Pickard Chilton
Mohamad Hafez, AIA, is a multifaceted architect, artist, and entrepreneur with extensive experience across various prestigious institutions and projects. Currently, Hafez serves as the Founder of Pistachio Cafe, located in Westville, specializing in specialty coffees and cold brews, while also holding roles as Interpreter in Residence and Artist in Residence at the University of Chicago’s Oriental Institute. Hafez has contributed significantly to architecture as a Project Architect at Pickard Chilton, working on prominent projects like 609 Main at Texas and the BankMed Headquarters, among others. Additionally, Hafez is the Sculptor-Curator for UNPACKED: Refugee Baggage, an initiative aimed at humanizing the refugee experience through art. As the Founder of The Joud Foundation and an artist through Mohamad Hafez Art, the works reflect a blend of East and West, influenced by personal experiences and political contexts. Hafez obtained a Bachelor of Architecture from Iowa State University, with prior studies in Electrical Engineering at Northern Illinois University and Damascus University.
Pickard Chilton
Pickard Chilton is a global architecture studio that designs innovative buildings and transformative environments that deliver value and inspire community. Founded in 1997, the New Haven, Connecticut-based, 50-person studio provides design services to public and private sector clients internationally. The studio is large enough to be entrusted with highly competitive projects of landmark scale yet small enough to offer visionary clients the gratifying experience of shared engagement in the realization of their ambitious goals. The studio practices exclusively as a Design Architect and collaborates with experienced Executive Architects to meet the unique needs of each client. This practice model ensures that clients have access to the most highly qualified professionals for all aspects of design, project management, building technology, and construction administration. A collective belief that 1+1=3 enlivens our collaborations and gives weight to all voices involved in the design process. The intangible element in the equation is the relationships that add incomparable value to the process, the project, and ultimately our clients’ missions. This collaborative alchemy produces environments where occupants, innovation, and communities thrive.