Agenda

Dionne Darling has been with The A|N Media Group for over six years. As A|N’s Associate Publisher, she manages A|N’s Texas headquarters and handles accounts in the West, Southwest and Europe territories. Dionne has over 28 years of direct B2B sales, management and business development experience.

Stephen Katz, AIA, LEED AP BD+C is a Senior Associate and Technical Director at Gensler. Stephen has worked and lectured in the United States, Asia and Europe and has authored papers about façade design, intelligent building technology and sustainability. Stephen is the founder of Gensler Enclosures; a group dedicated to innovation and research for building enclosure design. Stephen has played strategic positions on award winning projects including the Johnson Controls Asia-Pacific Headquarters, the Willis Tower Repositioning Project and the Kohler Global Communications Headquarters to name a few. He favors an inclusive design process which recognizes the importance of teamwork, listening and the power of imagination. Stephen is a licensed Architect, a member of the American Institute of Architects, the AIA National Building Performance Advisory Group and is a LEED Accredited Professional. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hobart College and a Master of Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis.

Ashley Rogow is an architectural and technical designer at Gensler Chicago. Originally from Ann Arbor, she moved permanently to Chicago in 2008 to study studio drawing at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. After spending time working in photography, marketing, and teaching, Rogow received her Master of Architecture from UIC in 2016 and started work at Gensler immediately following. While in school, she served as a teaching assistant for Architectural Theory and interned with FGM Architects.

In her time at Gensler, Rogow has worked on a variety of confidential office buildings, taking them from sketches to construction administration. She has primarily been focused on the redevelopment of the Old Chicago Post Office, a 2.5M SF historic preservation and repositioning project. In her spare time, she enjoys rowing, traveling, going to music festivals, cooking, and of course – drawing whenever she can.

Paulina Szpiech is an Associate with BuroHappold and leads the firm’s Midwest Facade Consultancy efforts.

With a creative and multidisciplinary approach, Paulina focuses on solutions which meet architect’s and client’s goals. Recognizing the impact façade systems carry in lowering buildings’ embodied and operational carbon, she believes that implementing sustainability goals is a critical parameter throughout all design stages. Her portfolio of work includes national and international projects within the higher education, cultural, residential and commercial sectors. Paulina is also an Adjunct Professor at Illinois Institute of Technology where she teaches a facades-focused course

Stephanie Chiricuta joined Thornton Tomasetti is 2016 with a background in architecture and structural engineering. She started in the renewal group before switching to the façade engineering practice in 2018. She has more than four years of experience in façade consulting, design, engineering, and assisting in managing projects. Her experience includes structural glass systems, shell and other special structures, as well as glazed unitized curtain wall and high performance façade systems.

Education

• M.Arch, 2016, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• B.S.AS, 2013, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Interested in the craft of architecture and the applications of digital design, Lucas Tryggestad specializes in designing and realizing technically complex building systems. A native of Illinois, Lucas draws upon his Midwestern roots, as well as a global portfolio spanning five continents, to apply his contextual knowledge to projects both locally and abroad.

His project work includes 100 Mount Street, an office tower that is efficiently designed to minimize the carbon impact of construction, and AMIE 1.0, a research partnership between SOM and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory exploring energy efficiency and the applications of 3D printing.

Ashley Rogow is an architectural and technical designer at Gensler Chicago. Originally from Ann Arbor, she moved permanently to Chicago in 2008 to study studio drawing at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. After spending time working in photography, marketing, and teaching, Rogow received her Master of Architecture from UIC in 2016 and started work at Gensler immediately following. While in school, she served as a teaching assistant for Architectural Theory and interned with FGM Architects.

In her time at Gensler, Rogow has worked on a variety of confidential office buildings, taking them from sketches to construction administration. She has primarily been focused on the redevelopment of the Old Chicago Post Office, a 2.5M SF historic preservation and repositioning project. In her spare time, she enjoys rowing, traveling, going to music festivals, cooking, and of course – drawing whenever she can.

Wenzel is an architectural sales representative for YKK AP America covering Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. He has over 25 years of experience in the glass & glazing industry helping architects, general contractors and glazing contractors solve fenestration challenges.

Kyle Sword is the Business Development Manager for Pilkington North America and heads the company’s interests in historic restoration. He has worked for Pilkington for 20+ years, mostly in glass manufacturing. He has a Ceramic Engineering degree from Ohio State University and an MBA from California State University in Sacramento. Kyle is involved with a variety of different technological developments in the glass industry. His main business function is to spread glass education and look for new opportunities to provide value for customers creating products with coated and flat glass products.

Curtain Wall & Façade Specialist for the Strategic Accounts Division of STI Specified Technologies, covering the central United States and Canada.

Aaron joined STI Specified Technologies in 2015 and has over 30 years of experience in construction materials. He has conducted firestop trainings for STI, The International Firestop Council and to a variety of groups including; architects, engineers, consultants, code officials, inspectors and all types of trades. He is certified at Level 2 of Firestop Instructional Training (FIT II).

