WE ARE a passionate community of friends & designers who believe in the power of design to positively impact the world.
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YOU ARE looking for someone who will listen to your passions and empower them through design to transform your community.
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Let's get connected.
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Steve Oliver, AIA, NCARB, LEED APPresident
Director of the Healthcare Design Group Steve joined BLDD right out of graduate school and has watched the firm grow from 17 people working out of one office, to over 60 people working out of five locations. He has a gift for managing people and problems, where he strives to effectively finding positive solutions. Steve is a goal oriented leader and has a vision for the bigger picture and an intense drive to see every project exceed client expectations. A good listener – Steve truly wants to make sure all voices are heard and their project dreams are accounted for. His experience has been founded on strong relationships with clients – relationships built on honesty and integrity.
Outside of the office, Steve enjoys spending time with his wife and family. Steve’s hobbies include fishing, traveling, exercising, playing the guitar, and he is a pretty good cook – especially when it involves the grill. Steve is also actively involved in leadership at his church. An avid Illini fan, Steve enjoys attending sporting events from his alma mater. |
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Bruce Maxey, AIA, LEED APPrincipal
Bruce started working for BLDD after graduate school and thanks to his strong affinity for numbers and spreadsheets he now serves as the Treasurer for the firm as well as the Principal overseeing Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Information Technology (IT). This passion, along with his educational background in structural design, makes him the perfect person to manage many of the firm’s largest projects.
When he’s not at work it’s pretty common to see Bruce with his two daughters or spending time with his wife, Jill, at an Illinois basketball game – they are season ticket holders. He also enjoys designing and building furniture or kicking back with a glass of wine and some sushi. |
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Carson Durham, AIAPrincipal
Director of the Religious Design Group With a little bit of southern charm and an infectious smile, Carson’s passion lies in creating great places that make a difference in his community. His architectural designs are inspired by history, nature, technology and human behavior. This Georgia native believes architecture and design is all about invention and innovation - inspiring built environment is all a part of human expression. He is also inspired by his lasting relationships with his clients; and you can definitely find him in his element when he is connecting with people of all walks of life.
Outside the office you can find Carson watching college sports, playing basketball, traveling, and finding a little happiness in just about every situation in life. But what really sparks that smile are his “two girls” – wife, Nicole, and daughter, Greer. They always make him laugh. |
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Mark Ritz, AIA, LEED APPrincipal
Mark is most inspired about the way architecture serves as a vehicle to help people achieve their dreams and aspirations. He believes that architecture is not about the physical structures; it's about what happens inside them. He enjoys getting involved in the in-depth problem solving required to develop solutions for clients that bring about high-quality outcomes, but more than anything he loves the excitement on our clients’ faces in early phases of design when BLDD helps them envision what the project could be. His commitment to our clients doesn’t end there, he feels equally rewarded to experience their reactions as the building takes shape and comes to life, exceeding their expectations.
Mark enjoys spending time with his wife, Raquel, and his children: Stefan, Isabella, Beckham, and Cohen. He especially enjoys sharing his passion for sports with Stefan and playing golf with Isabella. He admits that he isn’t a great golfer but that occasional beautiful shot makes him forever optimistic that he will get better. Lately, he spends most of his time with Raquel and their two young sons, Beckham and Cohen, traveling, eating well, listening to live music, and spending time with friends and family. Mark’s community is important to him and he contributes through his service the Boys and Girls Club. |
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Scott Likins, AIA, NCARBPrincipal
Director of the Senior Living Design Group Scott is the early bird in the office, which helps him get a little work done before staff arrives each morning. As managing Principal of BLDD’s Chicago office, each day centers on directing and mentoring staff to insure projects run smoothly and efficiently. Scott works hard to deliver complex projects within tight schedules. As Director of BLDD’s Senior Living Design Group, Scott also markets his experience and passion to deliver culture change within senior living environments. After work, Scott enjoys time with his wife and three sons who love to fish, play baseball and golf. Scott also squeezes in time to serve on committees at his local church, the Lockport Planning and Zoning Commission, as well as the alumni board of his college fraternity, Alpha Delta Phi. |
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John Whitlock, AIA, NCARB, LEED APPrincipal
Director of the Higher Education Design Group John is someone to be counted on... you can count on him to be a valuable resource to you and your team, a leader that will make your vision a reality, a partner that will bring levity to any situation, and someone you'd like to have an adult cocktail with after a long work week. John leads BLDD's Higher Education Design Group, but also has a passion for fitness and athletic facilities and an expertise in the design of secure and safe educational environments. John will be your partner and friend from the conception of an idea to its ultimate conclusion.
