Joachim Schuessler is a principal and senior project designer at Goettsch Partners, either leading or collaborating in the conceptual design efforts for projects and continuing to articulate and evolve designs through all phases. He has worked on a range of office, hotel, residential, mixed-use, and institutional projects, and he is particularly experienced with international assignments. His recent work in Chicago includes the One Chicago complex, a 77-story full-block residential and mixed-use development, as well as the city’s 8th tallest building; 320 South Canal, a 50-story office tower integrated with one of the largest privately owned public parks in the city; and the Pepper Family Wildlife Center, the renovation, restoration and expansion of the historic 1912 lion house at Lincoln Park Zoo. Joachim holds a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Leipzig University of Applied Sciences in Germany, and he received his Master of Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Since joining WJE in 1995, Tony Cinnamon has participated in building enclosure investigations, window and curtain wall failures, and glass and glazing assessments. His expertise lies in the investigation and design of building facades, exterior wall systems, and fenestration systems. Tony’s projects include curtain wall systems, wood and aluminum window systems, and building facade cladding systems. Building types include high-rise residential and office buildings, institutions, sports arenas, and historic structures.

Tony has written numerous articles on the inspection, repair and restoration, and replacement of window and facade systems. He has also presented seminars domestically and internationally on fenestration related topics, including typical window problems, glass and glazing failures, and testing and repair of window and curtain wall systems. Tony also serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC).

Lucas Tryggestad is the Technical Director in the Chicago office of SOM, where he aligns project design concepts with technical solutions that are integral to the design process. With a portfolio that includes projects in the Chicago area and around the world, Lucas specializes in designing and realizing technically complex building systems.

Interested in the craft of architecture, digital design, and quality project delivery, Lucas is involved in projects from conceptual development to execution. His hands-on, synergistic team approach leads to innovative projects that elevate design and technology standards and demonstrates his strong commitment to SOM’s integrated approach to planning, architecture, and engineering. Lucas served as a lead technical designer on 401 North Wabash Avenue in Chicago, the city’s second tallest building; OKO Tower in Moscow; The Broadgate Tower and 201 Bishopsgate in London; and the Bank of China Headquarters in Ningbo, among other projects.

Tobiasz Staszak is Area Manager North America at Reynaers Aluminum focused on developing a successful growing market. Having a background in the building industry for 14 years, gaining experience in technology, sales, and value proposition development. For the last 5 years Tobiasz has been coordinating the Canadian market and as of this summer he added the US. Tobiasz consistently goes above and beyond to foster enduring partnerships with our esteemed fabricators, architects, real estate developers, general contractors and engineers. By nurturing these relationships, we ensure mutual growth and success in the future. Tobiasz's commitment sets the stage for a prosperous journey together.

Darin C. Cook is passionate about design, placemaking, and material exploration and development. He leads residential, academic, and institutional projects, including Wolf Point, a transformative placemaking project central to the large-scale revitalization of Chicago’s riverfront. A Fulbright Scholar in the former Yugoslavia, Darin’s greatest satisfaction comes from translating conceptual ideas into built form. He takes pride in mentoring junior colleagues and working with students in the art and craft of architecture. He holds a Bachelor of Design from the University of Florida and a Master of Architecture from Yale University.

Jay Longo is a Principal and serves as part of the firm’s commercial office leadership team. He has more than 20 years of experience, along with an impressive portfolio of office, urban mixed-use development, and institutional projects. His design work focuses on high-performance façades, digital fabrication, and sustainable strategies for clients across the world.

His recent projects include 210 N Carpenter and 320 Sangamon, two new creative office buildings in Chicago’s Fulton Market district, and the Starbucks Roastery on Michigan Avenue, an adaptive re-use of the SCB-designed Crate and Barrel flagship into the world’s largest Starbucks.

Jay served on the Alumni Board of Governors at the University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, and is a member of the AIA, USGBC, and Urban Land Institute. He has lectured at the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Chicago History Museum, USGBC Chicago Chapter, Green Build, University of Illinois, and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Architecture from the University of Michigan.

