Studio
A TEAM OF PRACTITIONERS
MONICA CHADHA |
AIA, LEED AP
Founder and Principal Architect
Monica Chadha leads all aspects of projects in the office and serves as the primary point of contact on projects. Prior to starting her firm, she served as founding director of Impact Detroit and led project teams at both Studio Gang and Ross Barney Architects. During that time, Monica was integral to the design of award-winning, civic scale buildings, such as the Champaign Public Library and the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Civil Engineering Building.
Monica is on the Board of Trustees of the Graham Foundation. She was an Adjunct Professor at Illinois Institute of Technology from 2007 to 2017, engaging students in social impact design practices. She holds a Masters of Architecture from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Bachelors of Environmental Studies in Architecture from the University of Waterloo, Canada.
In 1996 she worked at the Vastu-Shilpa Foundation for Research & Studies in Environmental Design as a Research Associate in the Office of Balkrishna Doshi, on the development of housing prototypes for low-income communities.
IAN MILEY | AIA
Senior Associate | Project Architect and Exhibit Designer
Ian Miley is a licensed architect and urban designer interested in addressing socially-driven issues within Chicago. His passions include sustainability, comprehensive cities and a more inclusive public sphere. He brings a strong sense of detail and fabrication to the office. He has worked at a variety of scales and holds a Bachelor’s in Architecture from Oklahoma State University and a Master’s of Urban Design from Washington University. His experience includes working at WJW Architects and Canopy Architecture and Design. He has extensive experience in affordable housing with a focus on inclusive design and sustainability. He resides in the South Chicago neighborhood.
imiley@civic-projects.com
KARIN CHEN
Associate | Project Architect
Karin Chen is a licensed architect who values a team mentality, a holistic approach, and creative problem-solving. She has collaborated on projects ranging from small commercial re-models to intricate large-scale housing projects from design phase to construction completion. Her natural curiosity has cultivated a diverse set of skills in fields like affordable housing, accessibility, facade design and fabrication, BIM management, and product design. Karin has a strong investment in cities and public spaces and how design ideas can be implemented to serve the local and greater community. She holds architecture degrees from Columbia University and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
A native of the Chicago suburbs, Karin has lived and worked in San Francisco, New York, and Paris. She enjoys reading, cooking, traveling, and exploring city neighborhoods in her spare time.
kchen@civic-projects.com
DAVID HOFF
Architectural Designer
David Hoff is an architect and a graduate of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at The University of Arkansas. While in school he interned with Civic Projects Architecture and Marlon Blackwell Architects. David had the privilege of working on a diverse range of projects that spanned educational, agricultural, and governmental typologies. David is interested in architecture that celebrates people by ensuring the dignity of their experience in a space. He believes architecture should strive to create harmony of design amongst people, place, and the environment. In his free time David enjoys learning about history and drawing. David is originally from Elmhurst Illinois and has lived throughout the country in places such as Colorado, Arkansas, New York, and he currently is living in the Hyde Park neighborhood.
dhoff@civic-projects.com
COLLABORATORS
Our collaborators bring expertise in urban planning, education, sustainability, and policy; enriching each project with their specialized knowledge and contributions. Combined with our commitment to quality design and architecture, our collaborative practice results in projects that are deeply embedded in their context and communities.
David Keller
Senior Technical Advisor
David Keller has over 30 years of experience working with architects, owners, developers, and contractors to move projects from concept to construction. He focuses on maintaining quality, identifying issues early, and keeping teams aligned throughout the process. His approach blends practical problem-solving with a strong understanding of building systems and construction methods.
Now working independently as a senior architectural consultant, David provides design and technical support to architects, owners, and contractors. His work includes coordinating drawings, reviewing plans, and supporting construction in the field. He often joins projects early to assist with budgeting, planning, and design evaluations—and helps guide owners through the design and development process, offering insight to support informed decision-making.
His portfolio includes a diverse mix of housing, hospitality, retail, and institutional projects. Known for clear communication and a steady, collaborative style, David helps bridge the gap between design intent and construction execution. He has guest lectured at the University of Illinois at Chicago and has a strong interest in local urban history. Outside of work, he enjoys exploring Chicago’s neighborhoods and architecture—and playing tennis whenever he can.
dkeller@civic-projects.com
Chana Haouzi (Architecture for Public Benefit)
Chana Haouzi is an architect, educator, and fierce advocate that good design can and should be for everyone. Chana is the founder of Architecture for Public Benefit (APB) and a licensed architect with ten years of comprehensive design experience. She leads design studios at the University of Chicago’s Art History Department and Illinois Institute of Technology’s College of Architecture. Chana has partnered with various mission-driven organizations, including Brookline and Boston Public Libraries, the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence, Aaron’s Presents, and YouthBuild. She is the recipient of the 2022 AIA Young Architects Award. Chana holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from McGill University and two master’s in architecture from McGill University’s School of Architecture and Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.
Gabe Moreno (Poco Projects)
Gabriel Moreno is an artist, designer, and contractor in Chicago, Illinois. Drawing from 15 years of experience in carpentry, tile, and stone, he synthesizes material quality and personal care to meet site-specific needs. In addition, he leverages these skills in leading the Design Apprenticeship Program: a skills-building youth mentorship initiative at Arts + Public Life that asks teens to be stewards of their material and social conditions. Grounded in liberatory pedagogy, building objects becomes a platform for nurturing individuals and building collectivity.
He has worked across residential, commercial, and institutional projects, as well as collaborations with Theaster Gates Studio, Herkes İçin Mimarlik, studioBASAR, and Civic Projects. He holds degrees from Knox College and The University of Chicago.
Abby Hamlin (Hamlin Ventures, LLC)
Abby Hamlin is a real estate developer and civic thinker. In 1998, she founded Hamlin Ventures, which remains one of a handful of successful woman-owned development companies. Prior to forming Hamlin Ventures, Abby was President of Swig Weiler & Arnow Management, a premiere commercial real estate company that developed, owned, and managed 8 million square feel of office properties in New York City and San Francisco. As an active civic leader, she is a board member for the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership and has led several of its public design initiatives.
Clement Blanchet (cBA)
Clément Blanchet is the founder and principal of Clément Blanchet Architecture (cBA) and a former Associate of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) in France. During his 10 years of collaboration with Rem Koolhaas, Clément contributed to the development of OMA in Europe and led several award winning projects for the firm. Founded in Paris in 2014, his firm Clément Blanchet Architecture has worked on major projects such as the R&D Center for Carrefour, a new mixed-use complex for Georgia, and the French Pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai.
PAST RESEARCH FELLOWS, COLLABORATORS and STAFF
Amanda Mauser
Andrew Vesselinovitch
Brandon Limary
Cas Esbach
Chang Hong
Charlotte Soehner
Dana Taylor
Dhruv Maheshwari
Eli Harrell
Gustavo Acosta
Ginger Stanciel
Hasnain Khundmiri
Jacob Chartoff
Jane Jozefowicz
Jennifer Doty
Jess Monigal
Joanne Koola
John Wolf
Jungsik Kim
Justin Bologna
Kyeore Lee
Maria Bergh
Michelle McSweeney
Minjung Ku
Sharlene Young
Shreya Minama Reddy
Smitha Vasan
Tarek Alhariri
Tiffany Bobbitt
Tukesha Hill
Zebeeb Nuguse