When John isn't developing 21st century learning environments, he is busy practicing what he preaches…reading a good book, watching his kids play a plethora of sports, water skiing, or playing guitar. You can be sure that John is always seeking solutions that will benefit and advance the education environment. |
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Todd Cyrulik, AIA, LEED APPrincipal
Lead Designer Director of the PK-12 Design Group Todd has been a passionate designer and planner for BLDD for over 20 years. He has spent his life devoted to improving the built environment around him and is dedicated to helping every project reach its full potential as an asset to the community in which it resides. Todd believes that the architect's supreme mission is to elevate the aspirations of everyone that comes in contact with the built environment, clients, users, community members and even pets. Todd's passion for planning and designing extends to his personal life as well. He enjoys serving alongside his neighbors and friends to plan community festivals, neighborhood clean-ups, and bringing Santa to town. He is former member of his local school board. Todd loves discovering new things and looks forward to sharing his passion for discovery with his entire family. In their free time, he and his wife, Angie, can be found trekking all corners of the United States in search of fun and memories with their own little group of explorers: oldest son, Evan and triplets, Claire, Owen, and Olivia. |
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Damien Schlitt, AIA, LEED APPrincipal
Associate Director of the PK12 Design Group Damien started with BLDD right out of graduate school and has been a part of the rapid growth the firm has been experiencing in the past several years, including serving as the Co-Director of the K-12 design group. His focus and passion are in PK-12 education - long range planning, programming, user group engagement, design and construction of PK-12 educational spaces and the impacts those environments can have on the learners of our communities. Damien works hard to further his own knowledge in the ever-changing landscape of the education field. With a deep passion for the importance of education and the ways in which it can directly and indirectly better a community, Damien looks to support his clients with creative design or planning solutions, striving to deliver ideas that exceed his clients' expectations . As a problem solver, he enjoys the challenge of the next project, the design opportunities that it provides, and the chance to help a district accomplish more goals, for less. Damien is a lifelong learner - reading and exploring a variety of subjects - from education, sports, history, and finance, to his deep love of technology and sneakers. A husband and father of two, he lives his life to provide for and enjoy every moment with his family to the fullest.This includes time at the soccer pitch, or watching the gymnastics competitions of his children. Damien and his family find solace hiking or biking through the woods near their home, or kayaking the Sangamon, or countless other regional rivers with close family friends. |
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Don HussmanPrincipal
Don entered the architectural profession as an intern in 1972 and worked as a draftsman for two very prominent St. Louis architectural firms for 11 years before becoming a registered architect. In 1992, Don co-founded Dickinson Hussman Architects with Dwight Dickinson. As a Principal in the firm, Don monitored and directed all design and planning efforts for more than 30 years. He is currently registered as an architect in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan. Don is an active participant in the American Institute of Architects where he presently serves on the Committee on Architecture for Education. |
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Justin Placek, LEED AP, Senior AssociateLicensed Architect
Justin has always had a passion for architecture and the ability to help create and manipulate the built environment. He is very detailed-oriented and enjoys the complexities of understanding how a building is constructed using various materials. Justin strives to create an exceptional client experience from design through construction. Outside of the office, Justin enjoys spending time with family and friends. He is a college sports fanatic who follows anything involving the University of Illinois. If the Illini are not playing, there is a good chance he is either watching other college games or professional sports. When Justin isn't cheering on college teams, he can be found hiking and backpacking. |
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Ryan Fuqua, AIASenior Associate
Ryan started his career with BLDD as a summer intern while still in graduate school, joining the firm full time once he graduated. Ryan has an enthusiasm for structural design and has become a leader of the firm’s structural group. He enjoys problem solving and developing creative solutions to difficult problems. Ryan's favorite part of the job? Visiting construction sites. He enjoys seeing what he has designed become a reality as well as learning how to improve his designs to make them more efficient. Outside of work, Ryan enjoys the outdoors. Most evenings he can typically be found taking his children to ball practice or to their next ice hockey game. When not at the ballpark, Ryan can be found riding his bike or working in the yard. Sundays are all about NASCAR. Ryan has made it a point to visit at least one new track every year. |
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Emiel Guede, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, AssociateLicensed Architect
Emiel started with BLDD in 2002 and every day since has enjoyed the multi-faceted project experiences that working at BLDD offers. During his time with BLDD, he has collaborated on projects that range from research laboratories to senior living facilities to elementary schools. Emiel is passionate about building science and enjoys creating details that are both energy efficient and sustainable while also enhancing the overall building design. In his free time Emiel loves reading, watching early silent films, gardening, cooking, and exploring as many of Chicago’s great restaurants as possible. Each spring one of the highlights of his year occurs when Emiel takes a day off to hunt for the ever elusive morel mushroom with fellow co-worker, Scott Likins. |
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Liz Kessinger, Associate
