The grec team

Ashley Bailey

Ashley joined GREC in pursuit of a new career path after seven years of working in the food and beverage industry. Now, she has brought her passion for hospitality into the studio to anticipate the needs of the office and is thoroughly enjoying getting a glimpse into the world of architecture. Outside of work, Ashley enjoys socializing and visiting with her friends to indulge her love of food and cocktails, as well as staying in with her two greatest loves, her adopted dogs, Zelda and Fitz.

BRIAN TURCZA

Associate Principal

Brian Turcza grew up in the mid-west and earned his Bachelor of Architectural Science at University of Illinois and Master’s in Architecture at the University of Cincinnati. Brian received a Distinguished Research award for his master’s thesis which explored how the built environment affects behavior by either encouraging social interaction or promoting solace and introspection. He remains mindful of this consideration in his current work and past projects. Most notably, at his previous role with AECOM, Brian executed thoughtful design strategies for the Boston Logan Airport C2E Terminal by evaluating opportunities to enhance passenger experience. His focus on the end user is a vital perspective for his current role working on some of our newest residential and hospitality projects.

DENNIS DECAPRI

Principal

Dennis DeCapri was raised in Richmond, Virginia and received his professional degree from the architecture school at Virginia Tech. Living in Chicago since 1982, Dennis has worked with Murphy/Jahn, O’Hare Associates, SOM, and has operated his own design and construction office. Dennis holds Illinois licenses as an architect and as a contractor. As the Principal in charge of construction for Piedmont Group, Dennis managed the development and construction of six major projects totaling more than 600,000 SF. Dennis joined his longtime friends and colleagues at GREC in 2009, where he has excelled in the design and management of large complex commercial and residential projects nationally and internationally.

JEREMY GREEN

ASSOCIATE

Jeremy Green is another Wisconsin native at GREC Architects with over twenty eight years’ experience. He is an alum of the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, where he was later recognized as a Graduate of the Last Decade. As a registered architect, he is an active member of the AIA and participates with the organization as an opportunity to exchange ideas and further the practices in experiential design. Jeremy engages his passion for art with architecture as a go to renderings guru. He has brought this perspective to many of his past projects including the Caterpillar World Headquarters in Peoria, Illinois, where his artful eye blended the incoming office facility with the urban redevelopment of the town.His attention to detail was also of great advantage when he led the final building stages of the Microsoft Office location in Downers Grove, Illinois where he was able to lend his expertise to the flawless finishing of each detail. As a Wisconsinite, Jeremy enjoys exploring his natural talents as a brew master. When not sourcing hops for his next creation, Jeremy can often be found outdoors with his wife and two dogs.

Joe Fisher

Growing up, Joe lived across the U.S. before settling in Chicago upon graduation from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Architecture Degree and a History minor. Joe began his career interning with Habitat for Humanity, followed by developing high-end retail stores and furniture design for Crate&Barrel. He has since gained experience in residential design including townhomes, student housing, and high-rise apartment buildings. Joe’s passion for art started him down the path to Architecture and he continues to draw and paint in his spare time.

Jose Navarrete

Jose Antonio Navarrete Avila was born and raised in Queretaro, Mexico, where he earned his Bachelor degree in Architecture and managed his own design studio. A long-time BIM enthusiast, Jose holds a Master’s degree in BIM Management. Over the course of his 8 years of experience in the architectural industry, Jose has worked on projects ranging from corporate interiors to high-end residential homes. He enjoys seeing projects through from the design phase to completion and takes pride in his Revit and 3D modeling skills. While Jose's favorite activity is spending a day on a Mexican beach, enjoying a good meal at an ethnic restaurant with his partner and friends in Chicago is a close second.