Marty Wood is the Program Director for The Architect’s Newspaper’s Facades+ Conferences and other AN events and initiatives that bring together AEC professionals to share their stories, expertise, and projects. As a writer, he’s contributed to The Architect’s Newspaper, Metropolis, and other design publications. He is also a visiting instructor at Pratt Institute. Wood has a BA in Communications from San Francisco State University and a M.S. from Columbia University GSAPP.

Michael Townsend, LEED AP is the Design Resilience Leader for the firm’s Mixed Use & Retail Centers practice and a Design Director, based in Gensler’s Chicago offices. He brings more than 15 years of design experience on large-scale commercial, retail, workplace, civic, aviation, hospitality, and education work across the U.S. and Asia. He strives to bring thoughtful investigation to every facet of projects and demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability. Michael develops, shepherds, and communicates design and vision on some of the firm’s most complex projects, balancing forward-thinking creativity with a foundation of informed strategy.

Maria is a lead collaborator in the development of iconic architectural projects. As a project architect at Gensler, her work portfolio spans from 11,000-square-foot boutique fitness to mega-developments like Steelyards. Most recently, Maria has been elected Vice-president of Arquitectos and CWA (Chicago Women in Architecture) as well as Committee Chair for “Arquitectos Colectivos.” Additionally, as a mentor for university students and young professionals, she is committed to bringing the architectural community together, advocating for Latinos and Women in leadership, and promoting initiatives that create opportunities to increase the number of licensed Latino architects.

Rick Kintigh was appointed Vice President with a focus on Architecture at Sterling Bay in 2021 after serving as Architect since 2012. With over 25 years of experience in architecture and design, Rick is responsible for managing Sterling Bay’s architectural analysis and design. Projects Rick has overseen have received several industry awards during his time at Sterling Bay, including SARA National Design Awards, AIA and IIDA Design Excellence Awards, and NAIOP Development Awards for several projects in the firm’s national portfolio.

Rick holds a bachelor’s in architecture from Iowa State University, is a licensed architect in Illinois, and is an active member of the American Institute of Architects.

Stephen Katz, AIA, LEED AP BD+C is a Senior Associate and Technical Director at Gensler. Stephen has worked and lectured in the United States, Asia and Europe and has authored papers about façade design, intelligent building technology and sustainability. Stephen is the founder of Gensler Enclosures; a group dedicated to innovation and research for building enclosure design. Stephen has played strategic positions on award winning projects including the Johnson Controls Asia-Pacific Headquarters, the Willis Tower Repositioning Project and the Kohler Global Communications Headquarters to name a few. He favors an inclusive design process which recognizes the importance of teamwork, listening and the power of imagination. Stephen is a licensed Architect, a member of the American Institute of Architects, the AIA National Building Performance Advisory Group and is a LEED Accredited Professional. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hobart College and a Master of Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis.

Ashley Rogow is an architectural and technical designer at Gensler Chicago. Originally from Ann Arbor, she moved permanently to Chicago in 2008 to study studio drawing at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. After spending time working in photography, marketing, and teaching, Rogow received her Master of Architecture from UIC in 2016 and started work at Gensler immediately following. While in school, she served as a teaching assistant for Architectural Theory and interned with FGM Architects.

In her time at Gensler, Rogow has worked on a variety of confidential office buildings, taking them from sketches to construction administration. She has primarily been focused on the redevelopment of the Old Chicago Post Office, a 2.5M SF historic preservation and repositioning project. In her spare time, she enjoys rowing, traveling, going to music festivals, cooking, and of course – drawing whenever she can.

Edward M Peck is an advocate for high-performance architecture, an educator of informed collaboration and a pioneer of innovative materials. With more than 20 years of experience in the design and construction industry, Edward has become a leader in innovative and performance driven architecture. His professional history is diverse; he has practiced as an architect, façade engineer and served as the design director for a leading specialty ETFE contractor. From these positions he has gained valuable knowledge from design and engineering to product development, manufacturing and construction. This diverse experience with complex and progressive projects enables him to be an impactful design leader and collaborator.

With over (17) seventeen years of industry experience Amy Preston organized Preston Design & Construction Consulting with a strong Design and Construction background. Prior to forming, she held several key leadership roles with well known Development Firms and Real Estate Groups. Most recently at Tishman Speyer where she was Managing Director overseeing the Chicago and Austin markets for all design and construction in owned assets, capital upgrades, new development and redevelopment. She was responsible for leading a team of project managers while working with the acquisitions and development team to implement their key projects in the Chicago and Austin market. . Amy has been involved in over 20 Million Square feet of projects, including commercial office (high-rise and suburban campus), residential (high and midrise), mixed-use, and hospitality. She has a strong leadership style focused on creating teams that believe in the success of each project.

Mr. Cinnamon is an Associate Principal with the firm of Wiss, Janney Elstner (WJE) in the Chicago, Illinois, USA office. His expertise lies in the design and analysis of exterior enclosures with an emphasis on glass, curtain walls, and fenestration systems and is a licensed Architect in the states of Illinois, Iowa, and Massachusetts. Mr. Cinnamon has written numerous articles on the inspection, repair/restoration, and replacement of window and facade systems. He has also presented seminars domestically and internationally on fenestration related topics including typical window problems, testing and repair of window and curtain wall systems, and typical glass failures. Mr. Cinnamon currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Fenestration Rating Council.

