STR Principals, senior staff and staff design professionals share an enthusiasm and passion for quality design and client service. We enjoy what we are doing and it shows in our architecture and our relationships with our clients.
Our people possess a variety of skills, experience and expertise bringing depth to the practice. Each person is valued for their unique contribution to our projects and firm. We are committed to a culture of diversity, as demonstrated in the rich composition of our organization.
Mike Henderson Senior Principal AIA, NCARB, REFP, LEED AP mike@strpartners.com • 312.242.4157
Mike is our design principal for K-12 schools with a focus on high schools, middle schools, and junior high schools. Able to envision the many possibilities of a space, Mike is skilled at creating design solutions that complement an existing building’s aesthetic. He is actively present during all phases of a project, working closely with clients and community members to define their needs and transform them into architecture.
Mike’s strengths include:
- Design solutions for complex field conditions
- IHSA-qualified natatoriums, competition gyms, synthetic turf fields, stadiums, and other athletic facilities
- Creating 21st century learning environments that meet complex, departmental curriculums at the high school and junior high school levels
- Enhancing and expanding existing, 20th century buildings to provide 21st century education
- Additional design experience in religious and municipal facilities
Originally from Ohio, Mike lives in La Grange, IL, with his wife, Lisa, and five children.
- Education
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- University of Cincinnati
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- Bachelor of Architecture
- Professional Affiliations
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- American Institute of Architects
- National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
- Council of Educational Facility Planners International
- Registrations
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- Illinois, Wisconsin, North Carolina,
- Indiana, Ohio
- Lecture/Seminar Speaker
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- Illinois Association of School Business Officials:
- Environmental Health and Safety Seminar, Life Safety Code
- Middle School Planning and Design
- Aurora University: Architects in Education
Jennifer Costanzo Senior Principal AIA, NCARB, LEED® AP jennifer@strpartners.com • 312.242.4163
Jennifer is our technical principal, ensuring that clients’ needs are fulfilled during all phases of a project. Detail-oriented and highly organized, Jennifer facilitates a smooth working relationship between the client and the principal designer. She carefully listens to all parties involved in a project and quickly disseminates information to the right people so a project continues on time and within budget. Jennifer specializes in the design of K-12 schools and other school district support buildings and oversees the production and construction of these facilities.
Jennifer’s strengths include:
- Pragmatic problem-solver and detail-oriented thinker
- Strong coordination and communication skills, facilitating a smooth relationship between the client, principal designer, and project team
- Additional experience in municipal and community facilities
A West Virginia native, Jennifer now lives in Oak Park, IL, with her husband, Jeffrey Roberts, who is also an architect, and their two children.
- Education
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- Miami University, Ohio
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- Master of Architecture
- Miami University, Ohio
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- Bachelor of Environmental Design
- Professional Affiliations
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- American Institute of Architects
- Illinois Capital Development Board Project Manager Training
- National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
- U.S. Green Building Council LEED® 2.0 AP
- Registrations
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- Ohio
- Illinois
- Lecture/Seminar Speaker
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- IASBO: 3rd Annual School Leaders Conference for Women
Colby Lewis Senior Principal AIA, NCARB, LEED® AP colby@strpartners.com • 312.242.4158
Colby is our design principal for K-8 schools. He is an attentive and responsive project leader, working with clients and community members to design buildings that support 21st century education and meet community needs. As a project manager, Colby is direct and focused on the big picture. As a designer, he is strategically innovative, creating multiple design options for a client to make sure they receive the best product for their educational and financial needs. As an early proponent of LEED®, Colby makes it a priority to create sustainable architecture for our clients.
Colby’s strengths include:
- Creating 21st century learning spaces from existing, 20th century buildings
- Defining what 21st century learning means to your school
- Overseeing entire projects for technical completeness, quality, and accuracy
- Seamlessly integrating the design and construction process
- Expertise in construction drawings and specifications
- Additional design experience in office and administrative buildings, higher education facilities, mixed-use developments, and municipal facilities
Colby lives in Evanston with his wife, Lori, who is a health policy consultant, and their children.
- Education
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- Illinois Institute of Technology
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- Master of Architectural Science
- Bachelor of Architecture
- Northwestern University
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- Kellogg Management Institute
- Professional Affiliations
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- American Institute of Architects
- National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
- Society for College and University Planning
- Council of Educational Facility Planners International
- U.S. Green Building Council LEED® 2.0 AP
- Illinois Capital Development Board Project Manager Training
- Registrations
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- Illinois, Indiana
Alan Armbrust Executive Manager AIA alan@strpartners.com • 312.242.4172
Alan is our grants, referendum, and communications specialist. His 25 years of experience includes all levels of education, from preschool to higher education. Alan’s involvement in early project phases, which involve funding, conceptual design, permitting, and scheduling, is critical to a project’s success. He is skilled at gaining consensus among diverse groups of faculty members, board members, administrators, and the general public, creating a sense of shared authorship of a project. At the university level, Alan leads interior renovations of offices, departmental spaces, research areas, highly specialized laboratories, student spaces, and classrooms. Often working within extremely tight university schedules, Alan is highly skilled at maximizing programming space and creating custom designs to meet individual researchers’ needs.