Project Administrator
Liz started with BLDD on a two-week temporary assignment and several years later that assignment proved to become a challenging and rewarding career for her. In Liz’s world laughter makes everything better and she shares that laughter with her husband and son, as well as her furry family members, a chocolate lab and several cats. She loves to cook and work around her house and yard on the weekends. Any chance she gets she heads off to a Cardinal’s game to cheer on her favorite baseball team. Don’t forget to ask her about her lifelong goal of making Dwight Yoakam, know he is her soul mate. |
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Ryan Jacobs, LEED APLicensed Architect
Ryan views building design as a “puzzle” to be put together to provide innovative and attractive solutions for the client’s needs. Every project in which Ryan is involved is another creative opportunity and design challenge to find inspired solutions working with the internal BLDD team, consultants, and contractors. Seeing the design and construction documents become a reality during the construction process is a passion of Ryan’s. Outside of the office, Ryan is passionate about traveling, cooking, golfing, sports, getting some quality pool time with the family in the summer, and trying to fill the winter months with as much downhill skiing as possible. Ryan stays busy at home with continuous home improvement projects and loves spending time with his wife, Alison, and kids, Mea and Mason before they're too old to need their parents. |
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Shannon RichardsMarketing + Business Development
Shannon joined BLDD with a wealth of experience building relationships. She loves getting people excited about the things that excite her. As BLDD’s Director of Business Development, Shannon enjoys making connections and bringing good people together. Previously, she worked in corporate retail for over a decade, creating and implementing change management, growing client base, and increasing retention. Shannon can often be found drinking iced coffee, scrolling Instagram with an aspiration to be a “cool mom”, and staying up to date on reality TV. Donuts, White Claws, and shopping are also part of her love language. She stays busy with her daughter, dog, and husband, creating fun memories with new adventures. |
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Kimberly Kurtenbach, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, REFP, AssociateLicensed Architect
Kim truly believes that the most rewarding experience as an architect is being of service to others and influencing their lives with the built environment she inspired. Living in India with her family and traveling around the world was her early inspiration, after Legos, Lincoln Logs, and dollhouses. As the daughter of lifelong educators, she had planned to teach high school art, but was encouraged by her parents to consider an architecture education. Designing a school in college allowed her to combine the two things she loved, architecture and education. After college Kim sought out BLDD Architects and has dedicated herself to the profession, and committed herself to seeing every project succeed. Kim’s commitment in service to others extends outside of the office as well. She currently serves on the Architecture Licensing Board for the State of Illinois, the Rochester Public Library District Board of Trustees, the Boy Scouts of America Abraham Lincoln Council Executive Board, and BSA Troop 58 Committee. She is a past president of the Illinois Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIAIL) and finds various opportunities to share with others how cool it is to be an architect. Kim enjoys hanging out with her husband (Tom), two sons (Gregory and Johnathan), and their extended neighborhood family. Whether their time is spent relaxing to an action movie, scuba diving, or participating in various BSA activities, there is never a dull moment in the Kurtenbach house. Art is Kim’s oasis. She can be found making scale miniatures and renovating dollhouses. When the weather is nice, Kim loves to be n her garden growing a variety of flowers. She keeps a sketch book on her night stand, for when inspiration strikes, and can’t help but pull out the old Legos from time to time. |
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Beth PayneDirector of People & Culture
Beth joined BLDD with 15+ years of HR experience, including the functions of Recruiting, Employee Relations and Engagement, Benefit Administration and Compliance. Beth graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management, and a minor in Insurance. Upon graduating, Beth started her career at Motorola in Schaumburg, IL as an Employee Relations Specialist. Upon moving back to her hometown of Decatur, she worked as an HR & Safety Manager for Ag Growth International headquartered in Winnipeg, Canada. Beth is the Vice Chair for the Macon County Workforce Board and is also a member of the local SHRM chapter. Beth enjoys spending time with her husband (Maurice), her two children (Leah-10, Logan-8), and her dog Addison. She is an avid Cub's fan and enjoys attending sporting events at Wrigley Field and her alma mater, Illinois State University. Additionally, she enjoys watching her children flourish in sports and other extra curricular activities including Baseball, Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis and Band. To start her day, Beth enjoys an Iced Caramel Macchiato each morning and spends her free time shopping for the latest trends, gardening and traveling. |
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Emily BrennanAccounting
Emily Hasty joins the BLDD accounting team after 15 years of working in accounting. With a love of numbers, she graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in accounting in 2005, and she's excited to bring her expertise to BLDD. In her free time, she enjoys music, reading, and watching her three boys play soccer and baseball. She also has a side hustle where she makes delicious baked goods! Her specialty is decorated sugar cookies. |
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John Maynerich, AIA, LEED APSenior Project Architect
