What We're Celebrating
Three cheers for some stellar achievements!
Top Left: Erika at the LEED Plaque Ceremony for the City of Kansas City, MO | Top Center: Erin speaking at the new chapter of Women in Healthcare in Kansas City | Top Right: Ben with LJC's submission (designed by Ben, Max, and Alan) to Mobili Mobel's Arte in Motion competition | Middle Left: Valerie presented at the AIA Emerging Professionals Committee | Middle Right: Patricia judged the IIDA Hospitality Design Expo Product Design Awards | Bottom Left: LJ introduced Davis Guggenheim who presented his new film Still | Bottom Right: Joe presented at the Best Practices Conference
As board chair for the USGBC, Erika Winters-Downey attended the LEED Plaque Ceremony for the City of Kansas City, Missouri. KC earned a rating of LEED Gold for Cities!
LJC healthcare market leader Erin Nybo established a new chapter of Women in Healthcare in Kansas City, and presented at their inagural meeting!
Ben Buehrle with LJC's submission to the Mobili Mobel Arte in Motion design competition! The design was developed by Alan Barker, Max Komnenich, and Ben and proceeds from the event go to Help Ukraine. The design seeks to grasp planetary movement to understand human's role, responsibility, and place on planet earth. If you want to bid on the art click here. If you'd like to donate click here.
Valerie Michalek was a (virtual) guest presenter for the AIA Queens and Bronx (New York) Emerging Professionals Committee!
Patricia Rotondo served as a juror for the IIDA Hospitality Design Expo Product Design Awards!
Our namesake Lamar Johnson introduced Davis Guggenheim who presented his new film Still at the DOC10 Film Festival. The film is a poignant portrait of Michael J. Fox and you can watch it on Apple TV+ as of May 12.
Joe Keal wowed the crowd at the Midwest Economic Development Conference with the keynote address on the Architecture of Placemaking!
Have something you think deserves a shout out? Email news@theljc.com!
What We're Up To
Take a look at what we've been getting up to this past month!
Jade Li presented at the Calibre Design Awards!
We are so proud Jade spoke at the incredible event, and thrilled David Swartz, Cody Johnson, Wendi Gilbert, Chantal Aquin, and Xixi Luo also were able to represent LJC!
Photos courtesy of IIDA
Our Phoenix team smashed it at the 2023 Goodman's Chair Hockey Tournament!
Shout out to everyone who showed out for LJC, Erica Arrington, Paul Fritz, Brian Dolan, Ryan Tempest, and Hillary Bocash, our Clayco teammates, Aubrey Wyrick and Ms. Shalaka Sawant, and our spirited cheerleaders, Cris Rueda and Fatima Garcia!
Our Chicago team joined our Clayco partners in running the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge!
Big shout out to LJC team members Patricia Rotondo, Josh Whitener, Ryan Faulkner, Cristina Marubayashi, Dayuma Cruz, Patty Mayle, Istvan Walker, and Eduardo Sanchez who represented us among the 15,000 other professionals in the city!
Our landscape architecture work was the backdrop to some incredible designs during SCAD Fashion 2023!
We were thrilled to see the courtyard our landscape architecture team designed at Savannah College of Art and Design being used for such a cool event!
Photos courtesy of SCAD
Our LA team had a blast at the bowling ally!
Look at that incredible team building!
LJC was a proud sponsor of this year's American Heart Association Indianapolis Heart & Stroke Ball
Thank you for always representing LJC so well, Erik Andersen and John Talavera!
LJC hosted AIA St. Louis Young Architects Forum for a tour of our Delmar DivINe project!
A huge thank you to Rachel Wolf, Jerod Thornton, Jen Nevil, and Valerie Michalek who helped make this event happen, and hosted a tour of this fantastic project.
Our Overland team Planted it Forward!