Krista Weir is the Director of Preservation and an Associate Principal at Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture (HPA), a Chicago-based architecture practice that specializes in the design of mixed-use commercial, hospitality and multi-family developments in urban centers nationwide. She has over 10 years’ experience leading the adaptive re-use of iconic historic structures, including the landmarked Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, Bush Temple of Music in Chicago, and Magnolia’s Hotel 1928 in Waco, Texas.

Krista works with developers and local and federal government agencies to seamlessly blend program and design objectives with preservation goals and tax-incentive requirements. Applying her expertise of managing complex projects, Krista oversees firm-wide specifications and quality assurance practices. She is also a member of Landmarks Illinois’ Real Estate and Building Industries Council and leads historic walking tours of Bridgeport for the nonprofit Chicago for Chicagoans.

Krista holds a Master of Architecture and B.S. in Architectural Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, concentrating in historic preservation and architectural history. She is a registered architect and a Certified Documents Technologist.

Bulley & Andrews’ director of historic preservation, Joshua Freedland believes “old” is the new “new.” During his 25+ year career, his expertise has benefited hundreds of historically significant structures throughout the country including Prudential Plaza and Nickerson Mansion in Chicago, Jackson Lake Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, WY, and the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. Joshua leverages his depth of knowledge in materials and construction techniques to preserve historically significant structures across the nation. A professional associate of the American Institute of Conservation (AIC) and past chair of the AIC’s Architectural Specialty Group, Joshua is an associate editor of the Journal of the American Institute of Conservation. He is also an active member of the Emeritus Board of Landmarks Illinois. Joshua earned a Master of Arts degree in comparative history from Brandeis University and a Master of Science degree in historic preservation from University of Pennsylvania.

William W. Tippens is vice president of architecture and planning at Related Midwest. Will is an expert in land entitlement, master planning and historic preservation. He manages and coordinates all municipal agency communications and applications relating to zoning, entitlements, building permits and other work with regulatory agencies. He is also responsible for managing and directing efforts associated with achieving historic tax credits, which are often combined with Low Income Housing Tax Credits.

Prior to joining Related Midwest, Tippens was the director of design review at the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning where he was involved in the expansion of McCormick Place and the relocation of Lake Shore Drive at the Museum Campus. He received a bachelor’s degree in architectural studies from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in historic preservation from Columbia University. He is a registered architect in the State of Illinois.

Tippens cares deeply about equity and inclusion, open space and historic preservation.

Brent Schmitt is an Architectural Sales Representative with over 25 years of experience and knowledge. Brent coordinates and networks with architects, developers, and contractors to secure specifications in brick, stone, and other masonry materials. He has made a great impact in the architectural community in the Midwest. He has expanded the company to include window and door products through its subsidiary, Fenestration Solutions Inc.

Mark Chiu joined Thornton Tomasetti in 2015 and has more than 15 years of experience in design of all types of exterior façade systems with a focus on sustainable design. He has in-depth knowledge and a specialization in building science, with certifications and credentials in the area of LEED design, NFRC simulations, and Building Enclosure Commissioning. Mark's project work reflects this area of expertise as it involves attention to thermal analysis, high-performance and climate-specific design, and testing/analysis of the building envelope systems. He has collaborated on several notable national and international projects consisting of complex geometries, intricate detailing, challenging performance goals and material uses, as well as reuse of existing structures for re-clad/over-clad envelope design solutions.

Ryan Ornberg is an Associate Principal at Krueck Sexton Partners, a mid-size architectural practice located in Chicago. Ryan is a conceptual thinker and excels in visualizing a project from early site approach and massing to performance driven design tectonics. As a project leader, he enjoys collaborating with clients and design partners to solve complex challenges in ways that promote design excellence. As a co-founder of the KSP Green Team, Ryan has a passion for sustainability. He brings this focus into a holistic approach in responding to urban and ecological issues that enrich human-centered experiences. Ryan joined KSP after completing his Master of Architecture degree from the University of Michigan. He also holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design with an emphasis in architecture from the University of Colorado.

