What We're Celebrating

Three cheers to some stellar accomplishments!

Lighting Up the Overland Office!💡

Priyasha Shrestha is the latest to snag the coveted leg lamp in our Overland office, after crushing her LARE requirements. Congrats, Priyasha!

Hat Trick Victory! 🏆🏆🏆

All THREE of our finalist projects took home top honors in the AIA Chicago Lerch Bates People's Choice Awards! Big congrats to everyone involved.

The three projects LJC was recognized for are:

  • 4300 E. Camelback | Office
  • Fulton East | Tall Building
  • Triangle Square Apartments | Multifamily

All Aboard With Liz DeBold Austin! 🚋

Big news from Citizens for Modern Transit! On September 13, they welcomed new faces to their Board of Directors, including our very own Liz DeBold Austin, who leads Economic Development at LJC/Clayco. Congrats, Liz!

Pouring Praise on the Salt Shed Team!

Shoutout to the Salt Shed team and congratulations to Sarah Hitchcock, who’s quoted in Sandra Steinbrecher’s upcoming book, The Salt Shed! This recent release showcases the incredible transformation of Chicago’s Morton Salt Warehouse into a vibrant music venue, with Sarah’s insights adding to the story.

Purchase and learn more about The Salt Shed.

What We're Up To

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

The Convention Chronicles🌟

Our team has been actively engaging, networking, and exploring the latest trends and innovations in the industry:

  • Stephanie Handley, Jen Nevil, and Liz DeBold Austin took Vancouver by storm at the 2024 CREW Network Convention
  • Lesley Roth, Prayag Bagde, and Yashasvi Tulchiya attended the American Planning Association - Illinois Chapter State Conference in Champaign, IL
  • Kate Lyle represented LJC at the 2024 Global Cold Chain Alliance Convention in Bonita Springs, FL

Spotlight on the Aspire Center at CREW Chicago!

Cambrie Borowski joined CREW Chicago for a tour of the BUILD campus and LJC’s own Aspire Center in Chicago's Austin neighborhood. Attendees got a firsthand look at how these projects are uplifting the community with youth services and workforce development.

Get Ready for the Cyclone Energy Rodeo! 🐎🔋

Erika Winters-Downey saddled up to speak at the Cyclone Energy Group’s Innovation Rodeo in Chicago on September 12th! This year’s lineup was packed with industry experts discussing everything from decarbonization and building life-cycle carbon emissions to AI in architecture, engineering, and construction.

Staci Huggins Shines at MWM’s KC Women in CRE Event

Staci Huggins was a panelist at MetroWire Media’s Kansas City Women in CRE event on September 12th, proudly sponsored by LJC! The event featured some of the most influential, trailblazing women in Kansas City’s commercial real estate scene, sharing their incredible journeys and hard-earned wisdom.

Goldie Gala 2024 at Union Station 💙🧡🌟

LJC’s Patricia Rotondo and Lisa Dziekan, along with Shawn Clark, CRG CEO and Gala Vice Chair, attended this year's Goldie Gala in Union Station's Great Hall. The event focused on redefining the commercial real estate industry by elevating and advancing the careers of high-potential women. LJC, CRG, and Clayco are proud to sponsor such an inspiring event!

Chicago Women in Architecture (CWA) Opening Gala: Celebrating 50 Years

Our Chicago office was proud to attend the gala and awards ceremony, marking the 50th anniversary of CWA. It was a special evening exploring the legacy and impact of the organization through a thoughtfully curated exhibit celebrating leaders in our field. A big round of applause to Nimah Mohiuddin for her role on the committee that helped bring this event to life! Be sure to check out the CAC exhibit, the DISRUPTERS, open until November 15th.

Governor Pritzker Visited the Aspire Center! 🌟

Governer Pritzker recently held a press conference at our Chicago Aspire Center project! The former closed school is set to become a vibrant workforce training hub for the West Side. JPMorganChase also announced a $10 million loan to the Chicago Community Loan Fund to support affordable housing and community projects like the Aspire Center, aimed at providing services and opportunities in communities of color.

