Staff
It's oft-quoted, but true. A firm is no better than the people who work there. We're very proud of our staff and would like to tell you something about them.
Ravine House
Contractor: Becker Builders
Becker Architects is a full-service, award winning architectural firm, established in New York City in 1982. Becker Architects began as an interiors firm, doing corporate build-outs, medical offices and residential renovations of coops and townhouses, all primarily in Manhattan. Today, we handle a variety of commercial and residential projects, from new construction to rehabilitation and additions. The firm�s expertise is in three specific areas: Residential, Automobile Dealerships and General Commercial.
In the Residential category, we have designed rehabs, additions and new construction for several hundred clients, primarily in the New York and Chicago metropolitan areas. Our residential work has received national and local attention in awards, programs and publications such as The Chicago Tribune, Builder, Remodeling, Chicago Home, Better Homes and Gardens, House Beautiful and Traditional Home. We have been featured in a number of HGTV productions, including the 13-week reality series, Dream House.
In the Automobile Dealership category, we have designed ground-up or rehabbed dealerships for Audi, BMW, Chrysler, GMC Trucks, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Lincoln-Mercury, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Pontiac, Saturn, Toyota, Volvo and Volkswagen.
In the General Commercial arena, we have been involved with a range of clients: Corporate, Law, Accounting, Medical, Advertising, Not-for-Profits, Retail, etc.
Becker Builders, an affiliate of Becker Architects, has developed infill residential properties both in the Chicago and New York areas. In 2008 we will break ground on a New Jersey office building that we are co-developing with a New York partner.
Our firm has been profiled in a number of publications including AIA Small Project Forum, Chicago Magazine Home and Franklin Report. We are licensed in New York, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Illinois and The District of Columbia. We are members of the American Institute of Architects and subscribe to their Canon of Ethics.
Richard Becker AIA has prior work experience at Skidmore Owings and Merrill and Bartos & Rhodes, both in New York City. He and wife Nancy established Becker Architects in NYC in 1982. Richard was raised in Bethesda, Maryland and attended Syracuse University (B.Arch.). Richard is a third-generation architect following his late father Arthur and grandfather Sam. Richard has served on the Highland Park Zoning Board of Appeals since 2000 and prior to that he was Vice Chairman of the HP Preservation Commission. He sits on various not-for-profit boards. He is also Vice President and co-owner of Orange Loft LLC, producer of ArchiOffice, firm and project management software for architects and engineers.
Nancy Becker AIA has prior work experience at Skidmore Owings and Merrill (Chicago) and RBS&D (NYC). Nancy was raised in Highland Park and was a French major at Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia for two years before beginning her training as an architect at Syracuse University ( B.Arch.). She is married to Richard Becker and they have five incredible children. Nancy sits on various not-for-profit boards including the Highland Park based "Arts Center".
Bert Boldizsar AIA has prior work experience with the Affinity Corp.and Laszlo Simovic Architects. He is a member of the human race (in good standing), a Determinist, Part-Time Artist and Home Improvement Contractor (specifically his Highland Park home). Bert was raised in Chicago and attended the University of Illinois, Chicago (B.Arch.) He currently serves on the Highland Park Design Review Commission helping to raise the bar for the City’s built environment. He is married to Donna Boldizsar and they have two sons.
Omar Gutiérrez has prior work experience at Greystone Builders & Architects in Highland Park and earlier work in his hometown of Bucaramanga, Colombia, where he was born and raised. Omar holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from St. Thomas Aquinas University, is a licensed architect in Colombia and has now completed the Internship Development Program, part of the process for obtaining his architectural license in the U.S. An "outdoorsy" guy, Omar is usually found along Lake Michigan enjoying biking, volleyball, running and many other sports. He shares his time between Evanston and Ann Arbor, MI where his wife Shanna is completing a Masters degree in flute performance. They have three cats, Buddy, Micki and Cheddar.
Kim Jischke has twenty plus years of prior work experience at Frontier Soups, the former First National Bank of Highland Park, Crate and barrel and the Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce. Born in Chicago, Kim was raised in Lake Forest. She attended Northern Illinois and Lake Forest College. Her interests include canoeing, gardening, tennis, biking, walking for charity and taking care of her grandchildren. She is married to Dr John Jischke and they have three grown children.
Mark Siggelkow has over 15 years experience inboth residential and commercial architecture. He has had a wide assortment of projects throughout the United States from small and large residential to restaurants, car dealerships and hotels. He is a devout German car guy, in particular, Porsche and Audi. In addition to working on his Audi racecar, he enjoys riding motorcycles, scuba diving, cooking and travel. Mark was born in Marquette, Michigan and raised in Rochester, Minnesota. He attended Northern Michigan University (B.S. Environmental Design). Mark is married to Sara Siggelkow and they have two dogs, Henry and Alex.