Stephen Katz, AIA, LEED AP BD+C is a Senior Associate and Technical Director at Gensler. Stephen has worked and lectured in the United States, Asia and Europe and has authored papers about façade design, intelligent building technology and sustainability. Stephen is the founder of Gensler Enclosures; a group dedicated to innovation and research for building enclosure design. Stephen has played strategic positions on award winning projects including the Johnson Controls Asia-Pacific Headquarters, the Willis Tower Repositioning Project and the Kohler Global Communications Headquarters to name a few. He favors an inclusive design process which recognizes the importance of teamwork, listening and the power of imagination. Stephen is a licensed Architect, a member of the American Institute of Architects, the AIA National Building Performance Advisory Group and is a LEED Accredited Professional. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hobart College and a Master of Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis.

Mariusz is a designer, teacher, and entrepreneur. He values the knowledge he has acquired from the cross-disciplinary teams he works with — from clients to consultants, contractors to teammates. He believes greater results are achieved through idea sharing and open communication.

With his education and work experience in Architecture, Urban, Landscape, and Digital design, Mariusz approaches complex problems from a holistic perspective. Throughout his work, he integrates technology in design and delivery. He is an essential part of the KSP team — a creative leader who creates spaces that respond to context and where communities grow.

His experience is diverse from residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments to master planning, urban design, and analysis. He is open and collaborative, maintaining a philosophy of always learning and evolving.

Mariusz graduated with distinction from Harvard University Graduate School of Design with a Master of Architecture in Urban Design; the Illinois Institute of Technology, Bachelor of Architecture – Cum Laude with specializations in Landscape Architecture, City and Regional Planning, and Digital Design.

Juan Villafañe, AIA is a tenacious leader and a big thinker with bold ideas for expanding the influence of architects.

He skillfully aligns resources and stakeholders to bring projects to life, recognizing the importance of connecting the dots to successful outcomes.

Juan’s architectural experience ranges from large-scale commercial developments to technically complex institutional projects. Recent work includes the redevelopment of the United Airlines — Terminal 7, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), the expansion of several U.S. Embassy complexes, including the U.S. Embassy — Buenos Aires, and the repositioning of large commercial buildings in Boston 125 High Street and International Food Market.

In every assignment, Juan serves his clients through meticulous attention to detail and commitment to connecting projects to their urban context. His hands-on approach to design reflects his training as a metal fabricator with specialized digital fabrication expertise.

Juan earned a Bachelor of Design degree with highest honors from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in architecture from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University. He spent a semester abroad at the Federal Technical University in Zurich, Switzerland (ETH).

Ashley Rogow is an architectural and technical designer at Gensler Chicago. Originally from Ann Arbor, she moved permanently to Chicago in 2008 to study studio drawing at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. After spending time working in photography, marketing, and teaching, Rogow received her Master of Architecture from UIC in 2016 and started work at Gensler immediately following. While in school, she served as a teaching assistant for Architectural Theory and interned with FGM Architects.

In her time at Gensler, Rogow has worked on a variety of confidential office buildings, taking them from sketches to construction administration. She has primarily been focused on the redevelopment of the Old Chicago Post Office, a 2.5M SF historic preservation and repositioning project. In her spare time, she enjoys rowing, traveling, going to music festivals, cooking, and of course – drawing whenever she can.

Dionne Darling has been with The A|N Media Group for over six years. As A|N’s Associate Publisher, she manages A|N’s Texas headquarters and handles accounts in the West, Southwest and Europe territories. Dionne has over 28 years of direct B2B sales, management and business development experience.

Ashley Rogow is an architectural and technical designer at Gensler Chicago. Originally from Ann Arbor, she moved permanently to Chicago in 2008 to study studio drawing at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. After spending time working in photography, marketing, and teaching, Rogow received her Master of Architecture from UIC in 2016 and started work at Gensler immediately following. While in school, she served as a teaching assistant for Architectural Theory and interned with FGM Architects.

In her time at Gensler, Rogow has worked on a variety of confidential office buildings, taking them from sketches to construction administration. She has primarily been focused on the redevelopment of the Old Chicago Post Office, a 2.5M SF historic preservation and repositioning project. In her spare time, she enjoys rowing, traveling, going to music festivals, cooking, and of course – drawing whenever she can.

Stephen Katz, AIA, LEED AP BD+C is a Senior Associate and Technical Director at Gensler. Stephen has worked and lectured in the United States, Asia and Europe and has authored papers about façade design, intelligent building technology and sustainability. Stephen is the founder of Gensler Enclosures; a group dedicated to innovation and research for building enclosure design. Stephen has played strategic positions on award winning projects including the Johnson Controls Asia-Pacific Headquarters, the Willis Tower Repositioning Project and the Kohler Global Communications Headquarters to name a few. He favors an inclusive design process which recognizes the importance of teamwork, listening and the power of imagination. Stephen is a licensed Architect, a member of the American Institute of Architects, the AIA National Building Performance Advisory Group and is a LEED Accredited Professional. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hobart College and a Master of Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis.