SNHA - Key Persons
Despite Alex spending most of her life in the Midwest (growing up outside Louisville, Kentucky and earning her B.S. in Architecture from the University of Cincinnati in Ohio), she eventually made her way to the West Coast to earn her Master of Architecture from the University of Oregon. It was during that time that she developed her passion for mass timber design and construction, noting an admiration of the innovations occurring with building taller with wood and exposing a building's structure on the interior.
Now settled in Chicago with as many houseplants as her apartment can manage, Alex likes to spend her time reading, crocheting, playing board games, and working on puzzles. Basically, if she can enjoy coffee while doing it, she's happy.
For Brandon, one of the coolest things about architecture is getting to design and create something physical that people inhabit and interact with daily. He appreciates getting to be a part of the planning and orchestration of details that takes place before a site is even touched.
Outside of design, Brandon's interests include music: both playing and going to see shows, keeping up with sports, cooking, travelling, and building furniture - his latest piece being a media center he built for his apartment. Before moving to Chicago, Brandon lived in Iowa for four years while earning his Bachelor of Architecture from Iowa State University.
Job Titles:
- Associate Principal LEED AP Chicago, IL
Brian believes there's no problem a sketch can't solve. Whether it's working with a client to refine their project or just doodling for fun, this Eagle Scout can always be found with his pen and paper in hand.
With nearly two decades of experience spanning a variety of project types, Brian brings creative problem solving and aesthetic rigor to every challenge. He enjoys the collaborative nature of the profession and encourages a healthy dose of humor whenever possible. Originally from "beautiful northwestern Ohio," he received both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Architecture from the University of Cincinnati.
Brian believes there's no problem a sketch can't solve. Whether it's working with a client to refine their project or just doodling for fun, this Eagle Scout can always be found with his pen and paper in hand.
Job Titles:
- Associate AIA Chicago, IL
Burke is truly a modern day Renaissance man. Sure, he skis, bikes, and cooks like most people. But he also collects antique shaving equipment, has an affinity for hot rod art from the 1950s, and can often be found at weeknight bar trivia events.
As an architect, Burke is inspired by the technical challenges associate with high performance buildings and is always excited to learn what's new in the industry. His interests include digital fabrication, snowdrift formations, and tiny houses. Burke earned both a Bachelor and Master in Architecture from the University of Cincinnati.
Burke spent a year in Copenhagen working in the Architecture and Design Department of the DIS.
Job Titles:
- Co - Instructs Course for Harvard GSD
- Principal Chicago, IL
Catherine joined SNHA in 2020 as the firm's newest Principal. Hailing from the Harvard's Graduate School of Design, she brings over 30 years of experience in urban design, planning and landscape architecture. Her ability to creatively tackle complex design challenges has produced award-winning solutions nationally and internationally. In recent years, a new type of design work has emerged with our large technology clients; Catherine offers our team forward-thinking and next-level strategic planning, analyzing, and researching new ways to design and create. Catherine brings a new voice and a new perspective to the broader leadership of the firm.
Catherine is known for her collaborative style with her project teams during all phases of the design process. Her creativity and positive attitude is a welcome attribute for our clients; she has mastered the ability to communicate clearly defined design ideas when referencing complex design problems. Catherine received her Master of Landscape Architecture from Harvard University, and her Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley.
Catherine is a tea connoisseur and finds comfort in a perfectly brewed cup.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate at Sheehan Nagle Hartray Architects
Chheng is an Associate at Sheehan Nagle Hartray Architects, where she has extensive experience working for hyperscale clients in the field of mission critical architecture. Her data center projects support the internet and cloud infrastructure for the United States, and are strategic connection points for global internet traffic. A recognized design leader, her work on the Fort Worth Data Center Administration Building was awarded AIA Chicago's Distinguished Building Award in 2020.
Chris once spent a week cycling and camping across Iowa as part of RAGBRAI (The Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa). But since becoming a father, he notes that it's fewer long weekend rides and many more rides around the neighborhood with his daughter as co-pilot.
For motivation, Chris considers the myriad ways architecture mentally and physically impacts its users day-to-day. "Ultimately it is the people that use the space that will not only spend more time with it, but will take physical and emotional ownership of it in a way that truly makes it theirs - much more than an entry in a portfolio makes it ours." Chris earned his Bachelor of Architecture from The Ohio State University in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio and holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Chris managed to break both arms at the same time as a kid… but assures he's kept them all in one piece ever since!
