About Chipman Design Architecture

Old photo of Albert ChipmanA man behind a podium giving a speechA vintage photo of a man and a woman at a desk

Our History

A respected innovator in restaurant, retail and hospitality, Chipman Design Architecture continues a legacy that began almost 70 years ago. It was in the early 1950’s that Albert B. Chipman established one of the first professional practices devoted to commercial planning and design. A generation later, Albert’s son John Chipman expanded the business from its initial staff of three to build the architecture firm Chipman Design, in 1979. His first initiative was to boldly incorporate developing computer technology. By the mid 1990s, state-of-the-art computer technology became one of the firm’s hallmark services. In 2019, CDA celebrated their 40th anniversary and today it is still family owned with John Chipman’s daughter, Lauren Chipman, leading the team into the 21st century.

CDA Today

Chipman Design has a proven track record of extraordinary design and is recognized throughout the industry for its expertise in creating engaging and future-facing retail environments. We are adept at tapping the latest innovation and navigating change, leveraging technology to keep us ahead of the competition. By exploring new ways to help clients bring their ideas to life, we organize our internal teams strategically to produce work that makes us all eternally proud. With a depth of experience and an eye to the horizon, we are able to clearly navigate the rapidly evolving competitive market landscape our clients face.

Leadership

Team

Steve Ajster

Steve Ajster

Senior Account Manager
Birthplace
Spring Valley, IL
School Attended:
University of Illinois at Chicago
Awards / Accreditation
Years of experience
18
Fun Fact
Played an Irish digger in a film about I&M Canal
Favorite Project
Del Frisco’s Steakhouse (included a 30’ spiral staircase wine tower!)
A woman in a Day of the Dead costume
Photo of Eric Afable

Eric Afable

Account Manager
Birthplace
Chicago, IL
School Attended:
UIC
Awards / Accreditation
Years of experience
2018
Fun Fact
I love to build things, wood working, making furniture and working on my house.
Favorite Project
Gap and Old Navy in Montreal Eaton Centre in Canada
A man dancing
Julie Babcock

Julie Babcock

Design Manager
Birthplace
Park Ridge, IL
School Attended:
Illinois State University
Awards / Accreditation
NEWH
Years of experience
19
Fun Fact
Two-time CDA Halloween Costume Champ
Favorite Project
Chicago Blackhawks Flagship
CDA team members at an environmental rally
CDA team members in front of Wrigley Field
Karen Baron

Karen Baron

Senior Account Manager
Birthplace
Savigny-sur-Orge, France
School Attended:
Ecole d’Architecture de Versailles and University of Illinois at Chicago
Awards / Accreditation
Architecte DPLG w/ highest honours
Years of experience
21
Fun Fact
I grew up in a small town in France with 2,000 people!
Favorite Project
Athleta stores at Brewery Blocks, OR
Ariel holding a medal after running a marathon
CDA team members wearing Christmas sweaters
Brad Belter

Brad Belter

Account Manager
Birthplace
Rockford, IL
School Attended:
Northern Illinois University
Awards / Accreditation
Years of experience
21
Fun Fact
Lambda Chi Alpha helped escalate me from a hesitant young adult to a self-confident team player who loves working with people.
Favorite Project
Nutella Café Chicago
A man and woman look up at two skyscrapers
Photo of Brad Beall

Brad Beall

Account Manager
Birthplace
Cedar Rapids, IA
School Attended:
Iowa State University
Awards / Accreditation
Years of experience
21
Fun Fact
I enjoy taking road trips with my family. We have gone to Cape Cod, Niagara Falls and completed the Circle Tour around Lake Michigan. Someday I would like to travel the entire Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica, CA.
Favorite Project
Puttshack Boston, MA
People wearing flowers in the luau fashion
Team members dressed as aliens from Toy Story
Leila Caceres

Leila Caceres

Accounting Manager
Birthplace
Chicago, IL
School Attended:
University of Illinois at Chicago
Awards / Accreditation
Years of experience
7
Fun Fact
Our dog is named after the Chicago historic district, Logan Square
Favorite Project
Creating custom Deltek reports for our management team
Child dressed as a construction worker
Dave Carlson

Dave Carlson

Director of Technology
Birthplace
Joliet, IL
School Attended:
DeVry University
Awards / Accreditation
Years of experience
12
Fun Fact
92% of the world’s currency exists solely on computers
Favorite Project
Upgrading CDA’s nationwide infrastructure to an SD-WAN while adding extra security layers
Two men pretending to be Mario characters racing
People dressed in summer costumes
Juan Castillo

Juan Castillo

Senior Account Manager
Birthplace
Chicago, IL
School Attended:
University of Illinois at Chicago
Awards / Accreditation
Years of experience
19
Fun Fact
I have run 2 Marathons
Favorite Project
Exterior storefront curtain wall design for Ulta in Marina Del Rey, CA
A large group at an outdoor dinner party
Lauren Chipmen and Nelly Augustyn
Liz Kivland

Liz Kivland

Architectural Design Manager
Birthplace
Arlington Heights, IL
School Attended:
University of Kansas
Awards / Accreditation
Registered Architect - Illinois
Years of experience
30
Fun Fact
As an intern I worked the plan drawings for Medieval Times.
Favorite Project
Marketplace at Six Corners in Chicago
People dressed as Garth and Wayne from Wayne's World
A group of CDA team members in front of an inflatable donut
Jeff Koo

