Custom
Residential
Architects
Network
Symposium
2026

Welcome Remarks

WorkLife Meetings at The MART
Second Floor #250, Glass and Granite rooms

Saved from the Wrecking Ball: Preserving our Residential Heritage

1.0 AIA CEU/HSW
WorkLife Meetings: Glass & Granite Rooms

While Chicago is world-renowned for its architecture, it has a bad habit of continuing to demolish lovely and serviceable late 19th and 20th century houses all over the city. The preservation of this housing stock is one of the most sustainable ways to practice residential architecture today. While landmarking often focuses on civic structures, the experiential quality of a city depends on its 19th- and 20th-century fabric, as these houses anchor the history, culture, and emotional stability of our communities.

This session uses a case study of a 1903 Arts and Crafts home by Chicago architects Pond and Pond to explore the challenges of modern restoration. Once a candidate for demolition, the house was saved and restored as a high-performing, all-electric residence. We will discuss how to meet current building codes and improve indoor environmental quality while retaining historic character-defining features.

Participants will examine the integration of 21st-century technologies—including geothermal HVAC systems and photovoltaic arrays—into historic structures. The course also addresses strategies for structural stabilization, climate-related damage, and energy updates that respect the original design concept of the home.

Learning Objectives:  

1. Identify common construction methods used in residential projects over a century ago.
2. Evaluate invasive and non-invasive strategies for meeting current energy and insulation standards.
3. Compare options for window restoration to reduce air infiltration and energy loss.
4. Analyze methods for meeting modern safety requirements while retaining historic features.
5. Explore how new mechanical systems influence occupant health in restored homes.

---

Thomas "Gunny" Harboe, FAIA, Fellow US/ICOMOS
President, Harboe Architects, pc

Thomas “Gunny” Harboe, FAIA, is an award-winning architect dedicated to the conservation of cultural heritage. With over 35 years of experience, Harboe leads a Chicago-based firm focused on preservation and sustainable design. His portfolio includes work on iconic modern masterpieces by Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, and Louis Sullivan.

In addition to his practice, Harboe is a founding member and current board member of Docomomo US. He is also a founding member and past president of the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on 20th Century Heritage (ISC20C). A past president of AIA Chicago, he previously served as a regional director on the National AIA Board.

Harboe is an adjunct professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology. He holds a Master of Architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which included study in Copenhagen, Denmark. He also earned a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Brown University. Harboe is NCARB certified and licensed in 10 states and the District of Columbia.

Break

WorkLife Meetings
10-Minute Break

Building Science for Residential Home Performance: Transitioning to IECC 2024

1.0 AIA CEU/HSW
WorkLife Meetings: Glass & Granite Rooms

Building science plays a critical role in improving energy efficiency and occupant health as the industry transitions to the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). This session explores how updated energy codes lead to higher-performing, healthier homes. We will examine how these standards influence your design decisions, construction practices, and system selection.

Attendees will gain a practical understanding of both the prescriptive and performance compliance pathways, including a side-by-side comparison of key changes from the 2021 to 2024 codes. The discussion covers energy modeling and mechanical system sizing to show how right-sized HVAC and ventilation strategies improve indoor air quality while reducing energy consumption. You will also learn how strategic trade-offs—such as using higher-performing windows—can reduce mechanical costs and optimize project budgets.

Finally, we will examine the advantages of locating ductwork within conditioned spaces. This approach ensures systems operate efficiently, directly impacting occupant comfort and long-term performance.

Learning Objectives:  

1. Understand the key differences between IECC 2021 and IECC 2024 and their impact on residential construction.
2. Learn how tighter building envelopes paired with efficient HVAC systems improve indoor air quality and occupant health.
3. Explore how energy modeling and mechanical sizing influence system efficiency, comfort, and energy savings.
4. Identify cost-saving opportunities through performance trade-offs between envelope improvements and mechanical systems.

---

Robert Schildgen
Founder and Principal, Priority Energy

Robert Schildgen founded Priority Energy to serve as an advocate for homeowners and a strategic partner for builders, developers, and architects. With more than three decades of building performance experience, he brings a comprehensive and practical approach to every project he leads.

