More than 250 guests came to our Chicago space, the greatest turnout for the office to date, during our open house last month. Photos by Senior Engineer Nick Aitken
Everybody knows that Thornton Tomasetti excels in the services the firm provides, but a lucky few also know that we can throw one heck of a party! This was definitely the case last month when the Chicago office in collaboration with MEP firm Syska Hennessy, with whom we share our 15th floor office space, hosted an open house on the heels of the June 26-28 Chicago AIA convention. With more than 250 guests in attendance, the party was the largest the office had ever thrown.
Guests had the chance to read up on our LEED Gold certified office as well as the firm’s sustainability initiatives.
The event allowed us to express appreciation to our clients outside of the usual work environment,” Chicago Senior Principal and Office Leader Faz Ehsan said. “We had a very good turnout and received many compliments from our guests. Everybody had a great time! Special thanks to Ronni Habbe (office manager) and Zen Bagnole (executive assistant) for organizing the event.”
Chicago-based Counsel Duke Wellington (left) and Larry Kowalczyk of Querrey & Harrow.
The guest list included professionals from such firms as Environmental Systems Design, Gensler, Ghafari, Jones Lang LaSalle, Lucien Lagrange, Perkins + Will and countless others. Joining our Chicago staff was Portland Principal and Sustainability Practice Leader Gunnar Hubbard, Chief Financial Officer Andrew Goldbaum and Senior Principal Gary Mancini from New York and Principal and Construction Engineering Practice Leader Darren Hartman from Kansas City.
Senior Associate John Peronto and Clyde Baker of GEI Consultants, Inc.
In addition to catching up with colleagues and making new connections, guests enjoyed the live music of a jazz trio and food by Chicago-based caterer Savant Events.
The party also gave us the chance to show off our LEED Gold space as well as spread the word about the firm’s corporate sustainability initiatives. “It was a fantastic night to showcase our space and show our clients that sustainability is more than just a buzzword for Thornton Tomasetti,” Senior Project Architect and office Green Champion Rachel Michelin said. “In the main gathering space we had a display board with the floor plan of the office that had each sustainable feature tagged. We also posted small signs near various sustainable features that will remain in place to educate future visitors.”
Vice President Edward Peck with Cosmin Vraijitoru of architectural firm JGMA.
Guests also got a little taste of sustainability, if you will, as the catering service is known for their use of regional and organic fare. There were local craft beers, cheeses from Wisconsin, sliders with local grass-fed beef and local organic veggies.
“Many clients have mentioned that they were thrilled with the event and that we should make it a yearly thing,” Rachel said. The party photos can certainly attest to this.
Gensler’s Oren Schumaker and Tom Hurlbert share a pint.
Cyrus Izzo of Syska Hennessy and Senior Principal Tom Poulos.
Amy Winton with husband Gunnar Hubbard, Portland-based principal and Sustainability Practice leader, greet Helen Kessler of HJKessler Associates, a sustainable design and energy efficiency consulting firm.
Lucien Lagrange of Lucien Lagrange Architects, Don Faloon of Fordham Real Estate and Senior Principal Faz Ehsan.
Don Faloon of Fordham Real Estate talks shop with Managing Principal Joe Burns.
Steve Santucci of Ghafari with Associate Joe Simeo.
There were smiles all around, as guests enjoyed the local brews and foods as well as each other’s company.
Guests mingled to the beat of a live jazz trio that was set up in our lobby.
Our Chicago office, which takes up nearly the entire 15th floor of the Ludwig Mies van der Rohe-designed building (Syska Hennessy occupies the remainder) was easily able to accommodate the huge turnout.
Next door neighbor MEP firm Syska Hennessy provided the dessert spread. Pictured are Cyrus Izzo and Josh Fluecke.
Principal Lance Parker and Larry Nordin of Solomon Cordwell Buenz.
Joseph Myers and Brenda Walker of Kirkegaard chat with Senior Project Engineer Nate Sosin.
Michael Fletcher of BASF, Senior Associate Jenifer Johnson and Mark Devaney of Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc.
— Jake Grogan, Communications Intern
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