Big thanks to Matt Maranzana for organizing the event, planting some beds in Tower Grove Park. Shout out to Chip Crawford, Adam Bachtel, Nic Smith, Vera Liu, Tim Buescher, Amy Luchun, and Jen Hohol who helped make the park bloom!
Our own Alan Barker moderated for Lambda Alpa International on Catalyzing Economic Growth Through Tactical Urbanism
Max Komnenich and Anezka Gocova attended the event as well!
A real team effort went into these models of the Penn State University new School of Engineering Design and Innovation!
The design team, spearheaded by Michelle Malecha, gifted our partners at Penn State these gorgeous models created by our one and only model shop manager, Brady Polowy. They were photographed by Eduardo Sanchez.
LJC is now home to some real movie stars!
Some of our leadership team were filmed for an LJC firm overview video!
Stay tuned for the world premiere!
Can you tell the team members apart?
Twinning around town like it's nobody's business!
Studio 0 hosted a design summit in Kansas City, featuring a SKETCHAPALOOZA!
Did we get up to something you'd like to see in the next issue? Email news@theljc.com!
Who We Are
A montly Q&A to help you get to know what some of your LJC colleagues are up to outside the office!
Left: Cale, champion of lacrosse! | Center: Rachel and her best project | Right: Josh, pre-hot tub beer
Learn More About Cale Doornbos!
Name: Cale Doornbos
LJC Office Location: Kansas City
Title/Role: Principal / Community Market Leader
Professional Affiliations / Organizations: American Society of Landscape Architects, CLARB
Alma Mater: Kansas State University
What is your most niche, non-work-related interest?
Lacrosse. I have gone from knowing absolutely nothing about the sport ten years ago, to getting involved as my daughter Grace starting playing as a seven year old. I have coached her teams, become the president, and run a 300-athlete youth lacrosse club! Ultimately I became the president and director of the Kansas City Metro Girls Lacrosse Association, which governs all high school girls lacrosse in Kansas and Western Missouri. I’m either really passionate or a sucker!
What are you most proud of accomplishing in your life, professionally, so far?
Starting in 2008, I was part of a design team that designed and built a 600 hectare sport development (including a 60,000 seat stadium) in the city of Basrah, Iraq. We travelled to Iraq to work with locals and create the first non-critical infrastructure development in the country as the war was still smoldering. To see the look on the faces of the local Iraqi’s who had their lives and country turned upside down is something I won’t forget. They were the most appreciate folks I have ever come across.
What does a perfect weekend look like to you?
Sitting on a boat in the middle of the lake with my wife Jacque and daughter Grace just letting the day pass. Some of the best conversations we have, with no alarm clocks or meeting reminders or emails or clients to disrupt the day.
What was the last TV show you binged and enjoyed?
Ted Lasso. Being a Kansas City homer, I enjoy all of the references to Kansas City that Sudeikis sneaks into the show. That and just the fact that the show doesn’t take itself seriously.
Read All About Rachel!
Name: Rachel Rosenberg
LJC Office Location: LA
Title/Role: Associate Principal
Focus: Interiors
Professional Affiliations / Organizations: IIDA, ASID, CREW LA
Alma Mater: Boston University (BA), Pratt Institute (MS)
What is something about you that you think would surprise your coworkers?
I have a twin brother! I am older by two minutes and I never let him forget it.
What is the most fun you've had on a trip or vacation?
I had the best summer of my life living in Copenhagen with my friends. Scandinavia is amazing! The design, (bike) culture and people there are magical.
What does a perfect weekend look like to you?
A low key weekend with no plans, going with the flow sounds dreamy. Add the sun + sand/snow, even better!
What are you most proud of accomplishing in your life, NOT professionally, so far?
My two little ladies, Liv (3.5) and Ivy (1.5). They are my best project yet!
Get to Know Josh Whitener!
Name: Josh Whitener
LJC Office Location: Chicago
Title/Role: Senior Associate
Focus: Architecture
Alma Mater: University at Buffalo
What is the most fun you've had on a trip or vacation?