Like so many budding architects, John realized his love for his craft when he was a kid, creating buildings from Legos and Lincoln Logs or any other miscellaneous item around the house that would satisfy his imagination of the built environment. Today, John’s clients cite his attention to detail and perfectionism as a few of the many reasons they love working with him. He has managed to blend his love of art (passed down from his grandfather who was an amateur painter), graphic design, and software knowledge to develop some amazing and relevant projects for them. John came from a large and loving Catholic family that instilled a great sense of faith and loyalty in him. He and his wife Margo have started a large family of their own with five children. He enjoys sharing his love of art, architecture and design with them. His good nature and experience inventing games with his six siblings is easily shared in the office, where he has come up with the Office Olympic Games and various contests – all in the effort to promote laughter and camaraderie. He also enjoys putting his graphic design skills to the test designing bottle labels for his family’s winery, traveling, sports, and just appreciating the finer things in life, whether that’s food, drink, art or industry. |
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Stacie HannekenAdministrative Assistant
Stacie recently joined the BLDD family as the administrative assistant in the Central Illinois office. Her previous experience involved case management and administrative duties at a community college in Adult Education, CDL, and the Highway Construction Careers Training Program. Stacie is a detail oriented ,people person who loves to learn new things. When she’s not in the office, Stacie is a mom and considers this her greatest job, accomplishment, and the absolute best part of who she is. She is also a self-admitted concert addict, a Cubby fan, and a dancing machine. |
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Candace FurgesonRegistered Interior Designer
Fascinated by the emotional impact that the interior environment can have on people, Candace loves how a well-designed space can energize and invigorate, soothe and comfort, cheer and uplift, inform and inspire. She enjoys entering a client's world to learn about daily activities and concerns, and designing interiors that will make life easier, more pleasant and productive for them. The opportunity to provide positive experiences for people--students, patients, professionals, and other members of the community--is what makes Candace want to come to work every day. In cold weather, Candace can be found curled up with a good book, but in the summer she’s on the lake, boating with her children and grandchildren. Candace and her husband love spending time with their grandchildren, (5 so far…but hoping for more!) seeing the world in a fresh new way through their eyes, and providing them with plenty of fun times and good memories to carry with them into the future. |
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Chris LeeDesigner
Chris Lee joins us from the Seattle area but spent his formative years in the Chicago's West suburbs. While having been trained as an interior designer, he embraces all aspects of architecture and believes a holistic approach to whole building design produces the most successful projects. Chris particularly enjoys the blending of creative expression with technical science that is at the root of architecture. He had specialized in retail design for the first half of his career, and the latter half has found him building an expertise in the senior housing world, where he is continually inspired by the nurturing spirit that is ingrained there. Outside of the office, Chris loves to be with his wife and two kids, getting outdoors, and sliding silently through the water in a kayak or sailboat. He might be found riding on his mountain bike on a single track trail or tackling another home improvement project. Chris really enjoys cooking without a recipe and improvising jazz and blues on his vintage tenor saxophone. |
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Jeffrey Byrkit, AIA, SELicensed Architect
Licensed Structural Engineer Since moving back to his hometown of Decatur in 2000, Jeff has worked on a variety of buildings at BLDD for all of the offices. As a structural engineer, the knowledge and experience he shares with his coworkers is a valuable asset to the firm. If his five children aren’t keeping him busy, Jeff enjoys spending time outdoors. Whether it is running, landscaping or gardening the fresh air is always a welcome reprieve. He also enjoys cooking and watching F1 racing in his spare time. |
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Zoey KoesterInterior Designer
Zoey believes that the need for shelter and structure will be a universal concern for as long as humanity exists. Due to this concern, she thinks that informed, research-based design is absolutely necessary in order to avoid the future spread of urban decay as well as to satisfy the living requirements of an ever-growing, ever-changing population. Zoey passionately works to fulfill human needs, structural standards, and ecological goals by adaptively reusing and revitalizing pre-existing buildings. She also believes that designers can only properly create these useful environments through a combination of applied education, evidence-based design, and natural intuition. In her free time, Zoey enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and sweet little dog. She also desires to keep up with her passion for ballroom dancing (especially West Coast Swing), knitting, reading Agatha Christie murder mystery books, and repairing homes on mission trips. Zoey hopes to someday spend her time working abroad to design and build infrastructure for communities in need. |
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Brandi HoltzscherReceptionist
Brandi brings years of administrative experience to the firm and is a pro at multi-tasking and organization. Brandi is a people person to the core and loves meeting new faces and forming new relationships with her colleagues. Her kindness toward her team and positive attitude help drive her success. When she isn’t in the office, Brandi enjoys traveling with her husband, taking long bicycle rides and hitting the lanes with her bowling team. She also enjoys games shows and hopes to find herself on the Wheel of Fortune one day! |
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Aaron Merchant, LEED APArchitectural Designer
