A Team of Practitioners
STUDIO
MONICA CHADHA | AIA, LEED AP
Founder and Principal Architect
Monica Chadha leads all aspects of projects in the office and serves as the primary point of contact on projects. Prior to starting her firm, she served as founding director of Impact Detroit and led project teams at both Studio Gang and Ross Barney Architects. During that time, Monica was integral to the design of award-winning, civic scale buildings, such as the Champaign Public Library and the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Civil Engineering Building.
Monica is on the Board of Trustees of the Graham Foundation. She was an Adjunct Professor at Illinois Institute of Technology from 2007 to 2017, engaging students in social impact design practices. She holds a Masters of Architecture from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Bachelors of Environmental Studies in Architecture from the University of Waterloo, Canada.
In 1996 she worked at the Vastu-Shilpa Foundation for Research & Studies in Environmental Design as a Research Associate in the Office of Balkrishna Doshi, on the development of housing prototypes for low-income communities.
IAN MILEY | AIA
Senior Associate | Project Architect and Exhibit Designer
Ian Miley is a licensed architect and urban designer interested in addressing socially-driven issues within Chicago. His passions include sustainability, comprehensive cities and a more inclusive public sphere. He brings a strong sense of detail and fabrication to the office. He has worked at a variety of scales and holds a Bachelor’s in Architecture from Oklahoma State University and a Master’s of Urban Design from Washington University. His experience includes working at WJW Architects and Canopy Architecture and Design. He has extensive experience in affordable housing with a focus on inclusive design and sustainability. He resides in the South Chicago neighborhood.
KARIN CHEN
Associate | Project Architect
Karin Chen is a licensed architect who values a team mentality, a holistic approach, and creative problem-solving. She has collaborated on projects ranging from small commercial re-models to intricate large-scale housing projects from design phase to construction completion. Her natural curiosity has cultivated a diverse set of skills in fields like affordable housing, accessibility, facade design and fabrication, BIM management, and product design. Karin has a strong investment in cities and public spaces and how design ideas can be implemented to serve the local and greater community. She holds architecture degrees from Columbia University and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
A native of the Chicago suburbs, Karin has lived and worked in San Francisco, New York, and Paris. She enjoys reading, cooking, traveling, and exploring city neighborhoods in her spare time.
ROLF TEMESVARI
Associate | Project Manager
Rolf brings over 17 years of architecture experience guiding projects from early design through construction. His work is rooted in community-focused design, with a focus on universal design, environmental responsibility, and the creation of meaningful, inclusive urban environments.
He brings a balanced approach that bridges design vision and technical execution - carrying ideas through the realities of coordination, detailing, and construction. His experience spans all phases of design.
Rolf has contributed to a range of institutional and residential projects, developing a strong understanding of how architecture performs beyond the page. He is known for his attention to detail, clear communication, and ability to navigate complex project conditions while maintaining focus on the larger intent.
Rolf holds a Master of Architecture from the Technical University of Munich. Outside of practice, his interests in board game design, graphic systems, making art, coffee, maps, and astronomy reflect an enduring curiosity about systems, patterns, and the frameworks that shape experience.
ELLA EDELSTEIN
Designer
Ella Edelstein is a designer-researcher based in Chicago. Her work includes public outreach, community engagement, design and strategic planning.
Ella has worked on various public installations and activations across the Midwest, exploring themes of storytelling, place, and environmental justice. Her experience ranges from archival research and community engagement to schematic design and construction documentation.
Ella holds a B.S. in Architecture and Environmental Studies from the University of Michigan where she was awarded the Wallenberg Studio Prize for her project “Curb Appeal.” She currently collaborates with Exhibit A and has worked for DAAM Projects, RuMoR Studio and StudioAPT.
COLLABORATORS
Our collaborators bring expertise in urban planning, education, sustainability, and policy; enriching each project with their specialized knowledge and contributions. Combined with our commitment to quality design and architecture, our collaborative practice results in projects that are deeply embedded in their context and communities.
David Keller
Senior Technical Advisor
David Keller has over 30 years of experience working with architects, owners, developers, and contractors to move projects from concept to construction. He focuses on maintaining quality, identifying issues early, and keeping teams aligned throughout the process. His approach blends practical problem-solving with a strong understanding of building systems and construction methods.