SPIRIT WEEK WAS A SUCCESS!

Thanks to everyone who participated & donated to our local charities!
We loved seeing your outfits around the office and your LJC Spirit!

Special thanks to our wonderful Culture Core Council members:

Audrey DeLapp, Skylar Heaton, Nic Smith, Cody Johnson, Cristiana Rueda, and Henry Hammes!

Seeing Double?! Office Twins were in full force this month around the office 👀 👯

Spirit Week only comes once a year, so we love to see these unplanned twinning moments!

Welcome to LJC!

Welcome to our newest team members!

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 Cat Kratz!

LJC Office Location: Kansas City
Title/Role: Senior Marketing Manager
School(s) you graduated from: BFA, Photography, Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI); MA, Photojournalism, University of Missouri-Columbia

If you could speak another language, what would it be? Why? 
I speak rudimentary Polish and would love to know more to better communicate with my 90-year-old grandmother (and other family members) who I am lucky to visit every few years; my parents are Polish immigrants, I was born in Belgium before we moved to Nebraska in the early 80s, and the rest of our family still resides in Poland.

What’s the most fun you’ve had on a trip or vacation? 
Top 3: hiking in Banff National Park where my husband proposed; hiking the Hoh Rainforest in the snow on New Years Day; and capitalizing on a 20-hour layover by doing a very determined, self-guided, whirlwind walking tour of Paris with my husband.

What’s your most niche, non-work-related interest? 
Not niche per se, but perhaps a little a-typical, I have my class M license and love riding motorcycles with my dad; some of my best memories are going on Antique Motorcycle Club of America road runs in off-the-beaten-path locations together, including Hill Country in Texas or the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina (pictured!).

If you could travel to any time period/place, what would it be and why? 
Back to Poland in the early 2000s when my grandpa was still alive, but taking my daughter with me so she could meet him. He was pretty amazing.

Meet My-Nga Lam!

LJC Office Location: Chicago
Title/Role: Principal, Residential Market Leader
Focus: Architecture
School(s) you graduated from: McGill University
Professional affiliations and/or organizations you’re involved in: AIA, NCARB, LEED AP

What is something about you that you think would surprise your co-workers? 
I very rarely watch tv or go to the movies or watch movies. So, my eyes will glaze over when you try to talk to me about Game of Thrones or Star Wars or whatever is currently streaming that’s popular. My apologies to you folks in advance. 

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? 
A nurse or other professional in the medical field. In middle school I volunteered at the hospital as a candy striper and assisted the nurses with the more senior patients. It didn’t last long because I discovered that I get queasy at the sight of blood. 

What’s the most fun you’ve had on a trip or vacation? 
Most of my vacations usually involve a nature walk or some sort of hiking. The steeper the climb, the more amazing the views. At sun rise…and especially at sunset. Nature paints the most beautiful canvas.

Say "hello" to Mark Mulreaney!

LJC Office Location: Phoenix
Title/Role: Senior MEP Design and Construction Integrator- LJC TAG
School(s) you graduated from: Colorado State University – Go Rams!

What’s the most fun you’ve had on a trip or vacation? 
Guadalupe…by a long stretch! We had the opportunity to travel there last summer as a family and it was incredible. Fully developed but not commercialized, amazing beaches that are teaming with wildlife, lush produce (avocados the size of watermelons!), amazing people, and lots and lots of Rhum!

What’s the last TV show you binged and enjoyed? What was so good about it? 
Kaos on Netflix. It’s about Greek mythology but set in modern times, with a lot of dark humor and mind-boggling scenes.

If you could travel to any time period/place, what would it be and why? 
The wild west. Back to the Future III…need I say more!

What was your first job, and what is most memorable about it? 
I sold sneakers at Sneaker Stadium. The best part was they would let you exchange out your sneakers for a new pair whenever you wanted, so I always had fresh pair of kicks every week. That and they had one of Shaq’s shoes on display!

Learn more about Jung-Sue Kim!

