FitzGerald

FitzGerald’s Chili Cookoff brought a little friendly competition to the studio this week.

Held as part of our quarterly gathering and celebration series, the cookoff gave colleagues a chance to bring in their best chili recipes, taste their way through the entries, cast their votes, and celebrate this quarter’s birthdays and Fitz-aversaries along the way.

There was plenty of recipe swapping, some strong opinions, and some good-natured debate over what does and does not technically qualify as chili. (Sorry, Texas.)

Our winners represented both ends of the spectrum, from time-tested family recipes to first-time experiments, so everyone came away having tried something new and, hopefully, with a few ideas for their next batch at home.

Congratulations to our winners, and thanks to everyone who cooked, tasted, voted, and celebrated with us!

Today we recognize Sophie Klippstein, NCIDQ, RID, Managing Associate and Interior Design Director, in celebration of her five-year Fitz-aversary!

Since joining FitzGerald, Sophie has made a significant impact on our interior design practice through her analytical approach, commitment to research, and talent for creating thoughtful design narratives rooted in place and user experience. Her work has contributed to projects including Foundry, Artisan, Kingsbury Plaza, Madison at Racine, and 215 Washington, while her leadership, collaboration, and mentorship continue to strengthen our teams and studio culture.

Thank you, Sophie, for five great years!

We’re excited to share a new look inside The Bluffs on Lake, a 278-unit multifamily community now under construction in St. Francis, Wisconsin, along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Developed by M&R Development and designed by Poole & Poole Architecture, the project features interiors by FitzGerald that draw on the lakeside setting with warm neutrals, lighter wood tones, crisp finishes, and bold graphic moments. The amenity experience centers on a dramatic two-story glass lounge with a focal fireplace, coffee bar, leasing area, and mezzanine work-from-home suite, complemented by fitness, wellness, recreation, and outdoor spaces designed to support both community and retreat.

These new renderings offer a glimpse at the interiors taking shape ahead of the project’s anticipated completion in fall 2026.

FitzGerald is excited to welcome Avery Nowosielski, Associate, to our Interior Design team!

Avery joins FitzGerald with experience across multifamily, student living, hospitality, and renovation projects, working from early concept and design development through documentation and installation. Her background includes developing interior concepts and amenity spaces, curating material palettes and FF&E packages, and collaborating with clients, consultants, contractors, developers, and operators to carry design intent through each phase of a project.

Avery earned her Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from the University of Cincinnati. Outside of work, she’s an avid movie-goer who enjoys planning themed nights with friends, hanging out with her two dogs, and finding new reasons to make stickers with her Cricut. She’s also happiest whenever there’s a body of water nearby.

Welcome to FitzGerald, Avery!

Design work is advancing at 1006 South Michigan Avenue, where FitzGerald is transforming a historic office building along one of Chicago’s most prominent streets into a new residential community developed by JK Equities and Time Equities Inc.

Office-to-residential conversion has become an increasingly important part of the conversation around the future of downtown buildings, but successful conversions require much more than a change of use. At 1006 South Michigan, the design carefully works within the building’s deep commercial floor plates, historic heavy-timber structure, and existing conditions to create 49 new apartments while preserving the character that has defined the building for more than a century.

These new interior renderings offer a closer look at that transformation: original timber columns, ceilings, and wood floors are paired with a warm, contemporary material palette, while carefully planned kitchens, work-from-home spaces, and other interventions adapt the historic loft structure for modern residential life.

Located within the Historic Michigan Boulevard District, the project gives new purpose to an existing building while contributing new housing along one of Chicago’s signature avenues.

We’re excited to see the design for this distinctive adaptive reuse project continue to take shape.

We're excited to announce that Lisa Ross has joined FitzGerald as Accounting Manager, bringing extensive experience in financial management, accounting, payroll, and human resources.

Throughout her career, Lisa has supported architecture firms and other businesses through financial leadership, operational management, and business administration. Having also owned and operated several businesses herself, she brings a practical perspective and collaborative approach to the day-to-day work that keeps organizations running smoothly.

