2023 Staff Promotions

We are pleased to announce the promotion of several staff members in recognition of their hard work, dedication, and exceptional contributions to the firm.

In the Architectural Associates Group:
E. Peter Evanich and Donald L. Mouch have been promoted to Associate I.
Cesar Chavez and Scott Schultz have been promoted to Associate II.
Luke Marczewski and Christopher D. Woodfin have been promoted to Senior Associate.

In the Administrative Associates Group:
Elizabeth Becker and Kathryn Katz have been promoted to Associate I.

Additionally, we are proud to announce the promotion of Gregory L. Klosowski to Partner.

These promotions reflect the firm's commitment to recognizing and nurturing talent from within the organization and building a diverse team dedicated to delivering the best design solutions to our clients. These individuals bring tremendous value to our firm, and we are confident they will continue to contribute to our collective success in their new roles.

Please join us in congratulating all members on their well-deserved promotions!

E. Peter Evanich, Associate I

Peter Evanich, who has been with PH for 10 years now, is the new representative at PH's second office in Austin, Texas. Having recently relocated to Austin, Peter has taken the lead in establishing the new office and is actively contributing to the firm's business development efforts in Texas. Additionally, he is responsible for managing the firm's AIA 2030 Commitment, driving the firm toward sustainable practices and ensuring that PH stays at the forefront of innovative and environmentally conscious architectural solutions.

Donald L. Mouch, Associate I

Donald Mouch is an accomplished and skilled architect with extensive experience working on numerous project types, including banks, retail, single-family homes, master planning, and multifamily residential projects. His expertise has contributed to developing many vibrant and sustainable communities that cater to the needs of diverse groups of people. With his ability to take charge of projects across a wide range of size and scope to clients’ satisfaction, he is an invaluable member of the PH team. Donald is currently leading a number of developments as Project Manager, including Congress Lofts at St. Elmo, a 5-story 149-unit condominium development in Austin, Texas.

Scott Schultz, Associate II

With over 15 years of professional experience, Scott Schultz has demonstrated exceptional design skills in both building design and master planning, working on projects of varying sizes and scopes across the country. Scott has been instrumental in some of the firm's most high-profile projects outside of the Chicago area, bringing his expertise to diverse clients and projects. His contributions have been particularly noteworthy in designing the award-winning residential tower at Fifth + Broadway in Nashville, Tennessee, which has garnered industry recognition for its striking design and exceptional contribution to downtown Nashville.

Cesar Chavez, Associate II

Cesar Chavez is a seasoned architect with a proven track record of leading successful projects, particularly in the high-rise multifamily sector. During his 18-year tenure at PH, Cesar has amassed an impressive collection of projects in the Chicago area. He is a highly skilled professional who expertly navigates client and consultant relationships. His approach relies on consistent communication to build a mutual understanding with clients and teams to manage expectations, foster a collaborative team spirit, and deliver successful results on every project he undertakes.

Luke Marczewski, Senior Associate

Luke Marczewski's comprehensive knowledge of design and construction, combined with his exceptional leadership skills, has enabled him to oversee a diverse portfolio of projects, including new construction and adaptive reuse projects of varying scales. He is equally capable of taking charge of small-scale projects single-handedly, as well as leading a team to complete large-scale developments. Luke’s dedication to seamless project delivery, attention to detail, and design acumen have earned him a reputation as a skilled architect and a trusted advisor to clients.

Christopher D. Woodfin, Senior Associate

Chris Woodfin leads his design team with 30 years of multi-national architectural and design experience. He has managed projects from conception through construction supervision in a diverse range of project typologies, including mixed-use, institutional, hospitality, commercial, retail, and multi-family residential. Chris has consistently demonstrated his ability to manage complex projects with high professionalism, working collaboratively with clients to bring their vision to life and delivering exceptional solutions that exceed expectations.

