John Burcher

John Burcher AIA, IIDA

John Burcher, Director of Interior Design, has extensive experience as an architectural designer with an emphasis on mixed-use, corporate and office facilities in the U.S., Europe, Mexico and the Middle East. His current projects at AS+GG include Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Wuhan Greenland Center in Wuhan, China; and the Head Office of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) in Seoul, South Korea.

Before joining AS+GG in 2008, John was a design principal and director of interiors at DeStefano + Partners, where he was responsible for the design and implementation of many of the firm's major suburban office projects. His work spanned the corporate, institutional and residential markets. Under his direction, the firm's facilities team completed more 4.5 million square feet of services on schedule and on budget.

Prior to joining DeStefano + Partners in 1991, John was a director in the London office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and an associate partner in that firm's Chicago office.

An active supporter of professional education, John for many years was on the advisory board of Virginia Tech's College of Architecture and Urban Studies and also served the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He is currently on Northwestern University's Deering Library Board.

Education

Bachelor of Architecture, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, 1974

Affiliations

American Institute of Architects
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
International Interior Design Association
Urban Land Institute
Northwestern University, Deering Library Board
School of The Art Institute of Chicago, New Artists Society
School of The Art Institute of Chicago, Board of Governors and Board of Trustees, Auxiliary Board Chairperson 2003-2006

Presentations + Publications

Construction and Architectural Contracts, Illinois Real Estate Development and Finance Conference, Chicago, IL, August 8, 2008
Interior Design Seminar, IIDA Chapter, Illinois State University, Bloomington-Normal, IL, January 2008
Article on 33 West Monroe Street revitalization and 200 West Jackson in Licensed Architect, 2008.

Awards + Honors

2010 Arabian Property Award for Architecture, Mideast Region, Masdar Headquarters, International Property Awards
Chicago Athenaeum, American Architecture Award for Waldorf-Astoria Hotel and Residential Tower Chicago (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 2008
American Society of Interior Designers, Honorable Mention for contract under 10,000 square feet, 33 West Monroe Revitalization (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 2008
Society of American Registered Architects Award, The Columbian (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 2008
ASID Design Excellence Award Honorable Mention, Radiological Society of North America Conference Center (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 2007
Association of Licensed Architects, Silver Medal, 200 W. Jackson (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 2006
Society of American Registered Architects, Design Award of Special Recognition, 200 W. Jackson (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 2006
Building Owners & Managers Association, The Office Building of the Year, Continental Towers (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 2004
Society of American Registered Architects, Professional Design Award of Special Merit, Greenfield Partners Offices (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 2004
Association of Licensed Architects, Design Award of Merit, Greenfield Partners Offices (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 2004
Association of Licensed Architects, Gold Design Award, McHugh Construction Headquarters (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 2004
Chicago Building Congress, Merit Award finalist, McHugh Construction Headquarters (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 2004
Association of Licensed Architects, Silver Design Award, iLeo (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 2004
Chicagoland Apartment Association, Chicago Apartment Marketing and Management Excellence Award, Best Renovation over $500,000 (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 2003
Society of American Registered Architects, Professional Design Award of Special Recognition, iLeo (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 2003
Society of American Registered Architects, Professional Design Award of Honor, Leo Burnett Energy Rooms (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 2003
Association of Licensed Architects, Design Award of Merit, Leo Burnett Energy Rooms (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 2003
Society of American Registered Architects, Professional Design Award of Merit, McHugh Construction Headquarters (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 2003
Association of Licensed Architects, Award of Merit, Leo Burnett Executive Suites (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 2002
Midwest Construction Magazine, Best of 2002 Awards, Rehabilitation Award of Merit, McHugh Construction Headquarters (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 2002
City of Chicago, Department of Planning and Development, Chicago Landmark Award for Preservation Excellence, McHugh Construction Headquarters (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 2002
Society of American Registered Architects, Design Award of Merit, Leo Burnett Executive Suites (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 2001
Society of American Registered Architects, Professional Design Award of Merit, Esplanade IV (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 2000
National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, Award for Excellence, Esplanade IV (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 1999
ASHRAE, Chicago Chapter, Excellence in Engineering Award, McDonald's Plaza, Oak Brook, Illinois (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 1997
Chicago Athenaeum, New Chicago Architecture Award/exhibition, Standard Federal Bank Savings, Branch Bank Prototype (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 1997
Society for Registered Architects, Blue Ribbon Award of Merit, Standard Federal Bank for Savings (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 1996
Chicago Athenaeum, New Chicago Architecture Award for John J. Sparkman Center, Missile Excellence (while Principal at DeStefano + Partners), 1993