An Industrial Engineer by training and an MBA graduate of the University of Chicago, Robert combines his background in home construction, property management, and business consulting to deliver solutions that enhance comfort, efficiency, and safety. Priority Energy is dedicated to improving our well-being by maximizing the performance of the structures we live and work in. Drawing on our fifty-plus years of building science knowledge, we will train others on the importance of and correlation between energy efficient construction and healthier indoor environments. We will identify, introduce, and install (where necessary) the highest quality products and services to achieve this goal. His philosophy is simple but
powerful.

A lifelong builder and innovator, Robert is passionate about using technology to solve complex performance challenges. He continuously researches and tests advanced products—from cutting-edge diagnostic tools to next-generation ventilation systems—within Priority Energy’s in-house lab.

One of the first certified RESNET HERS Raters and BPI Energy Auditors in the Chicago area, Robert also played a pioneering role in energy code education across the Midwest. As one of the first RESNET training providers in Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, and Indiana, he has trained and mentored countless builders, code inspectors, and energy raters on IECC compliance and performance standards.

Through Priority Energy, Robert continues to lead the industry in applying building science to create safer, healthier, and more energy-efficient homes and buildings.

Lunch and Vendor Fair

Time forthcoming.

Meet our event sponsors and complete your Passport to be entered into a raffle!

Executive Director Welcome and Sponsor Recognition

Time forthcoming.

After lunch, we will kickstart the afternoon sessions with a warm welcome from AIA Chicago and the AIA Chicago Foundation's Executive Director, Jen Masengarb. We'll also take a moment to express our sincere gratitude to our sponsors, whose support makes this event possible.

---

Jen Masengarb, Assoc. AIA
Executive Director, AIA Chicago and the AIA Chicago Foundation

Photography: The Art and Craft of Seeing

1.0 AIA CEU
WorkLife Meetings: Glass & Granite Rooms

Architectural photography has been the primary method for documenting the built environment since the early 20th century. Today, it is an essential tool for architects to market their work and establish a professional presence. in this session, three distinguished Chicago architectural photographers discuss their "philosophy of seeing" and how they translate a design team's original vision into a visual narrative.

The panel will explore the collaborative process between the photographer and the design professional. Participants will learn how professional imagery helps promote design trends and secures publication in major media outlets. We will also address the business of photography, including how photographers charge for their services and the complexities of image ownership and usage rights.

Learning Objectives:

1. Evaluate how a professional photographer helps you determine the best way to present a completed project.
2. Understand the collaborative process used to meet specific client goals during a shoot.
3. Identify strategies for using professional photography to aid in the promotion and publication of your work.
4. Balance the commercial requirements of a project with artistic expression.
5. Determine the appropriate timing for project photography and understand industry-standard fee structures.
6. Clarify image ownership and legal usage rights for architectural photography.

---

Steve Hall

Steve Hall is an architectural photographer and co-founder of the Chicago-based firm Hall + Merrick + McCaugherty Photographers. After earning a Bachelor of Science in geology from the University of Wisconsin, Hall joined Hedrich Blessing Photographers. There, he built a reputation for documenting award-winning buildings and interiors for local and national AIA honors.

Hall is fascinated by the built environment and focuses on capturing the essence of a building through a collaborative engagement with design teams.

His work is held in the Hedrich Blessing Collection at the Chicago History Museum and the Signature Collection at the Library of Congress.

Tom Harris

Tom Harris began his career in architectural photography in 2009 after graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. He trained at Hedrich Blessing Photographers before establishing his own practice in 2016. Harris has since documented nearly 1,000 projects, collaborating with a wide range of firms from small practices to international offices.

He views every shoot as a discussion between the designer and the photographer to ensure the final images reflect a unified creative vision.

His work is published internationally in outlets such as Metropolis Magazine, The Architect’s Newspaper, Architectural Record, and The Wall Street Journal.

Tony Soluri
Tony Soluri is a Chicago-based photographer who specializes in architecture and interior design. For 30 years, he has served as a contributing photographer for Architectural Digest, completing over 120 assignments.