Elizabeth Becker, Associate I

Elizabeth Becker is an accomplished and thoughtful professional, who has played a pivotal role in driving the growth and success of PH. As a skilled negotiator, Elizabeth is capable of effectively coordinating multiple project proposals and navigating complex contractual agreements. She is highly valued for her strong interpersonal skills and ability to foster trust and collaboration with clients and colleagues alike. Elizabeth’s exceptional communication skills and ability to cultivate key client relationships have been crucial to PH’s recent efforts in opening the new Austin office in Texas and ongoing leadership in business development in the Austin area.

Kathryn Katz, Associate I

As the Human Resource Manager, Kathryn Katz has been an unwavering advocate for the firm's success, especially during the challenging times brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. She has effectively led the firm's human resource team in navigating the complex and rapidly evolving landscape of employment laws and regulations while ensuring the well-being of the staff. With her confident and reassuring presence, Kathryn has been a pillar of strength for the team and has provided invaluable support to the firm's leadership.

Beyond her outstanding work during the pandemic, Kathryn has also been a driving force in the firm's efforts to foster a positive and inclusive workplace. She has spearheaded initiatives to improve office culture and implement best practices that promote equity and diversity. Her exceptional leadership in these areas has been instrumental in helping the firm attract and retain top talent.

Gregory L. Klosowski, Partner

A gifted sketcher and creative leader, Greg Klosowski enjoys the design process, viewing it as an opportunity for exploration and evolution. His ability to balance creative vision with practical execution has yielded exceptional outcomes for his clients, with many of his projects earning industry recognition for their modern design and functionality. Greg has emerged as a trusted advisor to clients, developers, consultants, and cities, delivering dynamic mixed-use developments nationwide. Greg is currently leading the Paseo, a 48-story, 557-unit mixed-use residential tower at 80 Rainey in Austin, Texas.

Additionally, as a Fitwel Ambassador, Greg is committed to designing human-scaled spaces that promote walkability and public health. He recognizes the importance of pedestrian-friendly designs, especially in urban settings, and works with his team to incorporate these principles into his projects.

Greg's experience prior to joining PH includes founding his own architecture and design practice in Oakland, California, in 2001, where he received local recognition for his work. His entrepreneurial background allows him to bring a unique perspective to PH, which he leverages to enhance his business development strategies at the firm.

In addition to his design expertise, Greg is also a member of the HR committee and works closely with the next generation of PH talent to elevate design and redefine office culture. He brings a strong work ethic to each project, fostering creativity and a growth mindset among his team members. In his new position as Partner, Greg will continue to set office standards, leading by example and mentoring junior architects to ensure the highest quality and dedication to design innovation.

November 28, 2022November 28, 2022

America By Design: NEXT Apartments

Timothy Kent and Greg Klosowski participated in CBS's new TV series, America ByDesign: Architecture, walking viewers through the design of NEXT Apartments - a 28-story residential tower situated in Chicago's River North neighborhood. NEXT Apartments, which earned a 3 Green Globes rating, was selected as a feature project by one of the show's sponsors, Green Globe Initiative. The building illustrates an excellent example of asustainable, high-functioning architecture for urban dwellers. Check out episode 3 to see Tim and Greg in action!

The full series is available to stream on the CBS News Streaming Network and YouTube @ByDesignTV.

December 17, 2021December 17, 2021

Illinois Forest Preservation Photo Exhibit

Ken DeMuth, AIA, is a recognized expert in adaptive reuse and historic preservation of buildings. Still, his passion for conservation extends beyond architecture to Illinois's natural forests and prairies. Ken is a member of the Spring Creek Stewards that volunteers in the 7,000 acre Spring Lake Forest Preserve and often spends his time out of the office to keep invasive species away and help restore the land to its “pre-settlement” condition. His efforts include historic settlement research, landscape documentation, and botany-related fieldwork coordinated with Forest Preserve naturalists to reverse engineer the original prairie state.

While Ken has been actively working to restore the natural landscapes of Illinois, he has managed to capture on camera some extraordinary moments in nature. Ken was invited to display his collection of photographs at the Citizens of Conservation Art Show. Below are Ken’s photos from the art show and a few others from his private collection!

