Mark Ritz
AIA, NCARB, LEED AP
Principal | Director of Higher Education Design
Mark earned his Bachelor of Architecture from UIUC in 1986 and started his career at Upchurch & Associates in Mattoon. He then pursued his Master's at UIUC, graduating in 1989 with a focus on structural engineering. Mark joined Donohue & Associates in Schaumburg for a year before coming to BLDD's Champaign office in 1990.
Initially specializing in structural design, Mark expanded his role to project architect and eventually found his passion in project management. He thrives on leading teams and finds his work in K-12 education to be the most rewarding.
Get To Know Me
Favorite stress relievers
Smashing a tennis balls from the ball machine at the tennis center.
Favorite project
Designing the addition and renovation of my kids' school, South Side Elementary, was especially rewarding.
Quote you live by/favorite movie quote
I love Clint Eastwood's lines in the Unforgiven scene when he talks to his young outlaw partner about the assassination they just committed.
"It's a hell of thing killin' a man; you take away all he's got and all he's ever gonna have."
I'm not sure if those are words to live by but it's such a powerful scene.
"It's a hell of thing killin' a man; you take away all he's got and all he's ever gonna have."
I'm not sure if those are words to live by but it's such a powerful scene.