KATE PEDRIANI

Associate Principal

Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Kate graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Architecture and a Certificate In Business. Kate’s multi-disciplinary portfolio includes boutique hospitality, food & beverage, mixed-use developments, retail, commercial office, multi-family residential, and furniture design. Her refined and holistic approach to design is emphasized with an attention to detail and emphasis on materiality. Inspired by the emotional and psychological effect space can have on people’s lives, Kate strives to create comfortable livable environments for her clients with thoughtful and timeless design solutions. Both an Italian and American Citizen, Kate spends her free time traveling, and illustrating. She also volunteers with City Year Chicago where she helps design and renovate classroom spaces in Chicago’s public school districts.

KYLE COHEN

Kyle Cohen grew up in Michigan, received his Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree from The University of Michigan and his Master of Architecture degree from The Illinois Institute of Technology. Kyle’s experience has brought a well-rounded design approach to a wide variety of project types including mixed-use, multi-family residential, hospitality, adaptive re-use, and historic preservation. As an avid sports fan, his time away from the office is often spent playing softball, volleyball, or taking in a ballgame.

Michael Comiskey

Mike is a detail-oriented designer with a passion to incorporate contextual value and quality design into all aspects of his work. With a Bachelor’s degree from Miami University in Ohio and Graduate Degree from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Mike’s work experience includes restaurants, mixed-use and multi-family residential projects here in Chicago. He brings over 5 years of experience with overall project management from early stage conceptual design through project completion. In his free time, Mike enjoys designing and building furniture, as well as walking his dog around Lincoln Park.

Oscar Martinez

A Chicago South Side native, Oscar briefly left the city to pursue his B.S. in Architecture at the University of Michigan and was recipient of the Wallenberg Senior Thesis award in 2021. His project was later published in volume 35 of Dimensions Journal. After a summer internship with GREC in 2020, Oscar came back home to start his professional career full-time with the studio since graduating. When not exploring neighborhoods on all sides of the city, Oscar loves visiting new cities for their museums, libraries, and of course, different forms of public transportation.

RYAN VON DREHLE

Principal

Ryan von Drehle was raised in Michigan and earned an undergraduate degree from Lawrence Technological University, a graduate architectural degree from the University of Michigan, and studied abroad in Florence, Italy. Upon moving to Chicago in 2002, Ryan joined GREC as a project designer, and has since been responsible for a number of the firm’s most acclaimed building and master planning projects. Ryan’s design management role incorporates a high aptitude for technical knowledge and design implementation, and serves him as a key mentor within the firm. He is an Illinois licensed architect. Ryan is an active member of the community, serving with the mercy committee of Covenant Presbyterian Church, and donating design and construction services to local non-profit organizations such as Sunshine Gospel Ministries in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood.

SHUANG JIANG

Shuang is a dynamic project architect with over 10 years of experience in architecture. Born and raised in Beijing, China, with an international background, Shuang received her Bachelor of Architecture from Harbin Institute of Technology, her first Master of Architecture from Tongji University, and her second Master of Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis. She has a diverse portfolio in hospitality, high-end residential, higher education, mixed-use and office projects. Shuang brings positive energy and a collaborative spirit to her work and is passionate about creating meaningful design. In her personal life, Shuang enjoys exploring different cultures, trying new foods, and finding inspiration in art and design, as well as cooking authentic Chinese food to stay connected to her home and heritage.

ZACK MORRISON

Associate Principal

Zack Morrison graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Illinois at Chicago with his Bachelors in Architecture and an Art History minor. Zack then went on to pursue is MArch from the Rice University School of Architecture in Houston, Texas where he earned the distinguished honor as the recipient of the AIA Henry Adams Medal for academic achievement. Since graduating, Zack has worked on a number of important projects including the AIA Houston Design Award winning J-Camp Master Plan.

ZUBAIR BHAIDANI

Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, Zubair is an Illinois-licensed Architect. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and was a recipient of the Samuel Horowitz Award. Zubair's career spans a wide range of project types and scales, receiving design awards from both AIA and CTBUH. His passion for creative design solutions and greater vision is applied through every phase of the design and building process. Recreationally, Zubair enjoys taking time to focus on strength training and discovering brilliant restaurants across Chicago.