Royal Catchfly, Coneflowers and Wild Bergamot

November 1, 2021November 19, 2021

Carissa Davis Promoted to Controller

June 27, 2021July 27, 2021

An Urban Project: 465 North Park

AN URBAN PROJECT: 465 NORTH PARK

Three key factors needed to be addressed at the site of 465 North Park: the built environment, the natural environment, and the social context. The project is sited in the city’s prestigious Streeterville neighborhood at the gateway to one of Chicago’s most famous tourist destinations, Navy Pier. The city block that the building is located borders the Chicago River to the South, Lake Michigan and the Ogden Slip to the East, and North Columbus Drive, one of nine routes that link the northern and southern halves of the city, flanks the block to the West. Surrounding the site is historic architecture and commercial buildings, including the modern Loews Tower and the Chicago Tribune Tower whose view corridor restricted the height of construction on the southern portion of the site.

“The elegantly curved facades of the elliptical towers provide visual relief (as opposed to harsh corners) by opening up sightlines past the building in all directions towards iconic buildings (built environment) and towards the lake (natural environment).” - Christopher Chiu

The chosen plan was one derived from an overlay of three ellipses. Christopher Chiu, who was an integral part of the CD and CA stages of the project, remarks, “the elegantly curved facades of the elliptical towers provide visual relief (as opposed to harsh corners) by opening up sightlines past the building in all directions towards iconic buildings (built environment) and towards the lake (natural environment).” This approach engaged the rectangular Loews Tower as a more organic counterpart. Its slender profile pushed to the corner made 465 North Park seem the taller of the pair from some angles. The elliptical plans were overlaid and canted in a way that conserves the Tribune Tower’s sightlines, allows for sweeping panoramic views in all directions, and admits natural light across the entire depth of the floor plates. The full-height window walls reflect the immediate context, thereby further reducing the appearance of a visual obstruction when viewed from the exterior.

At a social level, 465 North Park receives heavy foot traffic from those who work in the city as well as tourists. With the north facade of the building base making up a part of the street wall that leads to Navy Pier, there was an opportunity for visual as well as physical interaction between the building and the pedestrians. The elliptical form of the tower flows down to the front, southwest corner of the site, allowing the tower to engage the street and bring focus to the first floor retail spaces. The tower masses are thoughtfully pulled back from the property lines above the 4-story podium to divert its imposing height from the street level. An internal parking lot rising five stories inside the core is screened from view by residential units wrapping the lower floors along the two primary street fronts. Heather Faircloth designed the laminated dwellings on the face of the garage podium which both hides the parking garage and creates active space above the retail that further strengthens the urban connection. The 2-story loft-style townhome units just under the 6th-floor amenity deck are high enough off the ground to reduce noise from the city and still enjoy people watching on the street below. These units at the base of the building are some of the most expensive and sought-after rentals in the development.

Exchanges within the building mass are also treated as an extension of the social context. Interaction is encouraged through the open floor plans of the nearly one acre of interior and exterior amenity spaces spread over three different levels. The amenity spaces include lounges in both expansive and intimate settings, a business center, conference room, demonstration kitchen and dining room, swimming pool, and lushly landscaped gardens. Replete with high-end finishes and details, Christopher Chiu notes how "the amenity draws residents to linger, socialize or explore while soaking up the views on all sides.” Despite the sprawling size of the main amenity deck on the 6th floor, residents get a sense of being cradled inside the urban context with a direct connection to the city. The niche dining and grilling stations, fire pits and planters scattered throughout the amenity decks also provide semi-confined spaces for smaller-scale interactions without giving up the views.

May 26, 2021June 1, 2021

Georgi Todorov Recognized at International Design Competition – Low-Rise LA

GEORGI TODOROV RECOGNIZED AT INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION - LOW-RISE LA

Earlier this year, several PH staff members entered in the Low-Rise: Housing Ideas for Los Angeles Design Challenge, proposing urban residential design and planning solutions for various Los Angeles neighborhood contexts. Four PH teams took on this challenge to engage in imaginative thinking and derive targeted solutions for affordability, quality of life, and community enhancement.