Like many of his colleagues at BLDD, Aaron knew that architecture was his calling from a young age, though it wasn’t until later in his career that he discovered his passion for integrated design, sustainability, and environment-behavior. In a profession that at times has faced criticism for being too techno-centric, Aaron believes strongly in the value of architecture’s human dimension and strives to bring this sensibility to every project. “Whether we realize it or not, each of us develop deep and personal connections with the environments we encounter in our daily lives. As design professionals, it is our responsibility to make those connections as positive, ennobling, and meaningful for each person as possible. Architecture is as much about people as it is about the physical building.” Outside the office, Aaron’s creative outlets include photography, woodworking, and the piano (barring any woodworking mishaps). He is an ardent lover of music and cinema, as well as an avid trivia buff, Fighting Illini fan, golfer, skier, and enjoyer of quality time with friends and family. |
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Kendall OliverArchitectural Designer
After three years working for firms in Utah and Maryland, specializing in urban design and religious architecture around the country, Kendall returned to his hometown of Decatur. He joined the Central Illinois office in 2017 as an architectural designer, specializing in religious design. He holds a master of architecture and design from Judson University. Kendall brings a passion for creating and designing buildings and spaces that will stand the test of time and seek to fit into the surrounding context. Kendall, his wife Emily, and their daughter Maebel live in a historic home on the West End of Decatur. He loves spending time with his family, exploring new cities, urban neighborhoods, and local food. When he isn’t riding his bike to work, you can find him rock climbing, brewing his own craft beer, or reading dead theologians. And he’ll never turn down a trip to Del’s Popcorn shop just down the street. |
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Taylor ColclasureArchitectural Intern
Taylor grew up on the job site of his father’s construction company, which sparked his interest in the built environment. To further his knowledge, he attained his bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Illinois in Urbana/Champaign. After college, Taylor expanded his design and construction experience with his father’s company. Later Taylor worked as technical support for Autodesk design software. Taylor is excited to continue broadening his knowledge and experience in the architectural industry with BLDD. Outside of work, Taylor enjoys boating, riding motorcycles, playing pick-up basketball, and watching the Cubs. He is an active member of his church and often chaperones youth trips as well as mission work in Honduras. |
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Tony CroslowDraftsman
Since the mid 1980's (and the days of pencil drafting), Tony has been a part of the BLDD family and has experienced the growth and success of the firm, not to mention the push forward to 3D computer modeling. Taking it all in stride, Tony enjoys the teamwork aspect of producing construction documents. He specializes in roofing design and often provides consultation and mentoring to the staff in this capacity. At home, Tony's architectural interest continues with the many home improvements that he and his wife undertake on their late nineteenth century home. |
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Chris Simsmarketing + graphic design
Designer by trade, creative by nature, Chris has been involved in the arts his entire life. From a young age he has been singing, drawing, building, acting, designing, and writing. Passionately creative to the core, Chris seeks opportunities to acquire new skills and a fresh point of view. He applies these methods and perspectives to design challenges and offers unexpected solutions to bring insight to his projects. In his free time, Chris enjoys spending time with his wife and their five children, cooking, singing show tunes, avoiding yard work, cheering on the Golden State Warriors, water balloon wars, watching movies, and making each other laugh. |
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Zach Wallace, AIA, NCARBLicensed Architect, Junior Designer
As a child, Zach always had an interest in how things were put together and constructed. His father, a carpenter, would clear off the dining room table and roll out large sets of drawings and review parts of the plans and details of how he would construct it in the field. From this experience, Zach has become a detail-oriented architect focusing on understanding the relationship between design intent and constructability. Zach appreciates working closely with clients to help bring their ideas to reality and enhancing the user experience and built environment of the community. Zach completed his Bachelor and Master of Architecture degrees from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Outside the office, Zach enjoys spending time with his wife, Courtney, and two boys, Everett and Arthur. Zach is an avid outdoorsman enjoying hiking, camping and hunting. Zach also enjoys driving and working on his 1968 Pontiac Firebird which he built with his father during high school. He is a passionate sports fan, cheering on the Chicago Bears, Blackhawks, and Atlanta Braves. |
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Kara Skul, NCIDQInterior Designer
Before Kara graduated with her interior design degree, she attended nursing school. She previously worked at Mercy Hospital on the Cardiac/Stroke Unit as well as in an Alzheimer’s and Dementia Unit. Kara wanted to continue pursuing her passion to help people by applying her healthcare background to design, creating beautiful interior environments with design quality and attention to user needs. When not creating interior spaces, Kara loves spending time with her husband, children, and their rescued dog, Taffy. She also enjoys being outside camping and fishing. Her personal interests and hobbies include running, painting, singing, and playing the piano. |
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Daniela GomezArchitectural Intern
A recent graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Daniela joins BLDD after having interned with the company. Daniela is inspired by how an increasingly urban population is transforming architecture into a field motivated by social values, making it more accessible to communities in need. Daniela was fortunate to find other salsa dancers the very day she moved to Champaign. Besides salsa dancing, she loves camping, road-tripping, and walking down the streets of a new American city whenever she gets the chance. |
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Ryan AyresArchitectural Intern
