May 2026

What We're Celebrating

Three cheers to some stellar accomplishments!

Big Wins: Celebrating LJC’s Newly Licensed Professionals 💡🌟

Big achievements are happening across LJC, and this month brings some exciting licensure milestones to the spotlight. These accomplishments reflect years of persistence, discipline, and a deep commitment to the profession. Jianxin Li is now a Licensed Architect! Be sure to congratulate Jiaxin on this accomplishment.

Aspire Center Wins Community Impact Project of the Year!

Recognition like the Greater Chicago Food Depository Real Estate Award reflects the lasting influence spaces can have when they are designed around people, opportunity, and long-term community impact.

The Aspire Center was envisioned as a place that supports workforce development, education, training, and community connection — bringing together programs and resources intended to create meaningful opportunities for individuals and families across the region.

Projects like this demonstrate the value of thoughtful collaboration across organizations, disciplines, and community partners. In partnership with Austin Coming Together and the broader project team, the Aspire Center reflects a shared commitment to creating environments that support access, engagement, and long-term investment in the community.

Congratulations to the Greater Chicago Food Depository and all project partners recognized through this year’s Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards.

As Seen in Interior Design Magazine! 👀 📰

When designing Clayco’s Russell Burns Building, the vision centered on a simple but important idea: the workplace should inspire the people inside it.

A dramatic glass-and-terra-cotta lobby addition pulls daylight deep into the interior, creating a strong sense of openness from the moment you enter the space. Skylights carved into two central atriums further extend natural light throughout the workplace, helping create an environment that feels energizing, welcoming, and connected.

Along the exterior, aluminum fins help shade the facade while contributing to the building’s distinct architectural identity — balancing performance, experience, and design expression.

We’re excited to share that the project has been featured in Interior Design Magazine’s May 2026 issue, recognizing the thoughtful vision and integrated design approach behind the space.

Congratulations to the entire team who helped bring this project to life.

See the issue here: https://interiordesign.net/projects/clayco-architectural-arm-creates-brand-hq/

LJC Win's IIDA RED Awards in the Workspace Large Category 🌟

Located in Chicago’s Fulton Market District, the workplace was designed to support connection, flexibility, and collaboration across a dynamic, multi-level environment. A nine-story interconnecting staircase serves as the centerpiece of the space, helping unify the workplace experience while encouraging movement and interaction throughout the office.

The project also prioritized employee wellness, adaptable work settings, and client-facing environments that reflect both professionalism and hospitality.

Thank you to CBRE and our client for the partnership and shared vision behind this award-winning workplace, and congratulations to the teams whose collaboration brought the project to life.

What We're Working On

Check out some of the latest and greatest milestones from this past month!

Ray Nashville has Topped Out!

We are designing and constructing a 1.4 million square foot lithium battery separator manufacturing campus with Clayco and Concrete Strategies in Terre Haute, Indiana. When fully operational, this facility will support the production of 1.4 to 1.6 million EVs annually. It will create up to 642 jobs for the Terre Haute community by the end of 2027.

Read more about the project here.

Major Milestone on the expansion of The Broad in downtown Los Angeles. 🖼️ 🏗️

The Broad Museum Expansion project celebrated its topping out!

In partnership with Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the expansion will increase gallery space by 70%, introduce open-air rooftop courtyards, and create new opportunities for visitors to engage with contemporary art through immersive experiences and thoughtfully designed public spaces.

The project shows our continued investment in cultural infrastructure that supports community connection, creativity, and the evolving role of arts institutions in urban environments.

More to come as the project continues to take shape. Visit: https://theljc.com/projects/the-broad-expansion

Major moves for Morgan Park Commons

The Community Development Commission has approved $5 million in TIF funding and a land sale for the first phase of Morgan Park Commons, a mixed-use development located at the northwest corner of W. 115th St and S. Halsted St. Addressed at 11420 S. Halsted, the new multi-phase development would be built on the 12-acre site of a former Jewel-Osco that has been vacant for over 16 years.

What We Have Wrapped Up

Check out our completed projects!

