PROFESSIONAL ALLIANCE SPOTLIGHT
Jaeger, Nickola
& Associates, Ltd.
Partners for Sacred Places always encourages congregations
to choose professionals that have expertise in working
with historic religious properties. Jaeger, Nickola &
Associates (JNA), an architectural firm from suburban
Chicago and a member of Partners’ Professional Alliance,
is an excellent example. In fact, JNA serves churches and
faith-based clients exclusively. Over its 48-year history,
the firm has completed more than 400 church projects in
six states. JNA has produced master plans and construction
feasibility studies, and designed worship, education, and
administration buildings encompassing new construction,
additions, historic restorations, renovations, accessibility,
and adaptive re-use.
Jaeger, Nickola & Associates has also sponsored Partners’
New Dollars/New Partners for Your Sacred Place training in
Chicago, making it possible for ten congregations from
several faith traditions to benefit from the intensive
program. David Kuhlman, JNA Principal, presented a
90-minute talk titled “Learning to Look at Your Building
with a New Eye,” on architectural and engineering
assessments for existing church buildings, at both the
interfaith training and one held for ten Catholic parishes.
Kuhlman’s desire to specialize in religious architecture
was inspired through his studies at the University of Notre
Dame. He explains, “Notre Dame’s [School of Architecture]
Rome Studies Program immersed us in the history of art and
architecture in Rome. The city was our classroom.” Thirdyear architecture students spent an entire year in Rome, “so
The award-winning, context-sensitive elevator addition to
Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, IL, designed by Jaeger,
Nickola & Associates.
Jaeger, Nickola & Associates
350 S. Northwest Highway
Suite 106
Park Ridge, IL 60068
Office: (847) 692-6166
www.jaeger-nickola.com
whether we were studying the Early-Christian, Medieval,
Renaissance, or Baroque periods, we were constantly visiting
and studying the great churches of Rome.” Mr. Kuhlman
said he experienced a strong “awakening” in his personal
faith during that year in Rome, particularly after visiting the
tomb of St. Francis in Assisi and on a personal pilgrimage
to Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina. “It was the impact of
these experiences that naturally led me personally toward a
specialization in religious architecture – it provided a way
for me to live my faith through my work.”
His respect for traditional architecture and contextualism
is integral to his design process. “Contextualism,” Kuhlman
explains, “is about designing buildings or additions to be
‘good neighbors’ to existing buildings in relation to their
surroundings. It is an approach to design based on respect
for the broader community. It’s the opposite of designing
within a vacuum, and can benefit from community input
about what is of value within a certain context.”
JNA recently completed multiple projects at Holy Name
Cathedral in Chicago, for which the firm won a 2010
Association of Licensed Architects (ALA) Silver Medal
Award. Work included a context-sensitive elevator addition
designed in the same gothic style as the historic cathedral.
JNA also completed a three-story addition to St