Ryan began at BLDD on a one-year internship and has returned full time in the Chicago office. He recently graduated with his Master of Architecture from Judson University. Ryan enjoys the design aspect of architecture and learning the many details of building systems and construction. Outside of work, Ryan likes watching any of the Chicago sports teams, water coloring, photographing different cities, or hanging out with family and friends |
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Sean Williamson, AIALicensed Architect
Since a young age, Sean has always been intrigued with creating architectural design. To pursue this passion and make it into a career, Sean obtained his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Southern Illinois University Carbondale within the field of architecture. Now that Sean has joined BLDD, he hopes to specialize in higher education and preK-12 design with a special focus on sustainability. Outside of work, you can find Sean in the sticks where he enjoys hunting and fishing. Along with the outdoors, Sean also plays hockey and enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, Jessica, and their rescue dog Easton. |
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Adam Stack, AIALicensed Architect
After interning several summers in the Decatur office, Adam joined BLDD full time in the Chicago office after earning his Masters of Architecture from the University of Illinois. Growing up, Adam always demonstrated interest in building things – from Legos to skateboard ramps and home improvement projects with his dad and grandfather. Now, he enjoys designing through the eyes of the occupant, perceiving how users will integrate with and experience their project. Outside the office, Adam likes to spend time golfing, cooking, and watching Seinfeld. Another passion of Adam’s is hockey. He began playing hockey at a young age, and is an avid Blackhawks fan. |
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Carrie Wade, LEED APLicensed Architect
Beyond organized, Carrie has been a great resource to BLDD and her coworkers. Always willing to volunteer her time to help her coworkers on projects, Carrie loves lending a helping hand and working in a team to accomplish a common goal. In her spare time Carrie enjoys reading, especially if the tale involves a love story between a Southern belle and the dashing Mr. Butler. Otherwise you can find her catching up on Mad Men or indulging in a run or yoga. |
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Nelson MusyokaArchitectural Intern
Growing up, Nelson’s passion for architecture mainly stemmed from the idea of turning a hobby into a career. However, after enrolling in architecture school, he became more interested in how architecture can effectively use space to create emotion, as well as community centric designs that incorporate passive cooling and heating. His goal is to learn more about sustainable building systems and become a licensed architect. When not writing/recording music, Nelson can either be found in the woods hiking, on Lumion creating, or at a concert enjoying some live music. He also loves to cook. |
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Shelby DavisArchitectural Intern
Shelby is passionate about sustainability and discovering how good design changes behavior and improves life. Her dream is to design buildings for communities and missionaries in developing countries that are completely self-sufficient and sustainable. She also believes it is important for them to be constructed from the region’s local resources while the design builds upon the historic culture of the area and pulls the community into the modern world. Shelby enjoys using her design skills to create anything, from star projectors to board games, with a laser cutter. She spends her free time captivated by the latest book, shooting with her longbow, or going on adventures to hike, rock climb, kayak, or camp. She hopes to fulfill her dream of traveling the world while she is in graduate school. |
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Ryan PickhardtArchitectural Intern
Growing up, Ryan's goal was to be an Imagineer at Disney. He was inspired by the fantasy stories Disney tells through their immersive lands. As he got older, he realized that he is more inspired by impacting people’s daily stories by designing good architecture that enhances the fabric of a city. This philosophy has driven Ryan’s understanding of architecture from creating massing to the architectural details. Ryan graduated from Judson University in 2020 with a Master of Architecture and is working towards his licensure. In his free time, Ryan enjoys almost anything engaging and creative, whether that be sketching, photography, or architectural competitions. Exploration is another way he occupies his time by discovering new places in his home of Chicago. |
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Douglas Draeger, AIA, NCARB, LEED APLicensed Architect, Project Manager
Douglas has a natural talent for working through challenging details with a desire to see them all come together as a cohesive design concept that is unified throughout the entire project. The most rewarding experiences of being an architect is to see when ideas and sketches come to life during construction and hearing clients explain how great their new space is. Douglas has a Bachelor of Architecture from North Dakota State University, but after living in central Illinois for over 16 years, he now calls Peoria home. Douglas and his wife, Kristie, have two cats and a dog which they enjoy spoiling and filling their phone’s camera roll with photos. They also like to constantly improve their house with various renovation projects. In his free time, Douglas enjoys waterskiing, fishing, golfing, and watching bad movies with friends. He enjoys summer the most, but if it’s going to be cold, there might as well be snow so he can at least get some downhill skiing out of it. |
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Deb MulgrewAccounting
Originally from Dubuque, Iowa, Deb spent 22 years in Wisconsin before relocating to Decatur. Deb has a degree in Psychology and was a social worker after graduating from college, but quickly discovered a love for accounting while working at a utility company in Madison. She is happy to be able to bring her diverse experiences to BLDD as Assistant Business Manager. Deb is married with four children. She enjoys traveling, hiking, boating, playing games with her kids and reading. Outside of work she spends time teaching religious education, attending her kids' music and sports events, and enjoying an occasional quiet night at home. |