Major Projects at Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture:

Dancing Dragons
A twin tower scheme of 450 m and 330 m tall towers that proposes a new paradigm for super tall residential typologies. The performative design creates opportunities for views, daylighting, natural ventilation and other experiences. Seoul, Korea

La Perouse Development
Mixed-use 54,500 square-meter multifunctional complex with double-wall skin includes residential, administrative offices, sports complex, two restaurants, maintenance services and underground parking for 300 vehicles. Sakhalin Island, Russia

Gang Xia Tower
198-meter, 43-story tower in Shenzhen’s Futian Central District, with views to the adjacent Civic Center Park and a series of high performance solar shades. Shenzhen, China

Wuhan Greenland Center
Interior design for 141 story, 600-meter tall mixed-use tower features 58 office floors, 33 residential floors and 23 hotel floors and includes club levels and various observation levels, lobbies, and mechanical floors. Sustainable features include wind and PV panels and improve efficiency with low carbon solutions like trigeneration and smart power distribution management. Wuhan, China

Kingdom Tower
The next tallest building in the world, this tower will feature a luxury hotel, office space, serviced apartments, luxury condominiums and the world’s highest observatory.

Incheon Airport
This design is based around a central spine which follows the main axis of the site. The plan resolves opposite forces working together: airside with landside, passenger with aircraft, in a sustainable city airport, introducing the balance between nature with technology. Incheon, Korea

Hilal Tower
138 m mixed-use tower includes four levels below grade for retail, parking and support areas. The tower features residential, office and retail at ground and higher levels. Sustainable elements include district cooling, solar hot water, energy-efficient lighting and equipment, a greywater system and highly efficient HVAC and MEP Systems. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Ahlamana
Mixed-use 74.5 m and 105 m residential and office towers consisting of 5,612 sm of area. The program includes four to five below-grade levels for partial storage, parking and support areas.  Sustainable elements include district cooling, solar hot water, energy-efficient lighting and equipment, a greywater system and highly efficient HVAC and MEP Systems. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Jinan Pullman Competition
Interior design concept for Jinan Pulimen Super High Rise Competition. Interiors promote a modern, active lifestyle by providing a high level of amenities, including a swimming pool, fitness center and multipurpose entertainment room. A light-filled plaza at the base of the atrium provides access to all units. Jinan, China

Beijing Franshion Development
Master planning, architectural and interior design of mixed-use  development in Beijing’s Central Business District featuring residential, retail, educational and recreational facilities. Beijing, China

Imperial Tower Competition
Imperial Tower will offer the most spacious and luxurious residences in Mumbai. The 76,272 sm tower includes 132 residential units, along with serviced apartments. All of the upper-story condominiums offer views of the Arabian Sea. Mumbai, India

Federation of Korean Industries
50 story, 240 meter tower in downtown Seoul will provide the headquarters for the Federation of Korean Industries. The Class A office building also includes dining facilities, theater and conference center and rooftop garden. Seoul, Korea

Masdar Hq Development
Positive Energy building (generating more energy than it consumes) in zero-carbon, zero-waste city outside of Abu Dhabi. Project includes office and residential space, retail, transit circulation and incorporates landscaped green space. Masdar City at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

1 Dubai
Three-tower, supertall mega-structure includes luxury hotels, condominiums, offices, retail and cultural facilities. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Park Gate
Ensemble of six mid-rise office buildings linked with canopies, enclosing a central garden space. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Verde Residences
49-story, 1.35 million sf luxury residential tower, including duplex townhouses, 4 stories of office space and retail along a harbor promenade. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Verde Offices
32-story, 820,000 sf office tower featuring including verdant sky gardens and podium offices. Dubai, United Arab Emirates.


At DeStefano + Partners:

33 W. Monroe
Chicago, Illinois

180 N. LaSalle
Chicago, Illinois

200 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, Illinois

300 N. LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois

330 N. Wabash Repositioning & Conversion
Chicago, Illinois

6400 Shafer Court
Rosemont, Illinois

American Board of Psychology and Neurology
Deerfield, Illinois

AmTrust Real Estate Corp.
Chicago, Illinois

Capps Digital
Chicago, Illinois

Capps Digital Studio Expansion
Chicago, Illinois

Central Station Master Plan
Chicago, Illinois

Centro Carlos III
Barcelona, Spain

Citibank
Schaumburg, Illinois

Clayton City Condominium
Clayton, Missouri

The Columbian
Chicago, Illinois

ComEd , First National Plaza
Chicago, Illinois

Continental Towers, Businesses and Marketing Suite
Rolling Meadows, Illinois

Continental Towers
Oak Brook, Illinois

Diagonal Mar
Barcelona, Spain

Esplanade IV
Downers Grove, Illinois

Esplanade V
Downers Grove, Illinois

Ft. Sheridan Residences
Ft. Sheridan, Illinois

First Personal Bank
Garfield and Orland Park, Illinois

Glorieta Eliptica
Madrid, Spain

GM Planworks
Detroit, Michigan

Hinshaw Law Firm
Lisle, Illinois

iLeo
Chicago, Illinois

Janssen Parmaceutica
Naperville, Illinois

KPMG Peat Marwick
St. Louis, Missouri

Leo Burnett International
Miami, Florida

Leo Burnett USA
Chicago, Illinois

TCF
Chicago, Illinois

Maple Hill Private Residence
Glencoe, Illinois

McDonald's Corp. North Campus Master Plan
Oak Brook, Illinois

McDonald's Plaza Building, Renovation
Oak Brook, Illinois

McHugh Construction Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois

McGaw YMCA
Evanston, Illinois

Medinah Shrine Center
Chicago, Illinois

Narco River
Oak Brook, Illinois

Northbrook Pointe
Northbrook, Illinois

O'Hare Airport Terminal 2
E/F Concourse Public Area Improvement Project. Chicago, Illinois

Olympian Office Center Businesses
Lisle, Illinois

Participate.com
Chicago, Illinois

Participate Systems
Chicago, Illinois

Rosenthal & Schanfield
Chicago, Illinois

RSNA Conference Center
Oak Brook, Illinois

Salt Creek Businesses
Schaumburg, Illinois

Soarus
Chicago, Illinois

John J. Sparkman Center for Missile Excellence
Huntsville, Alabama

Standard Federal Bankd
Burr Ridge, Illinois

Starcom
Chicago, Illinois

Starlink
Chicago, Illinois

Swiss Financial Services
Naperville, Illinois

TCF National Bank Interiors
Burr Ridge, Illinois

TCF National Bank, Branch Bank
Orland Park, Illinois

Two Century Center
Schaumburg, Illinois

Velma Butler
Chicago, Illinois

Westwood II Offices
Lisle, Illinois

The Wilson Companies
Westmont, Illinois

Wynnchurch Capital
Lake Forest, Illinois

At DeStefano + Partners with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill:
222 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois

225 West Washington Street
Chicago, Illinois

ADP Trusthouse Forte Hotel
Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris, France

Arab International Bank and Hyatt Hotel
Cairo, Egypt

As-Salam Project
Kuwait City, Kuwait

Broadgate
Phases 5-8 & 14, Broadgate Club and Liverpool St. Station. London, England

Grupo Industrial Alfa Headquarters
Monterey, Mexico

Heritage Mutual Insurance Company
Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Hotel de las Artes
Ritz Carlton. Barcelona, Spain

Ludgate Master Plan and Buildings
London, England

NBC Tower at City Front Center and Master Plan
Chicago, Illinois

Orleans Court Apartments
Chicago, Illinois

Paternoster
London, England

Westwood II Offices
Lisle, Illinois

The Wilson Companies
Westmont, Illinois

Wynnchurch Capital
Lake Forest, Illinois

John Burcher on…

…design
Absolute original thought is very rare, as someone, somewhere in the world or in history, has thought your exact same idea. It's more about knowing and seeing something that inspires you, and then how you interpret that inspiration in today's world of technology and innovation followed by good common design sense.

…where he finds inspiration
Usually by using my eyes to see something and transforming that abstractly into an design concept or palette of color or an idea for a detail. The most important tool to the designer is having the vision to see and ask the next question and listen to your team's design vision.

…his favorite "moment" in architecture
Spending a day at the Kimbell Gallery in Fort Worth, Texas. The second moment was riding the service freight at the Sears Tower with the top hatch open up to the sky deck.

…his favorite city architecturally
Sana'a, Yemen.

…his favorite thing about a collaborative design process
Finding the unknown ideas that occur in the collaborative process, thus creating an expanded concept within the parameters of the design. This gives a richness and depth of design and freshness that might not otherwise occur.

…what he'd be if he weren't an architect
I would either run an art gallery or antique store or work as a gardener.

…what he does when he's not designing
In Chicago I enjoy exploring new restaurants and the pleasure of dinner conversations with friends and a good laugh. Visiting different artists and gallery hopping is always a source of interest. In the winter, I like escaping to Tucson and enjoying the southwest climate and light, getting a break from arctic Chicago.