Georgi Todorov and Petya Petrova's ABC (Affordable Back Cottage) proposal was recognized with an Honorable Mention in the Subdivision category with the jury stating their proposal “...has the potential to produce housing solutions for Los Angeles with wide impact”.

Georgi’s active engagement in creative, thoughtful solutions for our diverse urban environments are at the heart of his body of work - both in his work at PH and in his engagement through outlets such as Low-Rise LA. We are thrilled Georgi has received this well-deserved recognition and proud of the great work by all of the teams from PH.

Click on the links below to see all PH submissions!

The ABC (Affordable Back Cottage)

Team Members: Georgi Todorov, Petya Petrova

Honorable Mention, Subdivision Category

Despite being the smallest structure, we believe the subdivision category will have the biggest impact globally on LA while keeping existing buildings intact. Property owners would have the opportunity to sell land and generate savings, while lower-income individuals would have the opportunity to get significantly more affordable homes by investing in a small piece of land with existing infrastructure. Following the recommendations from the community engagement listening sessions, our proposal strays from too modern of a look in order to avoid the sense of gentrification and displacement in the community. Without focusing on a particular site, our design merges seamlessly in the wide variety of sub-characteristics of the different LA lower-income neighborhoods.

Go to Georgi's design submission >

Daybreak

Team Members: Peter Evanich

Fourplex Category

DAYBREAK seeks to reintroduce nature into low-income developments by providing a communal courtyard that can be programmed by the residents. This outdoor space can be arranged in a multitude of ways including a barbecue and lounge or shared micro-farm. Three of the four units look directly onto this shared space, while the fourth unit gets a direct view of the street and front yard. The plantings in the front yard soften the street facade and provide shade along the sidewalk, contributing to a cooler local climate.

Go to Peter's design submission >

Modern Bungalow Courtyard

Team Members: Greg Klosowski

Corners Category

This proposal is a modern reinterpretation of a classic southern California typology, the bungalow courtyard. The approach takes a classic layout with a shared circulation and community space and adapts it to provide a variety of unit types and sizes. This permits a broader cross-section of neighbors, from affordable to missing-middle, to market rate, who would make this development their homes. This also places great importance on the central landscaped circulation, fostering greater resident interaction and connectivity through shared areas for exercise, outdoor dining, and gardening.

Go to Greg's design submission >

The Common

Team Members: David Mata, Adam Lavey, Georgi Todorov

Fourplex Category

The COMMON is a contextual courtyard development that introduces a higher density model that can be utilized in many different neighborhoods. It strives to address affordable housing needs by empowering an aspect of communal living within its own milieux. The intent is to connect to city infrastructure in a flexible and social manner.

Go to The Common team's design submission >

April 5, 2021June 24, 2021

Ask an Architect: Urban Architect

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN URBAN ARCHITECT?

In 1981 George Pappageorge, FAIA, and David A. Haymes, AIA, founded what is now Pappagoerge Haymes Partners (PH) on an ambition to re-activate the underutilized buildings and declining areas of Chicago, focusing on renovation and restoration projects. PH has since earned its national reputation as an innovator in contextual, site-appropriate urban architecture, boasting an imprint that spans from small renovation and infill projects to multifamily high-rise and mixed-use developments. We take pride in our ability to understand projects in their urban habitat and approach projects with aesthetically coherent and context-aware solutions. So we asked our architects, what does it mean to be an urban architect?

David A. Haymes, AIA, Founding Partner - "As an urban architect, one must address contemporary programmatic concerns yet have keen sensitivity to context (which, by definition is comprised of the built environment more so than the natural environment), recognizing and enhancing functional and aesthetic connectivity to neighbors, the street, the neighborhood, and the urban core through appropriate purpose, scale, mass, and architectural character.

The urban architect is also tasked with careful management of open space to enhance the urban experience, differentiating between, but threading together, defensible private, semi-private, and pubic spaces in the act of placemaking, to the benefit of the individual as well as the community as a whole."