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Brandan Larson, P.E.Structural Designer
Brandan joined BLDD with over 5 years of structural experience, including primary and secondary education facilities, industrial manufacturing plants, healthcare facilities, civic buildings, commercial buildings, and renovation of existing buildings. He has experience in the structural design and detailing of concrete, steel, wood, and masonry structures. Brandan graduated from Bradley University with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Civil Engineering. Upon graduation, Brandan started his career at Farnsworth Group in Peoria, IL as an Engineering Associate. There, he obtained his Professional Engineer (PE) licensure in the state of Missouri with aspirations to acquire his Structural Engineer (SE) license in the state of Illinois. Brandan joins the BLDD team enthusiastic to share his knowledge and to continue growing his professional background in structures. Brandan enjoys all things (American) football! He played the sport for 5 years and has been a fan ever since. His favorite teams are the Chicago Bears (originally the Decatur Staleys) and the Ohio State Buckeyes, but he can chat about football in general for way longer than any person should. |
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Kyle Fountain, LEEDGreen AssociateArchitectural Intern
With a love of urbanism and nature, Kyle spent half his career in Chicago, fulfilling his dream of contributing to the “Wrigley Skyline.” The other half he spent in Denver camping, hiking, and designing the built world around the Rockies. Missing family, Kyle, along with his wife and young son, moved back to Illinois where their passions for architecture and teaching first originated. In his free time, Kyle enjoys any opportunity to create. Whether it’s cooking for his family, making music, painting, or woodworking, his hobbies run far and wide. |
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Ashley Wiley, NCIDQInterior Designer
A creator and problem solver from an early age, Ashley has always been fascinated with architecture and the amazing ways design can be used to create solutions. This curiosity led her to pursue her education in Interior Architecture and to work on projects across the world ranging from Disney theme parks to United States embassies. Ashley and her husband, TJ, live in northeastern Tennessee after relocating from Washington, D.C. In her free time, she loves to hike, paint, swim, and travel with her husband. When she’s not outside, you can usually find Ashley at a coffee shop with a good book or creating digital art and renderings at home. |
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Rachel EmmonsSoftware Systems Developer
It’s hard to believe Rachel’s career as a software developer started when she was asked what she knew about Microsoft Access. Her response: “Access to what?” threw her head long into programming and in a role that she loves: problem solver. She thoroughly enjoys creating, implementing, and teaching new tools that continually get our clients excited about a new project. Of course, she describes herself as a “geek” at heart that is middle brained – just the right mix of creative and technical. At home, she enjoys playing games with her daughters, Holly, and Gracie, and just being silly (especially with her oldest daughter who shares her goofy sense of humor.) Her youngest has started to show her mother’s affinity for all things analytical and recently created a chart of how much her family loves each other – it’s now proudly displayed on Rachel’s wall next to her desk and tends to spark a lot of conversation. When time permits, she spends time with her girls doing crafty projects like decorating the Christmas tree solely in construction paper snowflakes and paper doll gingerbread men. If you are looking for a “killer” themed-birthday party, Rachel’s kids can tell you that their mom plans parties that get their classmates and parents talking. |
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Kayla PeckArchitectural Intern
Growing up with a father who was constantly working on a project, Kayla quickly grew a curiosity with the built world, and soon started looking into architecture. This sprung from the idea of creative problem solving with the projects she worked on. She feels design is not only about the aesthetics, but how well the object (or building) functions once the project is done. Outside of her internships and working towards her Masters degree, Kayla enjoy creating her own personal work. From a large foundation of artistic friends and family, she works with a variety of crafts such as ceramics, stained glass making, and is currently pushing to sharpen her woodworking skills. Overall, Kayla strives to know how the world is built by being as hands-on as much as she can. |
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Casey BoltMarketing + Business Development Coordinator
Growing up, Casey always had a passion for creating and problem solving. Throughout her Graphic Design studies at Millikin, she took an interest in marketing and building brand voices. She grew these skills as a Marketing Manager at a local tanning salon, where she planned and implemented social media campaigns to grow the brand's online presence. As M+BD Coordinator at BLDD, she strives to grow the BLDD voice and highlight clients' unique architectural journeys in meaningful ways. Outside of work, you will find Casey at the gym or hanging out on the boat with her family. She also enjoys traveling and spending time with her significant other Colton. When she is not busy, she loves to watch Friends with her cat Alvin and dog Ollie. |
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Chrissy VanDeVelde,
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Benjamin HofstetterArchitectural Intern
Ben started his architectural aspirations as an 8-year-old by drawing floor plans for Lego houses and a future dream treehouse. He started his undergraduate degree at Illinois Central College and transferred to the University of Wisconsin to receive a Bachelor of Science in Architecture. Ben's professional journey began by working construction, doing everything from demolition to excavation, roofing, and railings. While in the field, he was able to see how buildings are put together and learn how the building envelope is closed. Ben brings the knowledge he gleaned from the field into the office to better understand the specialty each trade applies to projects. Ben and his wife live in historic Washington, IL, in a house built in the 1800s. On weekends, they like to go on long walks with their German Shepard. In his spare time, Ben he enjoys woodworking and metalworking in his small shop, fixing things, and building furniture. |