LJC Office Location: Overland
Title/Role: Senior Associate
Focus: Architecture 
School(s) you graduated from: Master of Architecture, Washington University in St. Louis; Bachelor of Science in Interior Design/ Architecture, Western Kentucky University

What’s the last TV show you binged and enjoyed? What was so good about it?
Emily in Paris. I like romantic comedies, and it is fun watching someone learning about a new culture, new people, and settling down in a new place. I was born and raised in South Korea and came to the United State to study by myself. After school, I decided to stay and get my first job here. Emily’s settle-down episodes are somewhat like what I experienced, but the character is quite the opposite of me. In the TV show, she is a very energetic, extroverted, party person with quite a complicated love life which I am totally not. I sometimes get vicarious pleasure from watching the show. Haha!!

If you could travel to any time period/place, what would it be and why? 
The top three country in my travel list are Quebec, Canada in the autumn, southern France in the summer, and Switzerland in the spring. I love traveling to places that have great scenic views. 

If you could speak another language, what would it be? Why? 
French! Three of the places I would like to travel to are Quebec in Canada, southern France, and Switzerland. Voila! Those countries all speak French and I have heard that regions that are little difficult to travel only using English.

Get to Know Tyler Stoeckel!

LJC Office Location: Chicago
Title/Role: Associate
Focus: Architecture
School(s) you graduated from: University of Cincinnati

What’s your most niche, non-work-related interest?
Vermicomposting (Worm composting) – I love to garden, and I am working on converting much of my lawn to native plantings. I found the existing soil was not in the best condition, so I was looking to upgrade my composting game – red wrigglers, are a great way to reduce food waste and worm castings make for an amazing soil additive!

What’s the last TV show you binged and enjoyed? What was so good about it?
Survivor: Pearl Islands (Season 7) – Technically a rewatch, but some of the greatest hits when it comes to Cast (Rupert, Jonny Fairplay, Sandra). Not to mention the overarching pirate theme—But more than anything, it is just fun to revisit something you remember watching as a kid.

What’s a book you’d recommend to just about anyone? Why? 
Braiding Sweetgrass. I think this book is an excellent meditation on the relationship we have with the natural world, and the lessons nature can impart. It is an important reminder of things we often overlook. 

What We're Working On

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

Time to Level Up and Secure Your Own Leg Lamp: Pursue Your Professional Licensure with LJC’s Support 📚

With PDPs coming up and the weather cooling down (at least in Chicago and St. Louis), now is the perfect time to hunker down and start studying for professional licensure. If you're interested in finding out how LJC can support you, reach out to Paul Bryant or Laura Stock. They'll connect you with the right liaisons for your discipline to ensure you have all the resources you need.

LJC provides:

  • Free access to top-tier online study materials
  • Curated insights and resources from recent licensees
  • Study groups and one-on-one mentoring for advice, motivation, and encouragement
  • Reimbursement for exam fees, license maintenance fees, and professional organization / affiliation dues

Benefits of licensure:

  • Promotion opportunities with new titles and expanded roles
  • Additional project opportunities
  • 2% salary increase upon licensure
  • Bragging rights and a shiny leg lamp trophy to showcase your achievement

We’re also looking for new members to help us grow the Culture Core Council - Licensure Support Committee, expand resources for certifications, and improve our onboarding materials. Join us in supporting the next generation of licensed professionals!

Performance Food Group Project Update

Since breaking ground last December, our Performance Food Group project is progressing rapidly! The team conducted a site visit in August to check on the 337,986 SF food and beverage facility in Berkeley, MO.

We're collaborating with Clayco, CDE, and CSI on this integrated project!

What We've Wrapped Up

Take a look at some final photography from our latest projects.

Final Photography: Chapter at Madison

The Chapter at Madison is the latest Chapter project for LJC! The privately-owned and operated student residence serves upperclassmen at the University of Wisconsin, fostering community connections while paying homage to the Greenbush neighborhood's rich history. The 165-unit building is LEED Silver certified is a CRG-integrated project!