Now working independently as a senior architectural consultant, David provides design and technical support to architects, owners, and contractors. His work includes coordinating drawings, reviewing plans, and supporting construction in the field. He often joins projects early to assist with budgeting, planning, and design evaluations—and helps guide owners through the design and development process, offering insight to support informed decision-making.
His portfolio includes a diverse mix of housing, hospitality, retail, and institutional projects. Known for clear communication and a steady, collaborative style, David helps bridge the gap between design intent and construction execution. He has guest lectured at the University of Illinois at Chicago and has a strong interest in local urban history. Outside of work, he enjoys exploring Chicago’s neighborhoods and architecture—and playing tennis whenever he can.
Chana Haouzi (Architecture for Public Benefit)
Chana Haouzi is an architect, educator, and fierce advocate that good design can and should be for everyone. Chana is the founder of Architecture for Public Benefit (APB) and a licensed architect with ten years of comprehensive design experience. She leads design studios at the University of Chicago’s Art History Department and Illinois Institute of Technology’s College of Architecture. Chana has partnered with various mission-driven organizations, including Brookline and Boston Public Libraries, the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence, Aaron’s Presents, and YouthBuild. She is the recipient of the 2022 AIA Young Architects Award. Chana holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from McGill University and two master’s in architecture from McGill University’s School of Architecture and Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.
Gabe Moreno (Poco Projects)
Gabriel Moreno is a Chicago-based artist and designer. In 2022, he founded Poco Projects LLC, a design-build practice that moves between visual art, spatial design, and cultural consulting. He works with institutions, developers, civic organizations, and individuals to develop the ideas, spaces, and programs that shape how people gather and make meaning.
Moreno's approach is grounded in 20 years of hands-on fabrication — ceramics, woodwork, stone, and more — which gives his strategic thinking a rare material specificity. He has led The Design Apprenticeship Program at the University of Chicago’s Arts + Public Life , managed projects with Theaster Gates Studio, designed Last of the Animal Builders with Alberto Ortega at the Farnsworth House, and collaborated with architects, educators, and civic organizations across Chicago's South Side.
He holds an MFA from the University of Chicago and degrees from Knox College. His artwork has been exhibited at the National Museum of Mexican Art, Hyde Park Art Center, the Figge Art Museum, among others.
Abby Hamlin (Hamlin Ventures, LLC)
Abby Hamlin is a real estate developer and civic thinker. In 1998, she founded Hamlin Ventures, which remains one of a handful of successful woman-owned development companies. Prior to forming Hamlin Ventures, Abby was President of Swig Weiler & Arnow Management, a premiere commercial real estate company that developed, owned, and managed 8 million square feel of office properties in New York City and San Francisco. As an active civic leader, she is a board member for the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership and has led several of its public design initiatives.
Clement Blanchet (cBA)
Clément Blanchet is the founder and principal of Clément Blanchet Architecture (cBA) and a former Associate of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) in France. During his 10 years of collaboration with Rem Koolhaas, Clément contributed to the development of OMA in Europe and led several award winning projects for the firm. Founded in Paris in 2014, his firm Clément Blanchet Architecture has worked on major projects such as the R&D Center for Carrefour, a new mixed-use complex for Georgia, and the French Pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai.
PAST RESEARCH FELLOWS, COLLABORATORS, & STAFF
Amanda Mauser
Andrew Vesselinovitch
Brandon Limary
Cas Esbach
Chang Hong
Charlotte Soehner
Dana Taylor
David Hoff
Dhruv Maheshwari
Eli Harrell
Gustavo Acosta
Ginger Stanciel
Hasnain Khundmiri
Jacob Chartoff
Jane Jozefowicz
Jennifer Doty
Jess Monigal
Joanne Koola
John Wolf
Jungsik Kim
Justin Bologna
Kyeore Lee
Maria Bergh
Michelle McSweeney
Minjung Ku
Sharlene Young
Shreya Minama Reddy
Smitha Vasan
Tarek Alhariri
Tiffany Bobbitt
Tukesha Hill
Zebeeb Nudges