CHICAGO, IL Nationally recognized architecture and interior design firm Huntsman Architectural Group announces the opening of a new office in Chicago, Illinois. Andrew Volckens, AIA, Associate, will serve as Director, joined by Karie Vagedes, IIDA, Designer; both are long-term employees with the firm. Sascha Wagner, IIDA CID, Huntsman President and CEO made the announcement. 

"Chicago is a vibrant city with a dynamic business culture. It's also a place where architecture has always played a significant role," said Wagner. "With Huntsman's core focus on giving new life to existing structures, including building renovations, repositioning, and tenant improvements, the firm is ideally suited for expanding into the Chicago market."

Volckens has more than 15 years of experience as a designer and licensed architect working on a range of project types, including public sector, higher education, residential, mixed-use, restaurant, and retail. Volckens' project experience includes the Champaign Public Library in Champaign, Illinois, and projects for Quantcast, Digital Insight, Vanbarton Group, and YouTube. Originally from Winnetka, Illinois, Volckens is a graduate of the University of Michigan and received his masters in architecture from UC Berkeley.

With more than 13 years of experience in the field of architecture and interior design, Vagedes has collaborated with a wide variety of clients in the planning and design of office, retail, civic, and medical environments. She has successfully led projects for clients nationwide including Google for Entrepreneurs, Equity Office Properties, Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, and Kaiser Permanente. Originally from West Milton, Ohio, Vagedes is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati Design, Art, Architecture and Planning.