“Leaders don't create followers; they create more leaders.”
TOM PETERS BUSINESSMAN
We introduce three recently completed projects and show our senior leaders "in the room," leading important conversations and tackling the pressing issues facing our profession and communities.
OKW Architects
QUARTERLY | Issue No. 3 | Fall 2025
On the cover: Vista at Councill Square Published November 24th, 2025
I’m writing this as we just experienced our first snow of the year in Chicago (yes, it was way too early!). But it does give me the visual cue that we are nearing the holiday season, and therefore approaching the time where it’s fair game to be a little sappy and to reflect on the year behind us.
We’ve had a lot of successes in 2025: new and diverse project wins, landmark construction starts, and meaningful completions. With each milestone, our team has grown as professionals and as people.
Our leadership group continues to find a voice in new spaces throughout our City and beyond. Much of this issue explores that idea of being ‘in the room.' We’re passionate about being part of the bigger conversations taking place around design and real estate. As the communities we work in find their footing in this ever-evolving world, you can bet that OKW will be at the table and in the room.
Happy Thanksgiving, happy holidays and we look forward to your continued partnership into 2026.
Katie Lambert AIA Design Director & Partner
Our first major multifamily project completed in the South, an amenity program for Chicago's most famous curved office tower, and a new lobby for a new client.
As proof that 2025 has been a busy year, we've seen projects across diverse sectors reach completion. The following three projects show the range of everything we can do, which spans small to large, across multiple geographic locations, and across market sectors.
Let's start with the first: a 332-unit luxury housing development in Rocket City, Alabama.
Within a short walk of downtown Huntsville, this new development sits in a neighborhood that has evolved into a vibrant, mixed-use community with multi-family housing, retail, hotels, and restaurants.
The main elevation of the building sits along a curved street, providing a unique opportunity to shape the building. This not only helped to reduce the scale of this 332 unit building, but provided an opportunity to create truly unique residential units.
We also incorporated a unique 2-story townhome concept into the building, which has full amenity access but serves a different demographic.
Capping off an impressive amenity program is a rooftop indoor-outdoor pool deck with mountain views, golf sims, and spaces for small and large gatherings.
GENERAL CONTRACTING BY
ARCO MURRAY PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
NICK MCGINN
Vista at Councill Square Huntsville, Alabama
This building is an icon of modern Chicago architecture thanks to its sweeping curve along the Chicago River and its emerald green glass. The owner wanted to upgrade the ground floor amenities from transactional offerings to a more bespoke, all-day experience.
The scope included revitalizing Goodwins, a popular sandwich shop, and creating a high-end restaurant and coffee bar.
The design took subtle cues from the building's renovated lobbies, interpreted through a hospitality lens.
Complementing the food and beverage amenities is a new gym and wellness center. The overall feel is that of a peaceful and relaxing spa. An interconnecting stair, as well as shared finishes across the spaces, make the program feel unified and thoughtful.
GENERAL CONTRACTING BY RESTAURANT: ICG CONSTRUCTION WELLNESS: REED CONSTRUCTION PHOTOGRAPHY BY TARA WHITE
Across from NEWCITY is Blackhawk on Halsted, a medical, office, and retail building built in 2009. As tenants considered whether or not to extend or expand existing leases, the owners decided it was time for a refresh.
To create a dramatic statement in a narrow space, we opened up the lobby to create a nearly triple-height volume. The new lobby is a sophisticated concept that relies on tried-and-true materials and colors, with curved edges on the desk and the seating echoing the building's architecture and branding.
GENERAL CONTRACTING BY JC
ANDERSON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
BRIAN GRIFFIN
At OKW, we are more than architects and designers.
We are planners, strategists, and big thinkers. We're curious about our local communities and the world at large. This means you will find us "in the room" — leading conversations about the built environment and generating ideas for the future.
In this section we'll talk about a few of those rooms and the OKW leaders who are steering the conversation.
ULI Technical Assitance Panel, City of Naperville
Jon Talty AIA chairing the panel and presenting its findings
As president of the Commonwealth Club of Chicago, Jon Talty AIA regularly hosts discussions and Q&As with influential figures with prominent voices in Chicago. These talks are meant to inspire ideas and commentary on the state of the City, its challenges, and its future.
Among the recent events included talks with 2023 Chicago mayoral candidate Paul Vallas (upper left) and former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (upper right).
October 18 — Cole Gagnon AIA attends the Board of Visitors' Fall Meetings at her alma mater, the Catholic University of America.
This year, the Board established a group, the Council of Emerging Leaders, to empower young alumni to stay connected. Cole chairs this council and officially introduced it to the broader CUA community.
October 29 —The annual Chicago Build Expo took place at McCormick Place. OKW’s Katie Lambert AIA joined the Opportunities and Developments in the Housing Market to offer her insight into what is happening in multifamily. Given the many unknowns in the industry and the economy at large, the main questions on everyone’s minds are: what is getting built and how is it getting done?
Katie brought to the table our experience in Transit-Oriented Developments (TODs) and the municipal incentives that are spurring development in suburban Chicagoland.
In short: projects are happening, but many require developers and local governments coming together in the shape of TIF districts as part of downtown revitalization efforts. OKW has finished two projects in Mount Prospect under this model and is working on similar projects in Barrington and Clarendon Hills.
“Across generations, design because it daily and that’s an exciting
KATIE LAMBERT AIA
BUILD Expo Panel
Arlington Heights Mixed-Use, HQ Residences generations, there’s increased interest in because everyone is more confronted with and has higher expectations. As architects, exciting thing.”
Lambert AIA joins the Opportunities and Developments in the Housing Market panel
Our interior design team has grown! With experience in corporate renovations and commercial interiors, Cierah knows how spaces come together.
Donovan joins OKW with experience in adaptive reuse projects nationally and abroad. We're excited to see how he'll bring his skills and experience to our work.
One of our two summer interns decided to continue working with us through the end of the year. This means we got to enjoy Justin's enthusiasm, knack for architecture, and his willingness to participate for another season.
She started at OKW as an associate and is now our Director of Process. In between, she has become known as a project manager extraordinaire, a skilled chef, beekeeper, and community advocate. Congratulations to Melissa Toops on ten years at OKW!
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN LIPOWITZ
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We wouldn’t be able to put together this newsletter without our amazing clients, who trust us with their valuable projects, our collaborators in the construction industry who bring our designs to life, and our awesome OKWers who make it all happen.
CONTACT US
If OKW would be a good fit for your next opportunity or idea, please reach out to our partners directly:
Jon Talty AIA jtalty@okwarchitects.com
Cole Gagnon AIA cgagnon@okwarchitects.com
Katie Lambert AIA klambert@okwarchitects.com
Andy Koglin AIA akoglin@okwarchitects.com