Not many people - and even fewer architects - can say they have been kicked out of the Barcelona Pavilion for playing hacky sack. From punk rock shows to playgrounds with his son, Chris embraces life as an adventure. As an architect, he loves the opportunity to make the built environment a little more beautiful.
With more than a decade of experience, he has worked on many project types that range from small residential to city planning. Chris holds a Professional Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
For East Coast native Courtnay, South Carolina is home - and where her alma mater Clemson University resides. Yes, you know she's a loyal Clemson football fan. Go Tigers.
It was earning her Master of Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology that brought her to the Midwest. As a designer, she draws inspiration from her travels and observing how other cultures live and interact with architecture. "Traveling and studying historic buildings in general is one of my favorite things. I am constantly in awe of them." You can find her spending her time reading, sketching, hanging out with her lab-mix Walker, and relaxing at the beach when Chicago summers roll around - or if she's lucky enough to be traveling somewhere warm.
David is a 2020 Chicago transplant having lived most of his life in a small New Jersey beachtown. Prior to joining Sheehan Nagle Hartray, David brought over 4 years of professional architectural experience. He graduated from Philadelphia University with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture in 2016. David's preferred architectural styles are self-described as extremely varied, from Brutalist to Vernacular Japanese Architecture. He is energized by working on buildings that shape the way people live their lives.
When David isn't working, he enjoys playing and watching sports. His peak interests include Soccer and Formula 1. However even in his hobbies, David's designer-mind is always engaged. He is currently pursuing a long-term project to both design and build his dream car. In an alternate life, David might be Chief Technical Director at McLaren Formula 1 Racing.
David is multilingual, fluent in English, Portuguese and Spanish.
Job Titles:
- Associate AIA, LEED AP Chicago, IL
Many artistically-minded people choose to surround themselves in creative energy. Besides being a hobbyist photographer, Dominick painted a 10×14ft mural in his apartment. So it's not surprising that, as an architect, he is most motivated by the ability to shape the spaces in which people inhabit. Whether it's the scale of the city and infrastructure, or the design of a door handle, Dominick believes each of these have a profound impact on our lives. With nearly a decade of experience, he holds both a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and a Master of Architecture from Ball State University.
Dominick was once a licensed boxer in the State of Illinois.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Principal AIA, LEED AP Chicago, IL
Traveling as a family of five is always an adventure, but getting lost makes it even better. At least, according to Duane. He enjoys the freedom of not having a travel guide in hand and allowing them to share in the chaotic adventure.
With over two decades of design, master planning, and project management experience in the high tech industry, Duane has helped lead some of SNHA's largest, most complex data center projects. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Architecture from the University of Detroit.
Duane once drove a press van in a presidential motorcade, giving him an entirely new respect for the secret service.
All architects are busy, but Emily has managed to take it up a few notches. Dedicating time to running, cycling, and (reluctantly) swimming, Emily has completed 2 marathons, 7 half-marathons, 7 triathlons, a few 15ks and 10-milers, and too many 5ks to count. She also plays guitar and bass in a rock band, loves to cook, and recently took on her latest endeavor: creative baking.
After earning a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Chicago and an M.A. in Sociology from Columbia, Emily went on to receive her Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. Through architecture, she loves the opportunity to create or help foster community through spaces, sustainability, and socially/environmentally-conscious projects.
Emily has a custom-built all-black guitar tuned to F# F# F# F# E B.
Job Titles:
- Architect
- Associate AIA Chicago, IL
Gabe has a knack for running into people he knows, even in the most remote places of the world. He often wonders if, with odds like that, he should be playing the lottery. As a technical coordinator, Gabe had the opportunity to work on the world's tallest building, mega exhibition centers, multiple mix-use towers, medical centers, and cultural facilities. Taking insights from those experiences, he now harnesses his expertise to work on complex innovative data centers. Gabe earned both his Bachelor and Master degrees in Architecture from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and studied abroad in Versailles, France.
Gabe enjoys traveling (to see architecture) and photographing (interesting architecture). So really, Gabe has no interests outside of architecture.
Job Titles:
- Associate AIA, LEED AP BD C Chicago, IL
Jeanne holds the prize in the office for the most unusual vacation destination: North Korea, where she visited with her son several years ago. Never one to shy away from adventure, she also enjoys road tripping with her favorite Chicago sports teams once a year. As an architect, Jeanne has over 25 years of experience bringing large projects through all phases of design and construction. No matter the project typology, she believes the keys to success are building and maintaining trusted relationships through clear communication and collaboration. Jeanne received her Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Jeanne and her husband once moved to Minnesota "for the heck of it". They loved it and stayed there for 12 years.