Every year my brothers and our significant others take a trip to Breckenridge, CO at the end of January and it has absolutely become my favorite trip of the year. January in Chicago is when I always start to get a little stir-crazy and want to be outside, so it’s great to able to go out west and do a bunch of activities in the mountains. There’s nothing better than finishing the day in a hot tub with a beer after hours of skiing.
What's your most niche, non-work-related interest?
One of my favorite things that I like to do outside of work is volunteer at this non-profit in the East Garfield Park neighborhood of Chicago called Breakthrough. The facility that I volunteer at basically hosts a ton of after-school programs for kids in the neighborhood. I’ve participated in everything from coaching basketball to high school boys mentorship. A lot of the kids that I met when I started were in 5th grade so the coolest experience has been watching them grow up and now navigate high school in Chicago. I’ve even been able to watch some of the kids that I coached back in the day now play varsity basketball for their schools… How time flies.
What does a perfect weekend look like to you?
A perfect weekend in Chicago looks like waking up Saturday morning and going for a run or bike ride along the Lakefront. Then I usually like to walk to a few farmers markets and definitely grab an iced coffee. And then, if I had it my way, I would end the afternoon by sitting in the bleachers at Wrigley Field for a Cubs game. In my opinion, there’s no better experience in sports. Its been cool to see the preservation of the stadium and how some of the neighborhood has been revitalized around the park… Plus you have hot dogs and hopefully some warm weather!
What We're Working On
Check out some of the latest and greatest milestones from this past month!
The Aspire Center celebrated its official groundbreaking!
Congratulations to everyone on the team, we can't wait to see this come to life.
Shout out to Brady Polowy for creating this incredible model!
Penn State University West Campus Garage received a Parksmart Bronze Certification!
Congratulations to the entire team, this recognition demonstrates a commitment to advancing sustainable mobility through smarter parking structure design and operation.
Do you know of a project that has hit a milestone we should share? Email news@theljc.com!
What We've Wrapped Up
Check out the photos of some of our recently-completed projects!
Chamberlain University College of Nursing
Photos by Michael Lipman Photography
SCTV Sichuan Radio & Television News Center
Photos courtesy of Clickspring Design
Who's Joined Us
Say "hello" to some new faces at LJC!
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.
LJC was a FINALIST in SIX Categories of the 2023 Illinois Real Estate Journal Awards, and WON THREE awards!
A huge congratulations to all of the finalists and winners. We are so proud to have such an incredible team get such well-deserved recognition for all their work.
- Architect of the Year | Lesley Roth, WINNER!
- Woman of the Year | Lina Chiu, WINNER!
- People's Choice Award, Person | Richie Hands, WINNER!
- Architecture Firm of the Year | Finalist!
- Champion of Diversity | Richie Hands, Finalist!
- Multifamily Project | Triangle Square, Finalist!
- Interior Design: Urban | Vivid Seats, Finalist!
Tower Grove Park - East Stream Restoration is a finalist for the Urban Land Institute Americas Awards!
Congratulations to the entire project team!
Who's Talking About Our Work?
Where some of our work has popped up in the news!
LJC was named one of the best architectural firms in Chicago by Home Builders Digest!
Home Builders Digest
Click here to read the full story.
First Tee Greater Chicago
Click here to read the full story.
Click here to read the full story.
Click here to read the full story.
Have you seen LJC in the news and think we should share? Email news@theljc.com!
What's on the Horizon?
Check out what to look forward to in June!
June 5: Phoenix office move!
June 7: Chicago first softball game!
June 7-9: AIA Conference, San Fransisco
June 12: NEOCON
June 19: Kansas City office move!
June 20: Itern Gallery, Kansas City
June 22: Intern Gallery, Overland and Chicago
July 13: Intern Gallery, Phoenix
TBD: Intern Gallery, LA