Lauren Kolek, a Project Architect II at CSHQA, never thought she would become an architect. When she first started college, she studied psychology, then transferred schools and changed her major a few times to fashion design and art history. While studying art history in the city, she took a Chicago architectural history class, which piqued her interest. After finishing undergrad, she went straight to graduate school for her Masters in Architecture. Now that she’s been out of school and practicing for nearly a decade, she knows she made the right decision because she gets to apply her artistic interests to a real-world application creating a tangible finished product every day. “There’s nothing better than being able to visualize something, spend time creating and refining it, and then see it come to physical fruition.”
She engages in every aspect of a project, from the initial client interview to the final punch list and building turnover. This experience has molded her into a well-rounded architect who understands how one decision during schematic design or construction documents can have an impact down the line during construction. Lauren has worked on various project types in the public and private sectors ranging from higher education, healthcare, industrial, commercial, and residential. “I love a variety of work and the new challenges each project type brings.”
Exceeding a client’s expectations is essential to Lauren. She pushes herself to continue learning and growing as an architect, so she is prepared in any situation with a client to offer the best guidance and advice. “I strive to provide a phenomenal service experience and an outstanding finished product.”
Outside of work, Lauren enjoys spending time with her husband and their young son. They like hiking with their dog in the local forest preserves, gardening in their backyard, and taking their son out on new experiences to restaurants, museums, and vacations.
Education
MArch, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
BArts, Art History, Columbia College, Chicago, IL
Licensing and Certification
Licensed Architect: IL
Professional Affiliations
LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP)
American Institute of Architects (AIA)