Sofia Ramos, Architectural Associate - "Being an urban architect means juggling multiple different scales simultaneously. Of course, this is true of all architects but becomes particularly important at the urban scale because of its broader impact. What is built must respond to the scale of the existing context, the site itself, and the human scale, all of which tie back and contribute to the image of the city. Understanding the relationships of the different scales at play creates design opportunities for the urban architect to use the dynamic relationships between the scales to promote interaction & engagement- which is at the core of an urban landscape. Because of this, urban architects are responsible for building a reflection of society."

Jon Young, AIA, Associate - Being an urban architect to me is about promise.

Promise as an opportunity - the promise to create something worthwhile, something good, that will be experienced by many. Promise as a pledge - the promise extending beyond the client, to the neighborhood, to the community, to the greater urban environment - a pledge to enhance the human experience.

When at its best, it is about the collective promise of the past, the present, and the future.

Architecture in an urban environment affords us the privilege to have a meaningful and lasting influence not only on the quality of life of the individuals who occupy the work, but also on the countless others who will - now, and in the future - experience the connections, the scale, and the community our work helps to create and encourage.

Michael Henning, AIA, Associate - "Urban, specifically infill sites often come with constraints that appear at odds with the goals and dreams for the project, and the creative challenge is to negotiate the apparent obstacles and celebrate the opportunities. Not unlike any project but a bit more intense are factors like the program area and components versus what is entitled for the often encumbered site, requirements for use, access and location services to engage, environment, connection, history, being just a few. It should always be understood that the building will be in a provided environment/context, and this needs to be thoroughly understood for its given and potential qualities to improve or enhance its environment. These are often larger scale/taller projects and should be aesthetically understood at different scales, looking at and out from the project. Understanding how the project relates to its urban context should be like a "powers of ten” type exercise with the broad view, seeing how the building lives in the urban environment and then scaling down to how it lives with the street."

Greg Klosowski, AIA, Senior Associate - "An urban architect takes a wide range of scales into account and needs to be adept at moving fluidly between them as a project takes shape. For example, there are a number of scales we consider when designing large residential towers. At the largest scale, the project needs to be considered globally relative to its sustainability and its impact on the environment, both in its construction materials and techniques, as well as its performance for decades after its opening.

These projects also have regional impacts, the most notable is when the project is tall enough to add to the narrative of a skyline, in which case its form as an object needs to be considered. Views may be lost or altered. There are potentially long-reaching impacts to solar access for neighboring sites as a tower’s shadow can extend for a block or more. On a more prosaic level, these big projects bringing potential changes to traffic patterns or may impact the density of users for local public transportation options. Introduction of retail and amenities might impact patterns of pedestrian circulation.

Urban architects also need to appreciate the very local, project-centric social scale. Amenity decks provide opportunities for larger-scale socialization spaces such as a common swimming pool to more intimate opportunities, individual outdoor dining rooms, and fire pits. Understanding the programming and arranging successful spaces requires consideration for how people may organize themselves communally within a much larger framework.

Even finer in detail are the gradients of the personal scale to consider. At a semi-public level, lobby spaces and their finishes need to be considered. The drama of a tall lobby or the intentional intimacy of a smaller setting drives a project’s tone. The feel of Venetian plaster on a carefully designed spiral staircase is one of many opportunities to make architecture a more tactile experience. At a private level, we consider how individuals live and use spaces, working out enjoyable and comfortable homes within some very efficient spaces.

Concepts for urban architecture need to be strong enough to have a certain resiliency as the design often needs to work its way through a myriad of influences - not only the developer-client - but city leaders and planners, hyper-localized neighborhood groups, and the larger public. This strength requires a certain simplicity of the parti, one that can be woven into the project’s narrative. This story-telling compliments the visual allure of a project and gives the project a sense of added architectural depth, but it also simply gives the stakeholders - all of them - something to relate to and connect with in a positive way. Good urban architects are good negotiators, communicators, and consensus builders. Positive support and belief in the design and its idea will be essential to overcome the inevitable detractors and allow to be broadly accepted and embraced."

