OTJ Architects Expands into Midwest Market with Launch of Chicago Office

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- OTJ Architects continues to expand its geographic reach with the opening of its Chicago, Illinois office. The launch of this location follows the opening of our Charlotte, San Francisco, and Boston, locations. This expansion allows us to broaden national business and design partnerships while serving as a strategic point of entry into the Midwest market.

CEO Lance Jaccard, AIA, IIDA, LEED AP, remarks: "Chicago's vibrant business and architecture communities are uniquely aligned with the progressive design typologies we have successfully introduced across North America. We look forward to deepening existing relationships while also forging new ones in one of the nation's most exciting design and real estate markets."

Our Chicago office will be led by Principal and Director of Architecture Brian Hungerford, Studio Director Amber Van Kley, and Account Manager Michael Baranowski. Brian, Amber, and Michael join us from Gensler, Eastlake Studio, and Nelson respectively. Together, they will bring to bear decades of experience acquired through the delivery of progressive design work for leading organizations nationally and overseas.

Brian Hungerford, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP, is a passionate leader who believes design can transform lives and build communities. For over twenty years, he has enjoyed working alongside his clients to translate their mission into dynamic and meaningful experiences across global headquarters, mixed-use developments, workplace interiors, and residential projects. Brian holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Kentucky and has served as a guest lecturer and juror at various institutions, including his alma mater, the Illinois Institute of Technology, and the University of Illinois Chicago. He has most recently served as Design Director on projects for clients SC Johnson, Spirit Airlines, Radio Flyer, LG Development, W.P. Carey, and Solstice.

Design leader, client care advocate, and experience enthusiast, Amber Van Kley, IIDA, NCIDQ, is a highly collaborative professional noted for environments that seamlessly wed inclusivity, function, and aesthetic appeal. Amber holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Southern Indiana and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design from the International Academy of Design and Technology. Amber has contributed to the success of a myriad of notable projects including a 7-story family office building in Grand Rapids, the relocation of the Chicago Tribune, the Visitor Clubhouse and Gate 4 renovation at the Chicago White Sox stadium, and the New City residential tower development.

Michael Baranowski, IIDA, NCIDQ, IFMA, is recognized for his ability to develop solutions that maximize functionality and space utilization without compromise to aesthetics. Mike has led the design and delivery of enduring office environments for leading financial institutions such as Citigroup, ABN-AMRO/LaSalle National Bank, First National Bank, and Northern Trust. His portfolio also includes workplaces for Allstate, Kraft Foods, The Nielsen Company, Transwestern, and the University of Michigan. An active member of the Chicago business and design communities, Mike holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Illinois, Chicago, as well as an Associate degree in Architecture and Construction Management from Purdue University Northwest.

Buoyant, impassioned, and strategic, Amber, Brian, and Mike are inspired by the current need for innovation and renewal throughout Chicago's commercial real estate market and communities at large. They look forward to making an impact across workplace, landlord services, building repositioning, and mixed-use project types by leveraging OTJ's national reach and deep bench of resources. Brian, Amber and Mike remark: "We live to design with people who care about creating better places for us all."

About OTJ Architects
OTJ Architects is a premier architecture and design practice that partners with leaders in the commercial real estate, corporate, government, life sciences, multi-family, arts and entertainment, as well as nonprofit sectors. With offices in Washington, D.C., Boston, MA, Charlotte, N.C., Chicago, IL, Dallas, TX, Miami, FL, New York, N.Y., San Diego, CA, and San Francisco, CA, OTJ delivers enduring human centric solutions that drive optimal staff performance, promote diversity, wellness and sustainability, while maximizing each organization's real estate investment.
Signature recent projects include workplaces for Adobe, Anheuser-Busch, BMW, PBS, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Yelp, and United Way, Innovation Centers for Booz Allen Hamilton and Capital One, as well as the renovation of the iconic Martin Luther King Jr. Library, New York's Webster Hall, and the Cincinnati Music Hall. For more information, please visit http://www.otj.com.

Media Contact

Pascal Molenat, OTJ Architects, 1 6212621000, [email protected]

SOURCE OTJ Architects