Covista Chamberlain BSN Kansas

Today's healthcare students are learning in spaces designed to mirror the complexity of real-world care.

Covista Chamberlain University + BSN Kansas demonstrate what's possible, combining simulation-based learning with skills labs, high-fidelity exam rooms, and collaborative study areas that replicate real-world healthcare settings. A central café anchors the social experience, supporting student engagement beyond the classroom.

Transforming an existing structure into a forward-thinking education environment required innovative problem-solving and close collaboration with stakeholders — proof that great design can overcome constraints to deliver something truly purposeful.

At LJC, thoughtful, integrated design helps institutions create spaces that support academic excellence and long-term adaptability. Learn more: https://theljc.com/projects/covista-chamberlain-bsn-kansas

191 N. Wacker 28th Floor Amenity Suites

LJC partnered with the 191 N Wacker team to transform the building’s amenity floor into an environment shaped around daily life, supporting how tenants work, gather, connect, and recharge throughout the day.

The full-floor suite brings together conference, wellness, fitness, lounge, and social spaces within a connected environment shaped by warmth, comfort, and flexibility. The design balances refined materials with a calm, approachable atmosphere. Warm wood, natural stone, layered lighting, and views of the Chicago River create a sense of continuity and ease across the floor. Anchored by the hearth lounge and north bar lounge, the spaces support everything from informal meetings and conference breakouts to wellness and quiet retreat. Rather than relying on branding or gesture, the project expresses identity through atmosphere, comfort, and material clarity.

The result is an amenity experience that feels elevated yet welcoming, positioning the building as a destination defined as much by atmosphere as performance.

What We're Up To

Take a look at what we've been up to this past month!

Rebuilding TOGETHER! 💚🏡🛠️

One year after the May 16, 2025 tornado, many North St. Louis families and businesses are still working to recover.

The LJC & Clayco team joined community partners, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, and volunteers from across St. Louis to support neighborhood clean-up efforts and food distribution for impacted residents.

They also supported Larry’s Corner — a grassroots community hub created by one resident who quickly stepped up to help neighbors access resources, supplies, and support in the aftermath of the storm.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time and energy to help St. Louis continue moving forward.

Women in Digital Infrastructure

The data center sector continues to be one of the most dynamic spaces in the industry, and the conversations around it are keeping pace.

Anu Russell Tharanath joined 275 women leaders from finance, legal, and development at the Women in Digital Infrastructure event, which reflected both the momentum in digital infrastructure and a shared commitment to shaping its future and supporting the next generation of leaders.

Discussions centered on how capital deployment, legal frameworks, and project timelines are all evolving in response to growing demand — and the importance of cross-functional alignment in bringing complex deals to life.

Advancing the Conversation at SelectUSA 2026 🌎

Our LJC and Clayco team joined industry leaders, investors, and economic development partners at the 2026 SelectUSA Investment Summit to connect, collaborate, and explore opportunities shaping the future of business and development across the U.S.

We’re proud to be part of the conversations driving innovation, growth, and global investment forward.

Max K. Elevating the Next Gen

Max Komnenich recently connected with students at the Illinois School of Architecture, sharing insights and engaging in project reviews with the next generation of designers and industry leaders.

We love seeing our LJC team create opportunities that foster mentorship, collaboration, and continued growth within the architecture and design community.

Twinning in the office 🤝✨ Great minds think alike… and apparently dress alike too.

Have a twins in your office?! Snap a pic and send to news@theljc.com

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!

Get to know Chris Connelly!

LJC Office: Greenville, SC
Title/Role: Vice President, Industrial Business Unit Leader
Focus: Business Unit Management
School: Clemson University, Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering
Affiliations: ISPE, MHI and IAMC

What’s something coworkers might be surprised to learn about you?
I am happily married to my beautiful wife Elizabeth, and we have an amazing 17-year-old son Landon who will be graduating high school soon.

What’s your most memorable vacation or trip?
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Family Vacation – The trip was several years ago but one of our most memorable. We rode in speed boats in the Pacific Ocean, we swam with tropical fish in a cave, and we ziplined through the jungle. It was an adventurous vacation!