His work has appeared in numerous publications, including Interior Design, Dwell, Veranda, The New York Times, and Luxe Chicago. Soluri’s photography is also featured in several books documenting the work of prominent architects and designers, such as Richard Meier, Robert A.M. Stern, Stuart Cohen and Julie Hacker, and Suzanne Lovell.

Break

WorkLife Meetings
10-Minute Break

Biophilic Design for Residential Living: A Human Centered Approach to Health and Wellbeing

1.0 AIA CEU/HSW
WorkLife Meetings: Glass & Granite Rooms

Biophilic design offers a powerful strategy to support health, safety, and welfare within the home. This course provides architects with an evidence-based understanding of how nature-integrated design improves human experience. By prioritizing wellbeing, we can make human health a central pillar of sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Participants will explore the origins of biophilic design and review scientific research linking these strategies to reduce stress and improve cognitive function. We will also examine how the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) integrates these principles into its standards. Additionally, the session offers a comparison of how WELL, LEED, and ILFI address biophilic design to highlight their differing areas of impact.

Through applied examples, you will learn common strategies and identify opportunities to incorporate these approaches into your residential projects. We will emphasize how specific interventions support indoor environmental quality and a deeper connection to place throughout the design process.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Identify the historical foundations and core principles of biophilic design to explain how human-nature connections support health, safety, and wellbeing in residential settings.

2. Summarize evidence-based research demonstrating the associations between biophilic design and improved indoor environmental quality, stress reduction, and cognitive function.

3. Analyze the International Living Future Institute’s (ILFI) accreditation pathways and professional standards to understand how they influence design documentation and performance outcomes.

4. Compare WELL, LEED, and ILFI by design approach, intended performance outcomes, primary area of impact, and suitable project focus.

5. Evaluate applied biophilic design strategies in residential projects to illustrate how selected interventions support occupant health and a sustainable connection to the environment.

---

Sharlene Young, AIA
Principal and Founder, Symbiotic Living Architecture and Design

Sharlene Young is Principal and Founder of Symbiotic Living Architecture + Design, an award winning practice based in Chicago and working across the US and UK. With more than 25 years of experience, her work bridges architecture, interiors, and wellbeing through research driven, biophilic design.

A graduate of Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, Sharlene is a licensed architect and has held leadership roles at Perkins&Will, serving for more than a decade as Interior Practice Lead at Wheeler Kearns Architects. Her recent practice focuses on residential interior architecture and interior design, integrating biophilic strategies to support occupant wellbeing and long term habitation. She is a former Chair of AIA Chicago’s Interior Architecture Knowledge Community.

Break

WorkLife Meetings
20-Minute Break with Refreshments Provided

Architalks: What We Do and How We Do It

1.0 AIA CEU
WorkLife Meetings: Glass & Granite Rooms

Architalks highlights the work and distinct processes of specialized residential practices. In this session, four architects present their firm’s work, collectively addressing how place and history influence modern design. The panel will consider whether a shared sensibility—focused on conservation, sustainability, and energy—is shaping current residential projects in ways that differ from previous decades.

Each participant will give a 15-minute timed presentation highlighting one or two projects that exemplify their design concept. Speakers will also discuss the operations of their practices, including staff size and the specific services they provide. The session will conclude with an audience Q&A.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify the current issues and concerns shaping Chicago's recent residential architecture.
2. Evaluate how geographic location, history, and culture influence the design of a place.
3. Understand how sustainability goals impact the work of residential architects today.
4. Analyze how current attitudes toward client needs and budgets drive new ideas in residential design.
5. Discover the diverse modes of practice within the residential architectural community.

---

April Hughes, AIA, NCARB, FitWel Amb., LEED AP BD+C, LFA
President, Nurture

April Hughes, AIA, NCARB, FitWel Amb., LEED AP BD+C, LFA is the President at Nurture. A graduate of the University of Kansas, April has received recognitions including the 2014 AIA Chicago Dubin Family Young Architect of the Year and the AIA Illinois John Wellborn Root Award in 2013. Steadfast in her dedication to the firm's mission as a woman-owned enterprise, April advocates for a net zero future while championing opportunities for women, ensuring their voices are heard and valued.

