTOR

Percy (Rebel) Roberts, AIA

Percy Roberts is President and Chief Operating Officer of VOA Associates Incorporated, an international architecture, planning and interior design firm based in Chicago. In addition to his administrative duties, Rebel also serves as the director of design within the Healthcare practice group. He has successfully directed teams in the planning, development and implementation of more than six million square feet and for more than 2.5 billion dollars. His projects have garnered more than 20 international, national and local awards for design excellence, including the FIABCI Prix d'Excellence.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Lynette Stuhlmacher, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP

Lynette Stuhlmacher is President of Red Leaf Studio, Inc. and consults in historic preservation and sustainable design. She is editor of the Association for Preservation Technology International (APT) Practice Points, is a member of USGBC Chicago Chapter committees, and serves on the Architectural Restoration Committee of the Unity Temple Restoration Foundation.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATE

Eric Berg

Eric Berg is a shareholder in the law firm of Vedder Price, P.C. He focuses his practice on construction law, representing architects, engineers, owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, and lenders in drafting and negotiating contracts, and in trials, arbitrations and mediations. For more than seven years, Mr. Berg was pro bono general counsel to the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Feeding America, formerly known as America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATE

Paul Petska

Paul Petska is managing principal of the Chicago office of Affiliated Engineers, Inc. (AEI), specializing in healthcare, education, performing/visual arts and commercial projects. A 30-year veteran of the A-E industry, Paul's career has been built upon a unique blend of architectural education and engineering professional experience.

AIA Illinois DELEGATE

Mary B. Brush, AIA

Mary Brush is a licensed architect in Illinois and Wisconsin. She is the Preservation Group Leader at Holabird & Root in Chicago. Mary specializes in the technical elements of the preservation of existing buildings from the envelope through the intricate interior details. She is the 2005 laureate of the Richard Morris Hunt Fellowship, a professional honor for which one American architect is chosen every two years to meet and work with restoration architects and professionals throughout France.

AIA Illinois DELEGATE

Laura A. Fisher, FAIA, LEED AP

Laura Fisher, Managing Director of IPM Consulting Ltd., specializes in strategic and project management of corporate real estate. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture Degree from Virginia Tech and an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago. A past President of AIA Chicago (2007), Laura has served on the boards of AIA Illinois, the Chicago Architecture Foundation, and on the Advisory Board of Virginia Tech College of Architecture.

AIA Illinois ALTERNATE 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.

Knowledge Communities

Chicago Members of the AIA College of Fellows