Michael Hershenson |
Principal Architect
Michael Hershenson has thirty-three years of professional experience in residential new construction and remodeling, office interiors, tenant space planning, and build-outs, retail stores, and office building design.
Michael holds a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana (1980), where he was a Teaching Assistant in Architectural History. In 1977, he graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Champaign - Urbana, with minors in Philosophy and History. He appears on the University Bronze Tablet, honoring the top 3 percent from each graduating class.
After employment with Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, Ed Raap Associates, and McBride & Kelley Architects, Ltd., Michael launched Michael Hershenson Architects in 1990. The office has won both local and national awards for high-quality, unique residential design.
Justin Donahue |
Office Manager & Accountant
Justin Donahue joined Michael Hershenson Architects in November 2021 and brings over 8 years of finance and accounting experience, along with experience in office management, HR, and consulting. Justin graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Boston University and is a Quickbooks Online Certified ProAdvisor Advanced. While he has worked across numerous industries, Justin has always had a passion for architecture and design, and he loves working with clients and watching their dreams come to life.
Steven Schmitt |
Project Manager
Steven Schmitt joined Michael Hershenson Architects in 2018 and brings over a decade of experience in both high-end residential and commercial architecture(s). Steven is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from which he holds a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies. His tenure includes work at many distinguished firms such as Orren Pickell Designers & Builders, Full Circle Architects, and Kolbrook Design, resulting in projects covering the greater half of northern Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. His contributions are numerous and come in a diverse range including but not limited to: overseeing projects from conceptions to fruition as a senior-level manager, working with governing jurisdictions, providing comprehensive architectural guidance and technical consultation, and maintaining a friendly “you before me” psyche to ensure project culmination and lasting client relations.
Todd Pape |
Project Architect
Todd Pape has been involved with Michael Hershenson Architects since 2018 and has held a successful Architecture career for the past 30 years. With experience in residential and commercial architecture and a focus on green space architecture, Todd has. Todd is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago where he earned his Master of Architecture degree. His tenure includes work at many distinguished firms such as Hancock + Hancock, Inc., and Phillip Kupritz and Associates, working on projects reaching from commercial properties in the Greater Chicagoland area all the way to agricultural projects in Southwest Michigan. Todd is also a Registered Energy Professional in the city of Chicago and has taken part in designing the Washington School garden of Evanston, IL. His experiences include multi-unit housing, religious buildings, townhouses, and condominium developments, corporate interiors, extensive residential remodeling, and new constructions of residential, beach properties.