Since joining FitzGerald, Lisa has quickly become a key part of our team, supporting the firm's financial operations and helping provide the strong operational foundation behind our work. We're excited to have her on board and look forward to her continued contributions.

Outside of work, Lisa enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, exploring new restaurants, and working in the garden.

Welcome to FitzGerald, Lisa!

We're proud to announce the promotions of three talented leaders whose contributions continue to shape the future of FitzGerald.

Ryan Tapak, AIA, NCARB, CSI, CDT has been promoted to Managing Associate. Over the past 12 years, Ryan has become a trusted leader known for his diligent planning, technical expertise, and ability to guide projects and teams with a calm, solutions-focused approach, including on projects such as Artisan, Paperbox Lofts, 4000 Marine Drive, 601 S. LaSalle, and Santa Rita at Hemisfair. As Managing Associate, he will expand his leadership in mentoring staff, improving design and documentation processes, and supporting the successful delivery of projects that build lasting client relationships.

Sophie Klippstein, NCIDQ, RID has been promoted to Managing Associate and Interior Design Director. Sophie's impact on our interior design work, commitment to research, and passion for mentoring emerging designers have made a significant contribution to both our projects and our studio culture, with work including Foundry, Kingsbury Plaza, Madison at Racine, and 215 Washington. In her expanded role, she will guide design vision across the firm's interior projects while leading innovation, design strategy, and professional development efforts throughout our practice.

Elma Milanovic IIDA, NCIDQ has been promoted to Associate Principal, Interiors. Elma has played a key role in expanding our interior design practice and strengthening a team that fully integrates interiors and architecture, with projects including UDI, Premier Design Build, and PNC reflecting her commitment to positioning our team externally while building long-standing client relationships. She is a strong advocate for FitzGerald's integrated approach to architecture and interiors, reinforcing the value of well-rounded design for our clients and partners. In her new role, she will help represent FitzGerald in pursuit of new opportunities, foster a collaborative, high-performing team, and contribute to the firm's strategic planning and long-term initiatives.

Please join us in congratulating Ryan, Sophie, and Elma on these well-earned promotions!

What a difference a year makes! The transformation of a site from ground to building is always remarkable, and we love to see the impact that Parcel F at Belleview Station is already having on the skyline thanks to the dedication of the FitzGerald design team and . As we continue our work throughout the Denver area, projects like this demonstrate the value of thoughtful design, strong partnerships, and a shared commitment to creating great places.

FitzGerald is excited to welcome Associate Architects Anjelica Chase, Sylvia Innocent, and Rakshanda Nagaraj to our team.

Anjelica brings experience supporting housing, educational, and mixed-use developments, along with a strong interest in community-centered design and the role housing plays in everyday life. Sylvia joins the firm with experience spanning architecture and interior design work across commercial interiors, hospitality, and adaptive reuse projects. Rakshanda adds a background in multifamily and adaptive reuse work shaped by experience in architecture, historic preservation, and urban planning.

Together, they strengthen our growing architectural team with experience across housing, adaptive reuse, interior environments, and urban development.

We’re glad to have these three talented professionals on board and look forward to the perspective and experience they bring to our project teams.
Welcome, Anjelica, Sylvia, and Rakshanda!

Construction on the core and shell of 212 N. Peoria is nearing completion, setting the stage for new retail and office spaces within the historic Fulton Market loft building.

FitzGerald is serving as architect for the adaptive reuse project, adapting former ground-floor office space and apartments above into high-end retail and commercial office use. The building also has a unique connection to our firm, having once housed FitzGerald's studio.

The ground floor will include the recently announced Rick Owens boutique, while office tenant build-outs are beginning to take shape on the upper floors, including a multi-floor workplace for a major corporate tenant.

As the project moves toward completion this summer, we continue to coordinate with the retail and office design teams as their tenant build-outs advance.

We're proud to be working alongside Fulton Street Companies, Skender, JDL, Madison Rose, and Shanna Collective on a project that continues the evolution of Chicago's Fulton Market district.