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Alexis DickMarketing + Graphic Design Coordinator
Although new to BLDD, Alexis is passionate about getting her hands onto layout design and is eager to bring positive and fresh energy to the team! Alexis attended Blackburn College where she started her graphic design career early in the Public Relations office at the college. She recently worked with the Urbana Park District for two years, where she was the sole designer and creative outlet for the company. Now that Alexis is officially a BLDDer, she is excited to dive into a deeper love for design. In the summertime, you will find Alexis at the Farmer City Raceway watching her dad and other family members race dirt cars. She also joins her significant other Michael on their local lake where they hang out on house boats and go fishing early in the mornings. Along with summer, Alexis stays increasingly active during the fall; you can find her photographing clients for her photography business and Assistant Coaching volleyball at her local school district. When she is not busy, she loves to watch horror movies with Michael and her three cats, Sydney, Ringo and Smokey along with her dog Daisy Duke. |
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Stan HamptonSenior Project Manager
Stan has over 35 years experience with a variety of project types. The last 15 years Stan has focused primarily on K-12 public education in the St. Louis region. As a Senior Project Manager, he is involved in all phases and aspects of projects from conceptual design through final completion. His primary roles include overseeing the design team during preparation of construction documents and construction administration. |
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Tess RigdonInterior Designer
A 2020 graduate of Mississippi State University’s Interior Design program (go bulldogs!!), Tess joins BLDD after five years of residential design in Starkville, Mississippi. Outside of the office, Tess, her soon to be husband Sebastian, and their son Grayson enjoy time with family, friends, and their two fur babies, Vader and Arwen. Tess also enjoys painting, gardening (or attempting to garden ), and the occasional game of disc golf. |
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Pam RodebaughLead Interior Designer
Valuing the use of color, Pam realized early on her passion to create exciting learning environments for children and has since focused solely on the design of educational facilities. Pam has substantially contributed to a vast array of school projects ranging from higher education facilities to elementary and secondary schools to early childhood facilities. Her eagerness to take on design challenges and ability to explore the use of new materials provide her with the innovative tools needed to develop exceptional student-centered spaces. Pam integrates idea flow cohesively between members of the design team as projects materialize during the programming and conceptual phases on through design and construction. |
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Sally SheridanAdministrative Assistant
Sally's career started as a Graphic Designer intern at William Tao & Associates Engineering Firm. From there she began learning drafting by hand as well as working in the Design Department. Once getting married and having her son, Sally wanted to have a more flexible schedule so she obtained her Real Estate License and pursued this path for many years. As her child grew into an adult, she wanted a more stable, yet flexible part time position that would include her many years of administrative and customer service experience. This landed her at DHA where she has dedicated nearly 10 years of her career. Sally is a dedicated and loyal employee and can wear many hats as she enjoys developing relationships! |
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Jeremy MarquardtArchitectural Designer
Jeremy started his career in 1998 as a CAD Drafter working for Ittner Architects in St. Louis, Missouri and spent 9 years with them learning the industry. With Ittner Architects Jeremy had the opportunity to work on numerous projects learning and using AutoCAD to its fullest potential. After Ittner Architects, Jeremy worked as a Project Manager for Foreman Fabricators for 10 years. Foreman Fabricators is a custom fabrication shop specializing in anything and everything metal. While working as a Project Manager for Foreman Fabricators Jeremy ran many projects from design concept through installation, working with the customer every step of the way. From Foreman Fabricators Jeremy went back into architecture and currently works as a Project Architect helping on and running projects from design concept through construction and CA. |
Meet our team, you'll like them! (each comes programmed with at least three jokes!)
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Because Life Deserves DesignMore than a clever acronym for BLDD; it's a way of life.
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1929Being in continual architectural practice since 1929 doesn't make us feel old - just the opposite. We've thrived and grown thanks to loads of experience, a commitment to being future-focused, and a strong multi-disciplinary team.
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65+Awards and distinctions. From sustainability to interior design, we give our all to every client, and it shows.
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~17Employees who love bringing fresh produce from their gardens for our office kitchens. When we say we take pride in what we create, we mean it (so don't mess with Liz's zucchini muffins).
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Grow with us! |
Design driven. Service focused. Laughter infused. Sound like you? Say hello!
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Do you see the world through a unique lens? Are you a creative thinker who sees the art in everything around you? Do you believe in the power of great design? At BLDD Architects, we do. Why? Because Life Deserves Design!
BLDD Architects is searching for students to recognize for their potential in contributing to the world of architecture, interior design or graphic design. Learn more and fill out the scholarship application. |
Because Life Deserves Design Scholarship |