Read the full article on Urban Legends >

February 2, 2021February 4, 2021

2021 Staff Promotions

2021 SENIOR ASSOCIATE AND ASSOCIATES PROMOTIONS

In recognition of their contributions to Pappageorge Haymes Parter's portfolio, as well as their outstanding internal leadership within the firm, we are proud to announce the promotion of Greg Klosowski to Senior Associate, Christopher Woodfin to Associate II, and Georgi Todorov and Scott Schultz to Associate I.

Greg joined PH in 2013, after moving to Chicago from the west coast, where he ran his own award winning architecture studio. Greg’s striking design sensibility and generous nature have had an inspiring effect on our office culture. Notable projects have included 465 North Park, a LEED Gold apartment tower in Streeterville and 4400 Grove an ambitious 4.5 acre re-development project, including mixed market residential, retail and expansive green space in Bronzeville.

Chris joined PH in 2014, with a diverse career in design, spanning across the country and around the world, including as a former Partner with a firm in Athens, Greece. Chris’s curiosity and passion for sustainable, responsible design has guided some of our most innovative and complicated urban projects, including 20 E. Fulton, a LEED Silver residential tower in Grand Rapids, MI and The Collection, a luxury mixed-use development in Honolulu, HI.

Scott has played a critical role in the design and development of several key projects during his 10 years with PH, including EV in San Diego and SALT in Tempe, Arizona. He continues to make vital contributions to PH’s efforts in mixed-use masterplanning and urban design as well as diverse projects ranging from small retail to high-rise towers.

Georgi balances his technical expertise with his aptitude for thoughtful design. As the ultimate team player, he has contributed to projects of every size and scale since joining PH in 2014, including Wolf Point East and Alta Roosevelt. Georgi's positive outlook, involvement in the greater design community and mentorship of colleagues have revealed him as emerging leader within the studio.

February 2, 2021February 15, 2021

New PH Shareholders Announced

November 1, 2019January 21, 2021

The Old Colony Building: Pushing The Limits Of Design

THE OLD COLONY BUILDING: PUSHING THE LIMITS OF DESIGN

PH Partner, Kenneth DeMuth, AIA, presented at the 50th Anniversary of CTBUH World Congress on October 31st, 2019, divulging historical details behind the inception of the Old Colony Building and its recent preservation efforts. Ken's full essay has been published in CTBUH's "First Skyscrapers Considerations of Critical Buildings and Technologies in Skyscraper History".

Abstract:
In 1891, several Chicago architects hastily designed 15 downtown office skyscrapers to beat a deadline for a surprise building height ordinance. Incredibly, Holabird & Roche (H&R) would design five over a single weekend, four of which were built, and three of which stand as landmarks today. Among these, the 17-story Old Colony Building (OCB) would stretch the limits of contemporary design and engineering expertise with raft foundations, lateral bracing, and height, thereby creating a template for the speculative office tower. High-rise evolution and the role played by skeletal framing is much celebrated, but less attention is given to other aspects such as soil engineering, wind bracing, component prefabrication, and the emerging role of the specialized engineering and construction techniques required to realize this evolving new archetypal form.

As a truly American invention, the modern business office tower pursued ever-increasing scale, efficiency, and innovation to become profitable and competitive in the rapidly expanding city centers. The scheme for OCB provided a footprint exceeding the lot area on the reasoning that the greater construction expense was justified by greater rents obtained. Reducing masonry weight by increasing glass areas allowed load-proportioned footings to carry a taller building, stiffened by a first-of-its-kind portal bracing system. Former bridge engineer Corydon Purdy nested Bessemer steel arches between prefabricated “Phoenix” columns, allowing the narrow 17-story structure to offer unimpeded floor layout plans while spreading overturning loads across the wide foundation mats. Repetitive, system-based structural components and innovations in masonry construction sequencing sped the construction process.

2023 STAFF PROMOTIONS

NEXT APARTMENTS FEATURED IN CBS AMERICA BY DESIGN: ARCHITECTURE SEASON 1

MOMENTS IN NATURE

CARISSA DAVIS PROMOTED TO CONTROLLER

AN URBAN PROJECT: 465 NORTH PARK