She brings vast experience in sustainable design, with a track record of delivering platinum-rated LEED projects and pioneering net-zero energy designs. Noteworthy projects in her portfolio include the award-winning Yannell PHIUS+ Residence—the Midwest’s first certified PHIUS retrofit across a fourteen-state region—and a full residential Living Building Challenge and PHIUS certified project on the western shores of South Haven, Michigan, slated for completion in 2026. April has chaired juries for the AIA Birmingham, AIA Hawaii, and AIA Northern Virginia Design Awards, and has contributed to the AIA Wisconsin Design Excellence Awards. Her notable achievements, including being named a DuPont Emerging Leader at the Design Futures Council Sustainability Summit and serving as Board President of AIA Chicago in 2020, highlight her emphasis on community enrichment and driving positive change both within and beyond the industry.

Apart from her professional pursuits, April serves as a Director on the Board of Directors for Chicago’s oldest women’s domestic violence organization, Connections for Abused Women and their Children (CAWC), leading capital campaign and development initiatives to build its new multi-million-dollar shelter.

Laura Lee McAllister
Director of Interior Architecture, KARA MANN

Laura Lee McAllister is the Director of Interior Architecture at KARA MANN. A graduate of Auburn University with Bachelors in both Architecture and Interior Architecture, Laura Lee draws on 18 years of industry experience.

During her decade-long tenure at KARA MANN, she has contributed to an expansive portfolio of high-end residential, luxury condominium, and boutique hotel projects.

Her work spans the urban and suburban Chicago markets, along with retreat destinations including Jackson Hole, Palm Springs, Denver, Miami, and London.

Ross Renjilian
Co-Founder, Chicago Common

Ross studied at the University of Southern California and gained valuable architectural experience in Chicago, working at En Masse Architecture & Design, Sullivan Goulette Wilson, and SPACE Architects + Planners. His diverse project portfolio includes restaurants, breweries, single-family residences, and multi-family dwellings. This experience with local firms has provided Ross with invaluable insights into the construction process and the many facets of Chicago.

Currently, Ross leads Chicago Common, a small studio he co-founded with his wife, Jill Renjilian. He is deeply involved in the development community, viewing real estate development as a key opportunity for growth and design exploration. The studio is committed to creating contextual architecture that brings new energy to Chicago's communities.

William Scholtens, AIA
Design Director, Elements Architectural Group

William Scholtens lives in Oak Park, IL with his wife and 3 daughters. He holds Architecture degrees from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Architectural Design from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and earned a certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Transformational Listening Center of Chicago.  He is a member of The American Institute of Architects (AIA), and US Green Building Council LEED program.

William founded Elements in 2006 and is the firm’s Design Director. Uniquely trained as an architect, carpenter, and counselor, he has created The Elements Way- our proven design process that simultaneously considers Art, Science, and Economics. He believes that the vision of the project should be the client's and the role of the architect and design team is to come alongside a client with receptivity and wild curiosity. Elements integrates Architectural Design + Interior Design to produce a comprehensive, restful and sustainable vision that expresses the owner's vision. He's especially grateful for the now over 450 completed residential projects that are as diverse as our clients. When not in the studio, you’ll find Bill running, fly fishing, or discussing other spiritual matters with friends.

Closing Remarks & Raffle

Time forthcoming.

Your Culinary Passport: Neighborhoods of Chicago Tasting

Featuring Michelin Star Chef Jenner Tomaska
THE MART, Suite 108 (First Floor)

Your ticket to the CRAN Symposium includes a one-of-a-kind culinary experience celebrating Chicago’s most iconic neighborhoods. Enjoy live cooking from Michelin-starred Chef Jenner Tomaska of The Alston on the Gaggenau Teppanyaki, explore immersive tasting stations inspired by Chinatown, Greektown, Andersonville, and Old Town, and sip curated wines, beers, and cocktails. And don’t miss exclusive access to a touch of history with their hidden 1930s bank vault.