Thomas Roszak, FAIA
Principal

Thomas Roszak has been involved in architectural design and construction for over 35 years. His work includes a wide range of building types, including commercial and institutional projects, with a special concentration on urban residential architecture, for which he personally has overseen the design, development, and construction of more than 5,500 units with a market value in excess of $3 billion. Mr. Roszak opened his first architecture, development, and construction office in 1997. Soon after, he established Thomas Roszak Architecture, a firm dedicated to creative, innovative, and environmentally effective design. His keen insight coupled with a unique design process allows him and his team to challenge preconceptions, resulting in innovative and technically advanced design solutions. Mr. Roszak also founded and currently leads the construction management company SteelGrass, an eco-design-build firm focused on new technology and sustainability.

Architectural Digest named Mr. Roszak one of its “World’s Top 20 Architects” in 2005. He was featured in Philip Jodidio's ARCHITECTURE NOW!, no. 4, published by Taschen in 2006. In 2008, he received the American Institute of Architects’ prestigious National Honor Award. Recently, his Architecture was chosen by Modern Luxury Interiors to be the “Best Architecture Firm in 2017.” Thomas Roszak was elevated to a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 2020.

Paul Baulier
Associate Architect

Paul is an Associate Architect with experience in residential design and construction management. His education includes a Bachelor of Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology during which he was one of the recipients of the Roche Travelling Studio scholarship. He also received a Master of Integrated Building Delivery from IIT. Paul's professional experience started at a structural engineering firm. He worked at world-renowned Thornton Tomasetti where he worked closely with engineers and helped coordinate structural and architectural designs. Paul was instrumental in the success in JeffJack, Linea, 145 S. Wells, and Parkline projects.

Adrien Binet
Senior Architect

Adrien Binet is a Licensed Architect with over 15 years of experience delivering high-density urban developments and landmark redevelopments across Chicago. Since joining TRA in 2019, he has served as the architectural lead for the firm’s most significant projects, including Parkline Chicago and Fulbrix in Fulton Market, managing the entire project lifecycle from complex construction documents through final administration. Within our integrated architecture and development team, Adrien leverages his technical expertise to ensure projects are both vision-forward and highly viable from an ownership perspective. He works directly with jurisdictional authorities to secure Planned Developments and permits, bypassing third-party expediters to maintain total control over the preconstruction and development timeline.

By collaborating directly with subcontractors and vendors during preconstruction, Adrien optimizes pricing and ensures the team understands exactly what is being purchased at every stage—bridging critical communication through the General Contractor to the trades to ensure technical execution aligns with our fiscal goals. Adrien is an active member of the AIA, CSI, and NCARB, where he has served on task forces to establish national standards for the Architect Registration Examination. This blend of technical stewardship and development-minded precision ensures that our projects are delivered with maximum efficiency and long-term value.

Kevin Arfsten
Construction Manager

Kevin is a construction manager with over 10 years of experience in the construction industry with focus on the residential sector completing over 2,500 units in the Chicago area. He began his career at Lendlease where he had roles in pre-construction/estimating transitioning into project management. Prior to joining SteelGrass, he held superintendent and project management roles at Related Midwest working closely with the development and management teams to successfully complete large-scale renovations on occupied properties. At SteelGrass, Kevin is currently overseeing construction activities from project conception to completion.

Kevin Cole
Architect

Kevin is a Licensed Architect with experience in a wide range of roles on various project types from leading construction documentation efforts on multifamily highrise projects to construction management on single-family home design-build renovation projects. He received a Bachelor’s of Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology where he had several leadership roles in academic and professional development student programs.

Yujin Yang
Architectural Designer

Yujin is a designer who received her Bachelor’s of Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) with high honors, including the George Danforth Traveling Fellowship. She actively works on drawing sets, guides production of project presentations and renderings, and coordinates FF&E for the multi-family developments. She taught as an adjunct studio professor at IIT, teaching second year undergraduate students within the housing studios.

Jorn Connors
Architectural Designer

Jorn is a designer who received his Bachelor of Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT). At IIT, he was selected for the TOMODACHI Kakehashi Inouye Scholars Program, participating in academic travel throughout Japan to study its architecture and design culture. He also earned a minor in Construction Management, where he developed an interest in the relationship between design, technical detailing, and the construction process. Jorn contributes to a wide range of projects through design development, construction documentation, renderings, physical and digital modeling.

Kasia Szmajda
Accountant

Kasia’s education includes a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Northeastern Illinois University from where she graduated with High Honors. She is a Licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of Illinois and Enrolled Agent (EA) enrolled to practice before IRS. She has been a long-time asset to the Roszak team using her extensive bookkeeping, managerial, HR, and administrative experience to full potential. She has served as a project accountant on multiple projects. All these projects have presented the opportunity to work closely with other wonderful Roszak team members, as well as with outside partners such as our legal counsel, lenders, escrow administrators, insurance team, tax accountants, and multiple vendors. She has always been very enthusiastic and professional in developing and maintaining these most valuable relationships. Kasia has been instrumental in the success of recent projects including JeffJack and Linea.