MEET OUR PEOPLE
Our design philosophy requires collaboration and communication. The most important things we build are relationships. Click on the images to meet the people who build those relationships.
Dani Fitzgerald
Principal
Why Fitzgerald APD?
“Oh jeez, seriously?”
Coolest chance meeting you have had
“I ran into Muhammed Ali on the sidewalk in front of City Hall. It was later in his life, but he was still a commanding presence. He was gracious and shook my hand. Twenty plus years later, it’s still a wonderful memory.”
My hobby is…
“When I have the time, I like to golf.”
In a quiet moment you grab; a book, a movie or music?
“I can’t wait till I have those quiet moments and I’ll do all three.”
Your prized possession is….
“Pass – this question is too hard.”
The most important thing I have learned since I got out of school…
“It’s really, really important to ask questions if you want to learn.”
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If you could visit any place in the world….
“Right now I’m very interested in Portugal and Morroco.”
Favorite place in Chicago?
“It's a toss up between the lakefront and Twin Anchors.”
One of my favorite things to do is…
“Walk the lakefront
Best life hack….
“Take a deep breath.”
The best meal I can make is…
“It’s not a meal, but my flourless chocolate cake is pretty good.”
The coolest place I have ever been….
“So far it’s a toss-up between Venice and Iceland.”
Last best concert you have seen?
“Dead & Company at Sphere.”
My greatest adventure, so far, was…
“Trapeze class on the lakefront.”
On my “bucket list”…...
“Driving an RV up the Pacific Coast Highway.”
Madison Kelly
Project Architect
Why Fitzgerald APD?
“Our varied portfolio and great clients have kept my work with FAPD engaging for the past 13 years.”
Something about you that would surprise us….
"I live in Minnesota! After working in Chicago for FAPD for 7 years, I now work remotely from my hometown of St. Paul."
My hobby is…
"Create things. My hobbies include baking, wood working and knitting. Designing and creating goes beyond architecture. I’ve been awarded ribbons at the MN State Fair for knitting and woodworking."
If you could visit any place in the world….
"Japan is on the top of my list of places to visit. Someday!"
Favorite place in Chicago?
"A favorite of many people: The Art Institute. I always enjoy a walk through the Impressionist Wing when I visit."
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One of my favorite things to do is…
“Go on a bike ride. Whether it be a quick trip to the grocery store or leisurely ride along the Mississippi (with a stop at a brewery and round of dominos of course), I always enjoy a ride.“
The coolest place I have ever been….
”Too many to pick just one, but the rice terraced valleys in Yuanyang, China had some amazing vistas, and the journey to get there was quite a ride.”
What is on your playlist?
“Lately I’m been listening to Maggie Rodgers, First Aid Kit, Bailen, Sarah Jaroz, Lissie, the Staves and Joseph. I guess you could summarize the list as ‘girl power’.”
The show(s) I binge watch is\are…
“Somehow, I have worked my way through almost the whole back log of Taskmaster. I might need to start watching the New Zealand and Australian versions.”
My greatest adventure, so far, was…
“Backpacking through Asia for 9 weeks with my husband. It was an adventure in culture, food, climate, you name it. Doing an overnight cave tour in the jungle was a highlight.”
Eric Wilkens
Project Manager
Why Fitzgerald APD?
Why not! There are great people here who enjoy designing and delivering great projects.
Coolest chance meeting you have had.
I met the lead singer of my favorite local band at Roscoe Village Burger Fest.
My hobbies are…
“Playing golf, watching sports, and sampling good bourbon.”
In a quiet moment you grab; a book, a movie or music?
“A movie or reruns of a TV show I’ve seen dozens of times.”
Your prized possession is….
“my dog Mack.”
The most important thing I have learned since I got out of school…
“School is not like the real world, so never stop learning.”
If you could visit any place in the world….
“Australia and New Zealand.”
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One of my favorite things to do is…
“Play golf.”
Best life hack….
“Meal prep on weekends. You can save so much time and money.”
The best meal I can make is…
“I feel like I make a lot of great dishes, but my wife would probably say my best is Gnocchi with Vodka Sauce.”
The coolest place I have ever been….
“Old Course at St Andrews, Scotland.”
What is on your playlist? Just about everything.
“Punk Rock, Hip-Hop, Pop Music, etc..”
Last best concert you have seen?
“Rise Against at the Salt Shed.”
The show(s) I binge watch is\are…
“I still re-watch/binge my all-time favorites, Scrubs and Arrested Development..”
My greatest adventure, so far, was…
“Hiking in Glacier National Park to the Granite Park Chalet.”
Amanda Carver
Architectural Associate
Why Fitzgerald APD?
“Doing a range of project types in a small firm means that everyone does a little of everything, and it makes every day interesting.”
