LBBA Architects

We're beyond proud that BUILD received?AIA Chicago's?Lerch Bates People’s Choice Award for Community and Civic Project. ? This achievement represents the culmination of so many voices, visions, and tireless efforts. It has been truly inspiring to witness BUILD Chicago fill their new facility with life and expand the range of services they offer to the community. ? We feel honored to be recognized alongside all of the other outstanding nominees and award recipients. We extend our heartfelt?congratulations?to everyone who was acknowledged at?AIA Chicago’s?Designight 2024. We would also like to express our gratitude to the entire BUILD project team, including UJAMAA Construction, Element Energy Consulting, McKay Landscape Architects, Nayyar & Nayyar International, P.C., and EVA Design and Engineering llc for their invaluable contributions to this project.

???Project Progress??? The Anchor at Mariners Inn, is a $25.2 million mixed-use development in Midtown Detroit. The project is a partnership between Mariners Inn, the City of Detroit, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, and Cinnaire. This project will bring 44 supportive and 40 recovery housing units to the historic Cass Park neighborhood in Midtown Detroit, Inc.?and serve women for the first time in its nearly 100-year history. There will also be 4,400 SF of retail space. This is a huge step forward for the community! #PurposeBuilt #Midtown #Detroit #Construction #MSHDA

Plan Commission approves Legends South A3 at 4520 S. State The Michaels Organization | Brinshore Development, LLC | LBBA Architects | Brook Architecture

We are excited to announce another promotion--Kate Lengacher Cichon is now an Associate! Kate has been an integral part of our team for nearly eight years, during which she has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to our clients and their missions. Throughout her time with us, she has successfully led several large-scale affordable housing projects while always being a strong advocate for staff needs. Kate's passion for architecture was cultivated while at Ball State University. It was there that she developed a deep interest in architecture's capacity to support human connection, foster education, and drive neighborhood rehabilitation. These themes continue to be evident in her work on impactful projects such as Lucy Gonzalez Parsons Apartments, Heiwa Terrace, and Island Terrace. When asked about her inspiration to pursue architecture, Kate reflected back to her childhood: "My father and grandfather inspired me to go into architecture. They were both general contractors so I grew up on construction sites. I loved it and knew I wanted to do something related when I grew up. My dad saw me constantly sketching floor plans and had a hunch I might like architecture so he introduced me to some of his architect friends. I found my way into socially driven architecture that pairs my love for buildings with my love for helping people and haven’t looked back since!" Please join us in congratulating Kate on this well-deserved promotion!

We are thrilled to announce the well-deserved promotion of Ashley Wendela to Senior Associate. Ashley joined the LBBA team nearly 9 years ago. Since then, she has made significant contributions to numerous affordable housing projects and community centers, including La Casa Norte and Ruth Ellis Clairmount Center. Currently, Ashley is lending her expertise to the highly anticipated National Public Housing Museum and Dunbar Tower. With a keen interest in how architecture shapes everyday life from urban to intimate scales, Ashley believes in the power of design to create more humane, beautiful, and sustainable cities. She consistently pursues these ideals in her projects at LBBA. When asked about the most important lesson she has learned in her career, Ashley shared her insights: "Design doesn't happen in a vacuum. I've learned that the most successful projects include many voices, and it takes authentic collaboration across the whole development team. The architect's job is not always having the answers, but asking the questions." Please join us in congratulating Ashley on this exciting promotion!

Event Recap: Empower Austin—A Journey through BUILD and Aspire! CREW Chicago members and guests toured two transformative projects in the Austin neighborhood: the BUILD campus and the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation. ?? Check out event photos here: https://lnkd.in/gn4cS7d2 Participants gained firsthand insights into how these projects are revitalizing the community through youth services and workforce development. A huge thank you to our tour partners: Clayco for providing PPE LBBA Architects team (Jeff Bone, Tyler Brown, Kevin Taylor, AIA , Perry Howell) and BUILD staff for their impactful insights The Aspire Center's on-site team, including Cambrie Barowski (Lamar Johnson Collaborative), Alyssa Krause (Project Management Advisors, Inc.), and Blinderman Construction for showcasing the Aspire Center’s progress Learn more about these projects: BUILD (https://lnkd.in/eEYCkutW) and Aspire Center (https://lnkd.in/gKdrv5SS) We’re grateful to everyone who made this event a success, especially Natalie Hicks, AIA, CPHC, NCARB, LEED AP BDC Hicks (RATIO Design) and Amy Olson (Costello Sury & Rooney, P.C) for their coordination. Your participation drives our mission of empowering communities!

LBBA is proud to be announced as a Community and Civic project FINALIST in AIA Chicago's Lerch Bates People’s Choice Awards, presented in partnership with the Chicago Architecture Center!? ? Conceived of as a campus, the BUILD The Future project was completed in two phases. Phase I included the rehabilitation of BUILD’s existing 10,000-sq-ft building, and the construction of a new 41,000-sq-ft facility with an array of enrichment programs, trauma-informed therapy, and additional spaces that promote healthy futures for youth. In addition to offices, conference rooms, lounges, and a kitchen for the staff, phase II included 7,780 sqft of reservable professional office and workspace for community partners on the west half of the new building’s third floor. ? Support the project and VOTE here: https://lnkd.in/e-sZ7QVT Winning projects will be announced at Designight 2024 on Thursday, September 5.

Directly across from what once was Austin's iconic Pink House, Territory students (including our TIDE lab interns) showcased their summer projects at the vibrant 'Creating Space' block party. The site came alive as residents enjoyed custom-designed furniture crafted by our talented interns. These innovative pieces aren't just for show – they'll soon become a permanent fixture, transforming the site into a welcoming gathering space for all. Kudos to all of the young designers, Territory NFP for fostering creativity and community connection!?

Congratulations to the TIDE Labs interns on completing their final presentation! After last week's design critique, the interns revised the final design for a welcoming resting space near the Central & Ohio bus stop that pays homage to Austin's iconic pink house. Along with a new design, the interns presented the furniture that will occupy the structure. This week will be busy as our interns put the finishing touches on the structure. They're preparing for Territory's Creating Space event, which will introduce a new neighborhood gathering spot on the Central Avenue Corridor in the heart of historic Austin. This year marks our first collaboration with multiple organizations for the Labs program. We'd like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Territory NFP, MUSE Community + Design, La Casa Norte, and The Walsh Group - Walsh Construction & Archer Western for their invaluable support. A special thanks also goes out to the many subject experts who generously shared their knowledge during our Lunch and Learn sessions, Xochi our program liaison, and AJ our Labs coordinator (ft. a breaking pose). Want to see the final structure in person and explore other Territory interns' projects? Click the link to RSVP for the upcoming block party: https://lnkd.in/gkTqkzpm

As the TIDE lab interns approach their final presentation, we'd like to share an update on last week's activities. Our Lunch and Learn session featured two inspiring guest speakers Norman Teague and Symone Holmes. Norman, a renowned Chicago-based designer and educator, shared insights into his past projects and the sources of inspiration for his designs. Symone, from Chicago Women in Trades, provided an exciting introduction to the organization and highlighted the numerous opportunities it offers for young women in the trades. Following the presentations, our interns received valuable feedback on their pink-house-inspired shelter design from both our team and our guests which included interns from Chicago Housing Authority and McShane Construction Company. The remainder of the week was dedicated to refining the design and bringing it to life. The interns spent time at Territory NFP's woodshop, where they began constructing the actual structure. We're excited about the progress being made and look forward to sharing more updates as the project continues to evolve!