Ben Mitchell, is Segment Manager for Architectural powder and liquid coatings at Axalta Coating Systems, a global paints and coatings company. He has a bachelor’s degree in comprehensive science as well as an MBA from Urbana University in Ohio. Ben started as a chemist, formulating PVDF coatings in the research and development lab in 1990, before moving into technical service, and then sales management.

Dean has a 30-year history in the building materials and construction industry ranging from quality management to senior sales management focused on the building envelope. His approach is solution based and consultative. Dean provides practical knowledge to help with design assist and material selections for projects. He has a keen interest in innovative materials and application methods for use on commercial façade projects.

Tobias Wild-Blatt is the Business Manager EU Ultraperformance Solutions at Kingspan Insulation Europe.

He has studied Architecture and holds an eMBA degree from the Maastricht School of Management.

In his current role he is supporting the Sales Team of Kingspan Insulation Europe in promoting AlphaCore and Optim-R (VIP) to meet the increased demand in superinsulation materials and fire protection.

Tobias has over 20 years of international experience in the building industry especially in the area of mineral based thermal insulation materials. Before joining Kingspan he has worked with CALSITHERM, FOAMGLAS and Evonik where he was already promoting noncombustible superinsulation materials in the EMEA region.

Andrew Pries, Technical Sales Director at Boston Valley Terra Cotta, holds a BS in Architecture from the University at Buffalo and a Master of Architecture from the University of Michigan. With a focus on design development and leveraging diverse fabrication methods to expand the applications of terra cotta, he has played a pivotal role in high profile projects such as the Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) and 120 Stockton. As one of the coordinators of the Architectural Ceramic Assemblies Workshop (ACAW), Pries spearheads design development with the workshop teams, as well as the fabrication and construction of successful mockup assemblies.

Brian Abell is a Project Manager and Senior Designer at Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects | Partners (TWBTA). Since joining the studio in 2008, Brian has managed and been an essential project team member on some of TWBTA’s most complex campus projects including the Logan Center for the Arts at the University of Chicago, The Hood Museum at Dartmouth College, the Banyan Park Campus of TATA Consultancy Services in Mumbai, India, and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City.

Currently he is a Project Manager of the 19-acre campus of the Obama Presidential Center. Brian has led the design and implementation of the project’s envelope from Concept through Construction, among other responsibilities. Prior to joining TWBTA, Brian worked at Heintges & Associates as a Building Façade Specialist, working on a range of institutional projects including the Museum of Arts & Design, Atlantic Terminal, and the Brooklyn Botanical Garden Visitor Center.

Jessica Young, RA, joined Heintges in 2005, and has extensive experience managing academic, healthcare, and cultural projects with a focus on unifying building envelope performance with the Architect’s aesthetic vision. She is excited about opportunities to integrate opaque materials into facade design to meet the challenges of increasingly stringent energy codes, sustainability initiatives, and occupant comfort. As a Principal at Heintges, Jess develops office educational resources, provides training and mentorship for junior staff, and fosters peer collaboration through the firm’s internal R&D program. In addition to working on the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Jess has collaborated on complex, high-profile facades across the U.S. including the Corning Museum of Glass - North Wing Expansion, the new Disney Headquarters in Hudson Square New York, and the recently opened Paulson Center at NYU. A registered architect in Massachusetts and New York, Jess holds a Master of Architecture degree from Columbia University's GSAPP.

Tod Williams founded their New York-based architecture studio with Billie Tsien in 1986. Their studio focuses on work for institutions such as schools, museums, and not-for-profits. Some of their notable projects include the renovation of David Geffen Hall’s Public Spaces at Lincoln Center, New York, The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, and the Asia Society Hong Kong Center.

Their Current work includes the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City and the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park, Chicago, both currently in construction. He and the firm’s work have been recognized by numerous citations including the Praemium Imperiale from the Japan Art Association, National Medal of Arts from President Obama and the 2013 AIA Architecture Firm Award. Tod maintains an active academic career and lectures worldwide. As an educator and practitioner, he is committed to making a better world through architecture.