Photography by Christopher Barrett

Final Photography: St. Louis County Library Clark Family Branch

The Clark Family Branch is open and ready for readers! The new facility features a host of different spaces for our communities along with its traditional stacks of books and information materials. The new building features a multipurpose auditorium, private study rooms, a computer lab, community meeting rooms, quiet reading spaces, and several outdoor areas for events and reading.

Photography by Kim Rodgers

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Penn State University

On Friday, September 6th, we celebrated the ribbon cutting for PSU's new Engineering Collaborative Research and Education Building. This event marks the culmination of a multi-phased development on the west side of the PSU campus, a project we’ve been proud to work on over the past five years.

Read more about the event at Penn State, WTAJ, and Centre Daily Times.

Final Photography: Olam Food Ingredients HQ

Take a look inside the Olam Food Ingredients (OFI) project at Macy's Flagship building, 24 E. Washington, in Chicago. This 80,000 SF headquarters consolidates offices nationwide into a collaborative space that emphasizes transparency and functionality, redefining OFI's company culture.

Photography by Steve Hall

Final Photography: RIU Plaza Hotel Chicago

The RIU Plaza Hotel in Chicago is officially open! This stunning 273,500 SF, 28-story neo-classical hotel in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood was crafted by LJC (Architect of Record) in collaboration with Lucien Lagrange (Lead Architect and Lead Designer). The hotel features a timeless façade, 390 rooms, and a breathtaking rooftop terrace with a cantilevered glass balcony.

Final Photography: Chicken N Pickle

Check out the final photos from Sam Fentress of Chicken N Pickle in St. Charles, MO, a project our landscape architecture team worked on, led by Populous. This vibrant venue features pickleball courts, yard games, and an outdoor stage, all inspired by the Missouri River landscape and designed with native plants for sustainability.

Photography by Sam Fentress

Who's Talking About our Work?

Take a look at some places we have popped up in the news!

Obama Presidential Center Articles:

What's Coming Up?

You don't want to miss the amazing events on the horizon!

Habitat for Humanity Women Build 2024! 🛠️💪

LJC, Clayco, and CRG are participating in Habitat for Humanity Women Build again this year on Friday, October 4th, in Chicago's Greater Grand Crossing Neighborhood. We’ll be working on 5-8 homes in various stages of construction that will ultimately be women-owned.

Our team fundraising goal is $8,500, with individual goals of $500 per person. To support our fundraising efforts, we’re hosting a raffle in our Chicago office with some fantastic prizes! For every $25 donated to our team, you’ll receive one entry for a raffle item. Click here to learn more and donate!

Clayco's 3rd Annual Kids Dig Benefiting Lurie Children's Hospital 🏗️

On October 5th, Kids Dig invites Lurie Children’s patients and their siblings to explore and operate various heavy machinery with assistance! Participants can try out excavators, scissor lifts, bulldozers, and boom lifts in a giant sandbox. This unique event promotes healing for Chicago’s children while igniting curiosity in the construction community.

Learn more and sign up to volunteer at claycokidsdig.com!

Help Show Off Our Jeweler's Building Office at Open House Chicago! 🏛️

LJC is excited to participate again in the Chicago Architecture Center's Open House Chicago on Saturday, October 19th! Last year, we welcomed over 700 visitors to take a tour of our office — an incredible turnout! If you're interested in signing up for volunteer shift to tour visitors through our office, please reach out to Jessica Statz.

Upcoming Halloween Celebrations 🎃

Get ready for a spooktacular season! Don't forget, Spooktacular is coming up in the Chicago office on October 24th and the Overland office on October 25th. We can’t wait to see everyone in their Halloween best! More information to come.

Don’t Miss Illumination 2024! Get Your Tickets Now! 👻

Get ready to impress in your Halloween best on October 26 at Chicago's most smashing Halloween party supporting rare disease research! From 9 PM to 2 AM, head to Moonlight Studios for a dazzling night filled with interactive installations, glowing processions, and engaging activities at the event of the season to raise awareness and funds for RVCL research.

Since its inception, Illumination has raised nearly $9.8 million, including $1.2 million in 2023 alone. Find out more and get your tickets here!

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