A really great day is…
“Sleep in, take the dog for a walk in some beautiful weather, and have friends over for a board game or a movie night.”
Something about you that would surprise us…
“My hair has been 7 different colors …okay, maybe that’s not surprising.”
My hobby is…
“Knitting! I prefer smaller projects and patterns I’ve memorized – usually hats and socks – so that I can knit on the go.”
In a quiet moment you grab; a book, a movie or music?
“Almost always a book, I’m totally hooked on the ebook app for the Chicago Public Library.”
Your prized possession is….
“My two pets - Guybrush the orange tabby, and Paska the corgi.”
If you could visit any place in the world….
“Scandinavia. I like cold weather and rugged landscapes… plus I hear they have some great yarn up there.”
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Favorite place in Chicago?
“Clark Street in Andersonville. Lots of good shopping and good food.”
The best meal I can make is…
“I make a pretty good chili, but the time or two I made it for the office, the bahn mi was a real hit.”
What is your super power?
“I can hold my breath for ten minutes!”
What is on your playlist?
“Muse, NIN, Mika, My Chemical Romance, The Protomen, Streetlight Manifesto, Coheed and Cambria, Saul Williams, The Mountain Goats.”
My greatest adventure, so far, was…
“Moving from Philadelphia to Chicago in 2012.”
On my “bucket list”…
“Go camping at a Dark Sky site. I’ve lived in big cities my whole life and have never seen the full night sky.”
Agnes Madry
Architectural Associate
Why Fitzgerald APD?
“FAPD is the coolest architectural office anyone could wish to work for. With the interesting projects, a fantastic team and very good vibes.”
A really great day is….
“Sunny day in the mountains, perfect powder snow and cheap ski passes.”
Something about you that would surprise us….
“I completed the Warrior Dash (5K in mud with obstacles).”
Coolest chance meeting you have had
“Long ago, in a small bookstore in Chicago, I had the rare opportunity to meet the esteemed Polish writer and journalist, Mr. Jan Nowak Jezioranski. A resistance fighter during World War II, he served as a courier between London and Warsaw. After the war, he was barred from returning to Poland, and his books were prohibited. It was a privilege to meet him in person and engage in a brief conversation. Although he passed away many years ago, he lived to see his country’s return to the democratic world.”
My hobby is…
“Reading history, gardening, baking (if I want to improve my mood).”
In a quiet moment you grab; a book, a movie or music?
“Book and music in the background.”
Your prized possession is….
“Are records from the sixties and seventies.”
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The most important thing I have learned since I got out of school…
“Turn mistakes into learning opportunities.”If you could visit any place in the world….
“There are many places, but I keep thinking about going to Alaska.”Favorite place in Chicago?
“Ancient Cultures Museum, UIC.”One of my favorite things to do is…
“Skiing (downhill or water).”Best life hack….
“Vinegar is good for so many things. I add it to every washing to preserve clothes and equipment.”The best meal I can make is…
“Tiramisu.”The coolest place I have ever been….
“Dolomite mountains, Italy; Glacier National Park, Montana; Chichen Itza, Mexico.”What is your super power?
“Perseverance.”What is on your playlist?
“Jazz, world music, movie soundtracks and folk.”Last best concert you have seen?
“Flamenco in Atheneum Theater and Carlos Santana in Ravinia.”The show(s) I binge watch is\are…
“Game of Thrones, Better call Saul, Dark, Succession.”My greatest adventure, so far, was…
“Skiing on the glacier in Italy.”On my “bucket list”…
“Skydiving, climbing Montsegur, traveling to Alaska, Scotland, Morocco and more.”
Bill Broms
Architectural Associate
Why Fitzgerald APD?
“All the diverse projects we work on means every day is a new and exciting challenge!”
A really great day is….
“Playing with my dog at the park and then going to a Cubs game.”
Something about you that would surprise us….
“I’m the lead singer in a band!”
Coolest chance meeting you have had
“Meeting a ton of famous jazz artists when my high school band performed at the Midwest Band Clinic.”
My hobby is…
“Brainstorming how Chicago’s public transit could be better.”
In a quiet moment you grab; a book, a movie or music?
“Music! A quiet moment doesn’t have to be quiet when you can karaoke your favorite song.”
Your prized possession is….
“My camping equipment! I keep it cleaner than my apartment.”
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The most important thing I have learned since I got out of school…
“You have a lot more free time without homework.”
If you could visit any place in the world….
“Sicily! A lot of my family lineage came from there in the early 1900’s.”
Favorite place in Chicago?
“EZ Inn on Western; chill atmosphere, vintage jukebox, and good drinks make it a must visit.”
