Cheers to 24 years, tom!

cheers to 24 years, tom!

We have some bittersweet news from the Studio21 Architects office: after twenty-four years at our firm, Tom Fend is retiring. While this is sad news for us, as we will sorely miss the sharp wit Tom brings to the office every day, it is still joyful news for Tom. He will officially retire on September 8th, fittingly chosen to correspond with his twenty-fourth-year anniversary at Studio21 Architects. So, let’s break out the champagne and spend some Studio Pages time looking back at the greatest hits of Tom’s time at the firm!

Originally from a small town in Pennsylvania, Tom received his degrees in Ohio, with his Bachelor’s in Environmental Design from Miami University of Ohio and his Master of Architecture from Ohio State. He has worked in the industry since 1979 in Columbus, OH, and in Chicago, before making a home with Studio21 Architects in 1999—a fantastic way to kick off the millennium for us! Tom has a wide-ranging background in architecture, with expertise in residential, commercial, multifamily, and restorative design. Along the way, he has collected many accolades and distinctions, from Gold Key Awards to “Best in American Remodeling” notoriety from Professional Home Builder Magazine. The products of Tom’s work can be found all over Chicagoland, and you would likely be hard-pressed to have never seen something he’s designed.

Tom’s designs have been celebrated many times over his tenure at Studio21 Architects. Just this past week, we came across a video making its rounds on social 

media that spotlighted the English Rows Townhomes, a sprawling fifty-six-unit development in Naperville. This development was designed by Tom and sets itself apart with exterior aesthetics inspired by Victorian-era England and London's Mews Garden developments. Each style of townhome has apt names like "Lady Jane" and "Mary Stuart", and they range in size from 2,150 square feet to 2,900 square feet. The townhomes aren’t the only interesting part of this unique project; corresponding to the English Rows is a multi-use commercial space called the Victorian Village, home of restaurants and retail shops, all in the same design style.
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It would take much more than one newsletter to highlight all of the amazing work Tom has created, but the overarching theme between each and every project of his is the care and skill he devotes to them all. While at Studio21 Architects, Tom has inspired loyalty from many clients due to his high-quality designs and expert guidance. He understands the architecture industry 

inside and out and because of that, he has always been able to give the Studio21 clients a positive experience where they feel confident in their project's process. As a firm, our entire approach relates to the journey; great design is our baseline, and we go above and beyond through the delivery of an exceptional client experience. In his twenty-four years with Studio21 Architects, Tom has embodied the firm’s foundational beliefs completely and expertly.

There is so much more to Tom than architecture! Outside of the office, Tom volunteers as a mentor with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties. He also enjoys biking, gardening, following his favorite sports teams, and traveling. He plans to travel and spend time with his family, and when we asked what he was most excited about, he said (in his classic biting sarcasm), “Not coming here!” As a firm, we have been incredibly lucky to have Tom on our team and while we will keep trying to convince him to visit us, now, we are excited for him to relax and enjoy retirement! And with all of that said, we are happy to say:

cheers to 24 years, tom!!

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written by: emma halliday

Emma Halliday works as the Marketing Coordinator at Studio21 Architects. For each of our newsletters, Emma conducts interviews, writes articles, and formats the pages to make sure they reflect the great design we value so strongly at this firm. She may not be an architect, but she certainly makes sure that the marketing materials have architect-worthy design as well!