What We're Celebrating
Three cheers for some stellar achievements!
Leah Humphrey was interviewed as part of the Women in STEM series from the Linda Hall Library!
Check out the interview below.
Michael Berger rode in the Triple Bypass in Colorado to support the Easter Seals, the Epilepsy Foundation, and Kidnectivity!
To learn more about this annual ride, or to donate, visit the Triple Bypass website here.
Michael and fellow building industry colleagues on the annual ride!
Rachel Rosenberg was named one of ASID's Ones to Watch!
Congratulations, Rachel, on this incredible honor! You can read more about the program here.
Clayco was named one of the LA Business Journal's Best Places to Work 2023!
Patricia Rotondo was featured on a Hospitality, Resorts, and Retail panel for BisNow Phoenix!
What We're Up To
Take a look at what we've been getting up to this past month!
We celebrated LJC President Sarah Jacobson, Jade Li, and Ileanna Holguin (Clayco) nominations for the LA Business Journal's 2023 Women's Leadership Awards!
We are thrilled to see them recognized as leader finalists!!!
Sarah Jacobson, Jade Li, and Lucy Villanueva attend the Los Angeles Business Journal 2023 Women's Leadership Awards
Our Chicago team participated in the first AIA Chicago Guess-a-Sketch!
Our team, the Purple Lines, had to guess what iconic building was being drawn in a Pictionary-esque showdown!
Purple Line team shirts were designed by LJC graphic designer Sam Alcarez.
The Overland softball team CRUSHED the competition and secured the championship for the third year in a row!
It was a month of heading out to the ball game to celebrate the season!
The Chicago office watched the Cubs keep the Cardinals at bay!
We can't tell these TWINNING team members apart, can you?!
Serving up some fresh volleyball content...
The CHI office has kicked off the summer season of beach volleyball!
The Overland office had fun at Tower Grove Park!
Let's hear it for the amazing interns at all five of our offices this summer!
Video edited by Eduardo Sanchez
The LJC team has been hitting it out of the park with all the new projects we're working on!
Who's Joined Us
Say "hello" to some new faces at LJC!
Who We Are
A monthly Q&A to help you get to know what some of your LJC colleagues are up to outside the office!
Top Left: Xixi time traveling at White Sand National Park | Top Center: Cody and his menagerie. | Top Right: Cris kicking it with some friends. | Bottom Left: Tina on the best trip ever! | Bottom Center: Stephen and his proudest accomplishment! | Bottom Right: Megan, paddling far, far away.
Get to know Xixi Luo!
LJC Office Location: Culver City
Title/Role: Design Staff II
Focus: Architecture
Alma Mater: University of Southern California
What is something about you that you think would surprise your coworkers?
That I like crime documentaries, suspenseful movies, and stories.
What is the most fun you've had on a trip or vacation?
Visiting White Sand National Park was a surreal experience. It felt like another world. The sensation of walking on the fine sand and the vastness of the dune field was dreamlike and ethereal.
If you could travel to any time period/place, what would it be and why?
I would love to travel to the future. I want to see how far technology and humanity can go. Life on Earth will come to an end, and I want to see if we have figured out another planet to live on.
What movie can you watch over and over again?
Interstellar by Christopher Nolan. I've always been mesmerized by the unknown of space and time. Each time you watch it, you find new details; there are layers, and you see different aspects. Moreover, I'm addicted to the music.
Meet Cody Johnson!
LJC Office Location: Culver City
Title/Role: Interior Designer I
Focus: Interiors
Alma Mater: BFA Interior Architecture, Columbia College Chicago
What is something about you that you think would surprise your coworkers?
The menagerie of exotic pets that share my home with me!
What was your first job, and what is most memorable about it?
Petco. Most memorable aspect was definitely this one specific ferret (named Chonks) that was incredibly large and lovable.
What are you most proud of accomplishing in your life, not professionally, so far?
Five year old me would be so proud I made it to LA!
What movie can you watch over and over again?
Mean Girls, obviously... it's not only special, it's fetch.
Say "hello" to Cristiana (Cris) Rueda!
LJC Office Location: Phoenix
Title/Role: Associate
Focus: Interiors
Alma Mater: Texas Tech University
Professional Affiliations / Organizations: NCIDQ and IIDA
What is the most fun you've had on a trip or vacation?
In 2019 I went to a wedding in Varberg, Sweden during Midsommar! I participated in all the traditional dancing and singing around the maypole in the rain and even made my own flower crown with instruction from the Swedish family who hosted us.
What does a perfect weekend look like to you?
Wake up early, have coffee outside (NOT during the summertime), spend the day thrifting across the valley, break for a long lunch with friends at a local haunt, a nap to socially recharge, some sort of creative workshop in the afternoon (i.e. ceramics, printmaking, gardening), and end the day with an elaborate home-cooked meal where someone else cleans up after me. In bed by 10 PM, no exceptions.
What movie can you watch over and over again?