One of my favorite things to do is…
“Go camping on a long weekend in cold weather!”
Best life hack….
“Carry a big water bottle so you don’t have to fill it up as often.”
The best meal I can make is…
“Bill’s famous 10lb. Baked Mac-N-Cheese.”
The coolest place I have ever been….
“Scarperia, Italy; I played a show with my high school jazz band in the courtyard of a castle at night.”
What is your super power?
“Either my green thumb or my Revit skills!”
What is on your playlist?
“What isn’t? Jazz fusion, classic rock, yacht rock, and some pop to name a few!”
Last best concert you have seen?
“Vulfpeck at the Salt Shed! It poured rain through most of the openers, but it didn’t matter.”
The show(s) I binge watch is\are…
“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Game of Thrones and Seinfeld.”
My greatest adventure, so far, was…
“Flying into Los Angeles and road tripping up to Monterrey and back, visiting national and state parks along the way.”
On my “bucket list”…..
“Do a road trip across the US and visit all the Frank Lloyd Wright designs; visit all of the European countries in my family is from.”
Iqra Polani
Architectural Associate
Why Fitzgerald APD?
“I appreciate the emphasis FAPD places on designing for human experience, as well as the wide variety of project types that the firm does.”
Something about you that would surprise us….
“I speak 3 languages.”
My hobby is…
“Ceramics and crocheting.”
In a quiet moment you grab; a book, a movie or music?
“A good book, always!”
Your prized possession is….
“My vinyl record collection.”
The most important thing I have learned since I got out of school…
“Never be afraid to ask questions!”
If you could visit any place in the world….
“My best friend and I have been wanting to travel to New Zealand for many years and hope to finally make the trip soon.”
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Favorite place in Chicago?
“The 606 Trail.”
One of my favorite things to do is…
“Take long walks with my husband and get coffee or boba tea.”
The best meal I can make is…
“I actually prefer baking over cooking! I enjoy trying out different bread recipes or making desserts for my friends and family to try.”
The coolest place I have ever been….
“Istanbul is definitely one of the coolest places I’ve ever been. I’d love to revisit and explore it more one day!”
What is your super power?
“I love organizing and am always able to find a place for everything.”
What is on your playlist?
“Beach House, Mitski, Lorde, King Krule, Cage the Elephant, and Kaytranada to name a few. I’m always looking for more music recommendations!”
Last best concert you have seen?
“I went to a Vampire Weekend concert this past summer and was happy to see the band play again after so many years.”
The show(s) I binge watch is\are…
“I find myself rewatching comedy shows like Arrested Development or Veep often, but I also love to occasionally binge watch reality TV.”
On my “bucket list”…..
“I’d love to be able to run a marathon one day.”
Patrick Fitzgerald
Business Manager
Why Fitzgerald APD?
“I was asked if I would help through the transition 11 years ago; I think we are almost there.”
A really great day is….
“A walk, or bike ride, headphones in and Dead & Company in my ears.”
Coolest chance meeting you have had…
“Elvis Costello when I worked in radio. We were warned not to interact with him, he came right up and started talking with me. He seemed pretty nice.”
My hobby is…
“Trying to play guitar, reading, cooking.”
In a quiet moment you grab; a book, a movie or music?
“Music, book, movie in that order”
Your prized possession is….
“My cousin bought me a show poster, from an antique store, of the first Grateful Dead show I saw.”
The most important thing I have learned since I got out of school…
“Everyone knows something you don’t know.”
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If you could visit any place in the world….
“Iceland.”
Favorite place in Chicago?
“Any of the beach bars on a summer day.”
One of my favorite things to do is…
“Go on a bike ride start on the lakefront, you can spend a day seeing new things.”
The best meal I can make is…
“I was very good when I had a large barrel smoker, but had to downsize. Though I just took a class and learned the “Mother Sauces” so the list is expanding.”
The coolest place I have ever been…
“Venice.”
What is on your playlist?
“Besides the Grateful Dead? Mike Doughty\Soul Coughing, I’m a big fan of 70’s – 80’s R&B.”
Last best concert you have seen?
“Dead & Co at Sphere in Vegas.”
The show(s) I binge watch is\are…
“What We Do in the Shadows, Slow Horses, Disclaimer, Rivals, I can only watch one at a time though, I get them mixed up.”
James T. Kirk
Chief Interstellar Officer
A really great day is....
Chasing, and catching, a Klingon War Bird, outside the neutral zone.
Something about you that would surprise us....
I really do believe there are Kobayashi Maru situations.
In a quiet moment you grab a book, movie or music?
I enjoy listening to Spock play his Vulcan harp.
Your prized possession is?
My survey equipment from the SS Faragut.
Why FITZGERALD APD?
Why not Fitzgerald ADP!