David Bott, PE, SE, AIA, joined Heintges in 2006, and holds bachelors’ degrees in both civil engineering and architecture from Carnegie Mellon University, as well as a master’s degree in civil engineering from Columbia University. In addition to his extensive experience with custom-designed building enclosure systems, David is also well-versed in the design and engineering of special structures and materials, including structural glass, cable nets, tensioned membranes, and ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC). He plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of education within the industry, where his expertise has extended to teaching building systems integration at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, publishing on the challenges of engineering slumped glass facades, and presenting on newly developed performance-based facade design standards. David holds the esteemed NCEES Model Law Structural Engineer designation and actively contributes to the ASCE 7 Wind Loads Subcommittee on which he sits.

Dr. Brian White is the Technical Manager for the Americas Glass team at H.B. Fuller Company, where he manages R&D and technical service. Brian has been with H.B. Fuller since 2010, starting as a scientist developing insulating glass sealants and progressing to build experience in applications utilizing hot melt, reactive hot melt, water/solvent based, and liquid reactive chemistries. Currently, he is active in the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA), the Insulating Glass Certification Council (IGCC), the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), the ASTM International, and supports activities the National Glass Association (NGA). He earned his B.A. in Biochemistry from St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He currently lives in New Brighton, MN and enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters in the northern Minnesota woods.

After graduating from University of Cincinnati in 1997 with a BArch, Lynda Dossey worked at KPF London (ProvincieHuis), DeStefano Partners (Division St Gateways | RiverEast Center | Citadel Center) and Studio Gang (Kam Liu Center | Lavezzorio Center |Aqua) before joining JAHN in 2011. She is currently a Principal at JAHN working on 1000 S Michigan and various other high rise projects. She has also been an Adjunct professor at IIT for second year studios and an External Monitor and Lecturer for the Diploma 2 Skyscraper Studio at the AHO in Oslo. She has served on various crits, juries and panels for universities, the AIA, the CAC and competitions. She is currently serving as a President of AIA Chicago.

Lori Day is a Design Principal with 25 years of experience in K12, higher education, residential, and community-based projects. During her career, she has led the design and implementation of many notable, award-winning projects. With a background in fine art and a passion for design, Lori brings a unique perspective to her work, seamlessly blending creativity, technical expertise, and an understanding of human behavior.

Lori actively contributes to the architectural community and currently serves on the AIA Chicago Board of Directors. Promoting design excellence, she serves as Co-chair of the AIA Chicago Design Knowledge Committee and organizes educational building tours of local award-winning architecture. Recently, she was selected for the AIA Chicago Honors & Awards Committee, further solidifying her reputation as a thought leader in the field. Other design organizations include the Gene Siskel Film Center Advisory Board, Chicago Professional Women in Construction and Chicago Women in Architecture.

With an unwavering commitment to fostering an equitable and inclusive design culture, Lori Day continues to shape the architectural landscape through her transformative approach to design.

With over 24 years of experience across a wide range of complex, high-profile projects, including the award-winning Shanghai Tower, Manila’s Finance Centre Tower and World Plaza, as well as Chicago’s Shirley Ryan Ability Lab and 333 North Green, Aleksandar Sasha Zeljic, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP® BD+C, strives to design beautifully crafted, high performing, and contextual buildings for clients around the globe. Setting high expectations, Sasha leads projects with complete client focus and delivers innovative work through partnerships. Sasha currently serves as a Lifestyle Studio Director and Design Director with deep experience working on developer-led Office Buildings, Residential, Mixed-Use, and Hospitality projects in the U.S., Asia, and Europe. He also leads the growth strategy across all Gensler practice areas in the North Central region.

In the professional community, Sasha is a strong contributor to organizations such as the United Nations and the International Council for Caring Communities (ICCC), where he participates in annual conferences. He has also served as a member of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), and previously acted as its Chair of Young Professionals Committee. He has authored numerous white papers, presented at global CTBUH conferences, and frequently lectures at universities in the U.S. and abroad.