What book would you recommend?
It’s an older book but very relevant to our work at LJC. It is called Selling the Invisible: A Field Guide to Modern Marketing by Harry Beckwith. It is one of the better books I’ve read regarding building relationships and selling services.

What are you most proud of outside of work?
My family, I am very proud of the amazing man my wife and I have raised.

What was your very first job?
I have family that owns a custom home building firm in the upstate of SC. I built houses with them during the summer months (and pretty much anytime school was out) from 14 or 15 years old through college.

What movie do you never get tired of watching?
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be in Design and Construction from an early age. I originally thought I might become an Architect. It worked out a little different, but now I get to work alongside some of the best in the industry!

What non-work-related topic are you oddly knowledgeable about?
BBQ and smoking meats.

Say "hey" to Venkatesh Janakiraman "VJ"

LJC Office: Phoenix
Title/Role: Associate Principal, Compute Electrical
Focus: Compute / Mission Critical Electrical Engineering
School: Anna University, Arizona State University, Washington State University
Affiliations: NCEES (PE), USGBC (LEED AP BD+C) and ASU Alumni Mentor Network

What’s something coworkers might be surprised to learn about you?
I grew up in India where power outages were very common, and that was one of the reasons I became interested in electrical systems. Looking back, it is interesting that the same curiosity eventually led me to a career designing electrical infrastructure for data centers and other mission-critical facilities.

What’s a niche or unexpected interest you have outside of work?
I enjoy teaching kids in my neighborhood using Snap Circuits and robotics. I also enjoy gardening in our backyard and spend more time than I probably should researching how to grow different vegetables in Arizona. Both are fun ways for me to keep learning and experimenting outside of work.

What does your ideal weekend look like?
My ideal weekend is spending time with my wife and daughter, going to the farmers market, biking along the canal near our home, and working in the backyard garden. We also enjoy trying a new restaurant or cooking something new at home and getting outside for a walk or hike when the Arizona weather is nice.

What are you most proud of professionally so far?
I am proud to have worked on complex mission critical, industrial, and manufacturing projects that require strong technical engineering and design. More recently, I am proud to be helping build the Compute electrical team at LJC/Clayco and supporting the growth of our mission critical practice. I was also recently recognized as one of ENR’s Top Young Professionals, which was a proud moment for me personally and professionally.

Say "Hello" to Logan Alexander!

LJC Office: Lenexa, KS
Title/Role: Structural Engineer II
Focus: Structural Engineering
School: Missouri S&T

What’s your most memorable vacation or trip?
I recently went to Savannah, GA and proposed to my now-fiancée. It had a cool coastal, old Southern vibe, which made it even more meaningful since my family is originally from South Carolina.

What’s a niche or unexpected interest you have outside of work?
In my free time, I built and launched a fitness app on the Apple App Store called PEAK: Recovery Based Training. It tracks your health data and creates daily workouts based on how you’re feeling. Users simply choose the muscle groups they want to target, and the app generates a personalized workout using my custom videos and images.

What is your favorite song and why?
My favorite song is Thinkin’ Bout Me by Morgan Wallen - it was my college baseball walk-up song.

What are you most proud of professionally so far?
I’m proud of how quickly I’ve learned and developed in my first few years. There’s a lot you don’t learn in school, so becoming proficient took real effort. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished at LJC.

Get to Know Elizabeth Goodnite Eden!

LJC Office: Denver
Title/Role: Senior Associate
Focus: Interior Designer
School(s):Mississippi State University & Colorado State University
Affiliations: IIDA, NCIDQ

What’s something coworkers might be surprised to learn about you?
That I was homeschooled through 10th grade! Debatable whether this is surprising or not 😉.

What’s your most memorable vacation or trip?
A post-grad school romp around parts of Europe – some highlights include celebrating a dear friend at her incredible and lively Scottish wedding and biking through Salsburg, Austria visiting all the iconic Sound of Music locations while our tour guide played the Edelweiss on the flute.

What was your very first job?
Cleaning office buildings, and now I design them!

What movie do you never get tired of watching?
There are so many but my most rewatched are You’ve Got Mail and all the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings films.