Video Q&A with Ross Renjilian. Learn about his time at En Masse, his journey in architecture and what makes him tick.

Welcoming the Summer breeze, we served up delightful matcha floats, lavender tonic cold brew desserts, and traditional affogatos. All proceeds from the event supported the Abundance Setting, a non-profit organization aiding women and mothers in the culinary industry.

“The biggest lesson I was able to transfer from my experience in Set Design into Architecture was that of flow and sequencing… I find that being able to take a step back from a programming list and envisioning how someone will inhabit that floor plan is an incredibly potent approach, humanizing the process.”

In an effort to share the coffee love we organized a Coffee Shop pop-up on our communal level throughout the morning and afternoon, sharing the duties of brewing and serving customers as they passed by.

Video Q&A with talented Designer Morgan Peterson. Learn about his experiences teaching and his journey into Architecture.

As part of our event series and with help from Hao Made Candles, and ELM Surfaces we hosted a Candlemaking workshop at En Masse Architecture and Design. It was awesome connecting with industry peers, friends of the firm and other design minded folks.

In honor of Pride Month, we decided to do something special- partnering with the talented team at Chicago Plants, experts in Interiorscape Consultation, to transform our En Masse meeting space into a vibrant tropical oasis.

As the Chicago sunshine streams through our studio windows, our collective of designers began thinking about how we could bring new voices and ideas into our space. We were thrilled to showcase the work of Hans Koesters and his captivating pieces, which provide an enticing exploration of the delicate space between art and architecture.

In thinking about ways that we can create projects that are personal, what aspects are most important to making a house into a home?

“Simply put, we want to design dream homes for people to connect to. Each home should be specific to what the client wants and how they live so that no two homes are the same. Each is a special responsibility to the client and the context of living.”

We’re passionate about Logan Square. Check out our favorite spots.

What is the first step to creating a thoughtful design?

“The first step is hearing how clients live their day-to-day lives and understanding their needs and personalities. As designers, we don’t see how people actually live, so it is our job to create spaces that stay true to them by asking the right questions.”

In spite of losing his luggage on the way, Lucas (Design Partner) had an amazing trip to Italy. Traveling the sweltering summer sun, he made his way to Castelfranco, Italy and towards Brombal Glass, a family-run glass company specializing in steel, brass, and bronze windows.

We are always so proud to have guests in our studio, and when we were presented with the opportunity to host an American Institute of Architects Chicago (AIA Chicago) CRAN event this August we were so excited to host our fellow architects and architectural professionals!

We have mastered the perfect cortado. As each designer takes a turn crafting their own to kick start their day, the coffee bar has become the first place where the conversation begins.

Celebrating the evolution of our brand, expressing our architectural approach, and sharing the joy that is contained within our concrete exterior was our goal- and we feel so proud to have been able to share that with our friends and fellow designers.

Everyone involved in the process brings value and we learn so much on every project from clients, collaborators, contractors, etc. En Masse means “all together.” For us, that’s a reflection of the way we work, and who we are.