I am a huge fan of Labryinth starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly! The soundtrack is phenomenal, the puppetry is so impressive and, honestly, who doesn't love a whimsical fantasy movie?? Backup answer is The Dark Crystal for all the same reasons.
Learn more about Tina Mazzola!
LJC Office Location: Overland
Title/Role: Senior Project Accountant
Alma Mater: STLCC
If you could speak another language, what would it be and why?
I would love to learn Italian. My grandparents were Italian and spoke Italian as their first language. They taught us a few words throughout the years, but I would love to learn more. Learning their native language would be a beautiful way to strengthen the connection I had with them.
What's the most fun you've had on a trip or vacation?
It was my most recent trip to April in Cancun. During this trip, I got MARRIED! We had 30 of our closest friends and family join us. We had the best time. So much fun!
Name three songs that best describe you or are your favorites, and explain why!
1. Whitney Houston - "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"
This is the song that I will make a DJ play if no one is out on the dance floor. This is the song I will turn on in the car to put me in a great mood. No one can stop themselves from dancing to this song!
2. Tina Turner - "Proud Mary"
Growing up, Tina Turner was played on repeat at my house. My mother is a HUGE fan (the reason why my name is Tina). Not only was Tina one of the top powerhouse singers of all time, but she's truly an inspiration to all women. She is a legend, and icon, a true performer! She was simply the best!
3. Salt-N-Pepa - "Push It"
This song is my hype song. If I need to pump myself up for anything, I can play this and get ready for some FUN!
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up and why?
As a young girl, I wanted to be a chef. Food has always been a passion of mine. My father has owned a restaurant for the last 40 years, so I've been in the restaurant industry all my life. However, working evenings and long hours are hard for a family. At the moment, cooking is just a hobby. I love to watch the Food Network, and my husband loves to eat my experimental recipes.
Get to know Stephen Mayer!
LJC Office Location: Chicago
Title/Role: Associate Principal
Focus: Architecture
Alma Mater: University of Kansas
Professional Affiliations / Organizations: AIA
What is something about you that you think would surprise your coworkers?
I have visited all of the active major league baseball stadiums. Well, at least until the Texas Rangers opened a new stadium last year.
What's a book you'd recommend to just about anyone?
The Goldfinch by Dona Tartt. I love a good coming-of-age story and this is the best I've ever read, and the ending is pure poetry.
What are you most proud of accomplishing in your life, not professionally, so far?
I like to think I'm a pretty good dad to my three girls, so I'm proud of that.
What was your first job and what was most memorable about it?
A busboy at Outback Steakhouse. The only thing worse than the pay was the smell of the kitchen.
Meet Megan Schultz!
LJC Office Location: Chicago
Title/Role: Senior Associate
Focus: Interiors
Alma Mater: Harrington College of Design
Professional Affiliations / Organizations: NCIDQ
What is the most fun you've had on a trip or vacation?
Design Week 2019 in Mexico City with a group of fellow designers. If I could re-live that trip again, I would!
What's the last TV show you binged and enjoyed?
Ted Lasso (Apple TV). Unique script, loveable story, and stunning performances.
What are you most proud of accomplishing in your life, professionally, so far?
Being able to work as an interior designer in Chicago at LJC is a great accomplishment. I am very lucky to be here and be part of such an amazing studio.
What We're Working On
Check out some of the latest and greatest milestones from this past month!
We got to hear about all the cool work our teams are doing at On the Boards office-wide events!
The LJC interns had the opportunity to tour some job sites!
Overland interns touring the St. Louis County Library Clark Family Branch job site!
Take a look at the flythrough of our design for the University of Missouri St. Louis Richter Family Welcome and Alumni Center!
This new center will: serve as a gateway to UMSL; welcome students to the world of higher education; and provide a permanent home for over 112,000 alumni.
Cheers to the AESC Li-ion Battery Plant project that celebrated its groundbreaking in Florence, South Carolina!
We have some new renderings for the Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville Science Building!
What We've Wrapped Up
Check out the photos of some of our recently-completed projects!
Penn State Engineering Design and Innovation Building
Completed in collaboration with Payette.
Photos by Tom Harris
Who's Talking About Our Work?
Where some of our work has popped up in the news!
PBS NewsHour featured a portion of the LJC-designed St. Louis Brickline Greenway!
As a part of their arts and culture series, Canvas, NewsHour Correspondent, Jeffrey Brown, met with St. Louis resident and nationally-acclaimed artist, Damon Davis, to discuss his installation, “Pillars of the Valley." The artwork sits adjacent to the newest addition of the #BricklineGreenway — a one-mile segment spanning from Harris-Stowe State University to the St. Louis CITY SC Stadium.
The Katherine Ward Burg Garden and the entire Great Rivers Greenway project made the news as well!
Click here to watch the video clip.
Click here to read the story.
What We've Won
Of course, we don't do what we do to win awards, but being recognized for our accomplishments is always a reason to celebrate.
SCAD Forty Four is a finalist in Atlanta's ULI Awards of Excellence!
Fingers crossed for the entire team that worked on this great project!
Click here to read the full project profile entry.