Alan’s strengths include:
- Grants and fundraising
- Referendums and community engagement
- Higher education interior renovations and project management
An Illinois native, Alan lives in Mount Prospect, IL.
- Education
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- Illinois Institute of Technology, Bachelor of Science in Architecture
- American Academy in Rome, Post-Graduate Studies
- Professional Affiliations
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- American Institute of Architects
- Chicago Architectural Club, Board of Directors
- Art Institute of Chicago, Architecture Society, Board of Directors
- Triton College, Adjunct Faculty Member
- American Library Association
- Registrations
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- Illinois
Sandra Moon Associate Principal AIA, LEED AP sandra@strpartners.com • 312.242.4167
One of our most experienced architects, Sandra specializes in the design of K-12 schools. Leading many of our design efforts, Sandra serves as the main point-of-contact for projects she manages. She is a strong communicator with a close attention to detail, keeping design standards high and making sure client needs are met. Sandra often serves as a quality reviewer for many of our projects.
- Education
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- University of Texas, Austin, Master of Architecture
- Rice University, Bachelor of Arts, Managerial Studies & Psychology
- Professional Affiliations
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- American Institute of Architects
- U.S. Green Building Council, LEED® 2.0 Accredited Professional
- Illinois Capital Development Board, Project Manager Training
- Registrations
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- Illinois
Paul Brock Associate Principal LEED AP pbrock@strpartners.com • 312.242.4165
Paul leads many of our K-12 schools projects. With a background in construction and custom-build projects, he brings a unique understanding of the building process. He works closely with our design principals with a focus on high schools serves as the main point-of-contact for projects he manages.
- Education
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- University of Michigan, Master of Architecture
- University of Michigan, Bachelor of Science in Architecture
- Connecticut College, Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy of Politics and Economics
- Professional Affiliations
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- Illinois Capital Development Board, Project Manager Training
- U.S. Green Building Council, LEED® 2.0 Accredited Professional
Don Hansen Associate Principal AIA, LEED AP don@strpartners.com • 312.242.4168
Don successfully manages many of our district-wide improvement projects, often working on dozens of schools within a single district to complete projects over summer vacation. He has expertise working with municipalities to expedite the permitting and zoning process. Don serves as the main point-of-contact for clients on projects he manages and advises STR design teams on permitting and zoning requirements, as well as life safety codes.
- Education
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- Iowa State University, Bachelor of Architecture
- Professional Affiliations
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- American Institute of Architects
- U.S. Green Building Council, LEED® 2.0 Accredited Professional
- Illinois Capital Development Board, Project Manager Training
- Registrations
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- Illinois
Andrew Phelps Associate Principal andrew@strpartners.com • 312.242.4174
Andy manages many of our large school district clients. His significant experience in field observation and management, as well as life safety, makes him particularly skilled at helping clients update and enhance their existing facilities. Andy serves as the main point-of-contact for clients on projects he manages and advises design teams on field observation and management.
- Education
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- University of Illinois of Urbana-Champaign, Post-Bachelor Architectural Studies
- University of Illinois of Urbana-Champaign, Bachelor of Science in Architecture
- Memberships
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- Associate, American Institute of Architects
Ken Shiokawa Associate Principal of Design AIA ken@strpartners.com • 312.242.4170
Ken leads efforts to maintain our design excellence across all projects. He serves as a resource for design teams in the office, providing input and guidance across all projects. Ken has a long-tenured history at STR working closely with our principals to design schools to meet 21st century education and community needs.
- Education
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- University of Illinois at Chicago, Master of Architecture
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Bachelor of Architecture
- Professional Affiliations
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- Associate, American Institute of Architects
- Registrations
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- Illinois
Scott Kuehn Associate Principal of Operations scott@strpartners.com • 312.242.4160
Scott oversees STR’s standard of project delivery. Often serving as a quality reviewer, Scott uses his sharp focus on construction documents to make sure our drawings conform to the STR Way: Clear, Simple, and Easy-to-Understand. Scott is very experienced in designing additions and renovations to older existing buildings, creating 21st century learning spaces out of 20th century facilities. He also serves as a co-chairperson for STR’s project management program.
- Education
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- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Bachelor of Science in Architecture
- Community Involvement
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- Chicago Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Principal Trumpet
- Lakeview Orchestra, Principal Trumpet