Jeff Koo

Senior Account Manager
Birthplace
Richmond Hill, New York
School Attended:
CUNY - City College of New York
Awards / Accreditation
Registered Architect - New York, NCARB, LEED ID+C
Years of experience
27
Fun Fact
Participant in the Maker-mindset: CNC router, Laser-cutter, 3D Printer
Favorite Project
The Echelon project in Las Vegas
Two women in behind a BDNY sign
Team members cosplaying the witch and Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz
Jeremy Lindsey

Jeremy Lindsey

Account Manager
Birthplace
Lexington Park, Maryland
School Attended:
Judson University
Awards / Accreditation
Registered Architect - Illinois, NCARB
Years of experience
19
Fun Fact
I cry every time at the ending of ‘Cars.’
Favorite Project
Craftsman remodel, St. Charles, IL
People on folding chair and blankets at a picnic
The Chipman family at a party
Vilma Monzon

Vilma Monzon

Account Manager
Birthplace
Guatemala City, Guatemala
School Attended:
University of Illinois at Chicago
Awards / Accreditation
N/A
Years of experience
19
Fun Fact
Completed a full marathon in Hawaii in 2005
Favorite Project
Gap Flagship @ Bloor Street, Toronto
Team members dressed as aliens from Toy Story
Team members in front of a CDA wall
Anna Velasquez

Anna Velasquez

Account Manager
Birthplace
Morton Grove, Illinois
School Attended:
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Awards / Accreditation
Registered Architect - Illinois
Years of experience
17
Fun Fact
Anna enjoys playing tennis and loves to travel
Favorite Project
Shinola Retail Project in Oak Brook, IL
A plant in a Chipman Design Architecture crate
Meg Stevens

Meg Stevens

Design Manager
Birthplace
Valparaiso, Indiana
School Attended:
Indiana University
Awards / Accreditation
LEED
Years of experience
15
Fun Fact
Owned and ran a successful business making and selling handmade pillows and artwork
Favorite Project
Ronald McDonald House in Chicago
A group of women at a party
Team members
Ruben Valenzuela

Ruben Valenzuela

Account Manager
Birthplace
Zacatecas, Mexico
School Attended:
Judson University
Awards / Accreditation
Years of experience
10
Fun Fact
I have 65 live plants at home.
Favorite Project
Police and Court Center for City of Tolleson, AZ
A person holding a circular light

Awards

We are proud of our history and award-winning work. Though we never design for a trophy, it’s always nice to be recognized. Check out some of the architectural design awards we’ve been honored to receive.

Top 175 Architecture Firms for 2023

Chipman Design Architecture

2023

Top 200 Reconstruction Architecture Firms for 2023

Chipman Design Architecture

2023

Top 80 Senior Living Facility Architecture Firms for 2023

Chipman Design Architecture

2023

Top 300 US Architectural Firms

Chipman Design Architecture

Architectural Record Magazine

2023

2023 Designer Dozen

Colleen Bernhoft

Visual Merchandising and Store Design Magazine

2023

Biggest Women-Owned Businesses 2023 Ranked #28

Crain's Chicago Business

2023

Top 140 Retail Sector Architecture and Architecture Engineering (AE) Firms

Chipman Design Architecture

2023

2023 Sustainability Giant

Chipman Design Architecture

Interior Design Magazine

2023

Hospitality Giants of Design

Chipman Design Architecture

Interior Design Magazine

2023

Top 100 Giants

Chipman Design Architecture

Interior Design Magazine

2022

#1 Restaurant Design Firm

Chipman Design Architecture

Commercial Construction & Renovation Magazine

2021

Best Lifestyle Hotel Finalist

The Harbor Grand Hotel, Chicago

Hospitality Design Awards

2021

Store Design of the Year

Time Out Market

Retail Design Institute

2020

Best Hospitality Architecture + Interior Design Firm / USA

Chipman Design Architects

Build Architecture Awards

2019

Top 10 Healthcare Design Firms

Chipman Design Architecture

Commercial Construction & Renovation Magazine

2019

BEST FIRMS TO WORK FOR

Chipman Design Architecture

Zweig Awards

2018

Retail Leaders Under 40

Nelly Augustyn, Senior Managing Director

ICSC Centerbuild

2018

40 Under 40

Lauren Chipman, CEO

design:retail magazine

2017

Store Design of the Year

Chicago Cubs Flagship Store

Retail Design Institute

2017

Development of the Year

Chicago Blackhawks Flagship Store

Chicago Magnificent Mile

2015

Retail Renovation of the Year

Chicago Blackhawks Flagship Store

Visual Merchandising and Store Design Magazine

2015

Top Design Firms National Ranking

Chipman Design Architecture

Hotel Management Magazine

2014

Join Our Team

Chipman Design Architecture is hiring! If you're looking to join a future-facing design and architecture firm where you can create engaging, impactful, and innovative design, we'd love an opportunity to offer you a motivated, supportive team that can give you the professional development and mentorship you have been craving. Build your future at CDA.