What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Nurture Architects

Home
United States
Chicago, IL
Nurture Architects

Nurture is an architecture studio driven to create positive environmental impacts that consciously sustain communities and culture.

Nurture evolved from HPZS, a long running studio renowned for historic preservation and sustainable design. HPZS is an award-winning Chicago-based architecture firm with an excellent reputation in historic preservation focused on sustainable outcomes.

06/18/2026

Thanks to our friends at , the Nurture team had the opportunity to join an early preview of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park and experience a civic marvel taking shape with remarkable intention.

Situated on Chicago’s South Side, the Center brings together architecture, landscape and public realm as a continuous experience rooted in meaningful gathering.

On , we are reminded that the most meaningful spaces create conditions for history to be encountered with care, held in context, and understood as part of our ongoing civic duty, shaping how we reflect and move forward together.

The Obama Presidential Center officially opens to the public June 19–21 with a free Grand Opening Weekend celebrating community, creativity, and civic engagement across its 19-acre Jackson Park campus.

06/05/2026

We’re excited to share that Sarah Godbee, AIA Affiliate Chicago, LFA, has joined the Communications Committee!⁠
⁠
In her role as Marketing Coordinator, Sarah tells the stories behind our studio work, connecting people to the ideas and values that shape our built environment. ⁠
⁠
Her passion for architecture was sparked through years of involvement with AIA and preservation organizations, where she saw firsthand how powerful communication can be in building advocacy and appreciation for the places we share. ⁠
⁠
We’re proud to support Sarah as she contributes her voice and perspective to AIA Illinois and helps strengthen connections across the architectural community.⁠
⁠
Congratulations, Sarah! ✨️

06/02/2026

Nurture is contributing to the Historic Framework for the Bronzeville Trail Framework Plan, a long-range, community-led effort to reimagine the former Kenwood Line embankment as a connected cultural and civic corridor.

In collaboration with Muse Community + Design, City of Chicago Department of Planning & Development, the Bronzeville Trail Task Force, and the DePaul Institute for Housing Studies, our team is leading research and strategy development focused on historic preservation, adaptive reuse of existing station houses, heritage tourism models, and stewardship frameworks. Together, this work establishes the foundation for a trail that reflects Bronzeville’s layered history and creates lasting public value for the community.

Now this conversation moves into the community! Join us at the first Bronzeville Trail Framework Plan Open House tomorrow to review early findings and contribute to the evolving vision for the corridor. The evening will include project updates, interactive engagement activities, dinner, and opportunities for community input. 🤲

June 3rd | 5:30-7:30PM
Wendell Phillips Academy High School Gymnasium

Save your spot here: Chicago.gov/BronzevilleTrail

05/22/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the City of Chicago Department of Planning & Development 2026 Chicago Preservation Expo at the beautiful Chicago Cultural Center in celebration of . 🏛️

It was a pleasure connecting with City staff, community organizations, preservation advocates, and fellow professionals who are all committed to protecting and revitalizing Chicago’s historic places.

A special thank you to all who stopped by to speak with Katherine Pohl and Gwen Stricker throughout the event. We are grateful to be part of a community advancing thoughtful preservation work across Chicago and beyond!

05/16/2026

is a time to celebrate the places that shape us, and the responsibility we share in caring for them. Nurture is thrilled to take part in the 2026 Chicago Preservation Expo on Monday, May 18th!

Preservation is where our story begins. Our architects have led the care of cultural icons, civic treasures, and neighborhood character for 50 years. In Chicago and across the country, we support teams with preservation design, conditions assessments, and technical documentation, and serve as project leaders advocating for historic architecture and adaptive reuse alongside historians, conservators, and building scientists. 🏛️

Through this free event, attendees have the opportunity to connect with City staff, community and nonprofit organizations, professional service providers, and trades experts at the forefront of historic preservation in Chicago, including Katherine Pohl and Gwen Stricker of Nurture.

We’ll see you at the beautiful Chicago Cultural Center!

Get your ticket here: bit.ly/3R8WBSU

05/15/2026

Yesterday at AIA Chicago CRAN Symposium at The Mart, Nurture’s President and CEO, April Hughes, joined the ArchiTalks Panel to share the story behind the Yannell Conservation Habitat – a project rooted in the belief that residential architecture can restore more than it consumes.⁠
⁠
Presented as part of this year’s “House, Health, and Heritage” symposium, the conversation traced the design evolution of our regenerative home pursuing all seven petals of the Living Futureture Living Building Challenge while integrating Passive House principles to drive operational performance, material health, and occupant well-being further.⁠
⁠
April walked attendees through the systems and decisions shaping the project, from enclosure continuity and thermal bridge mitigation to integrated water strategies, energy balance modeling, and Red List-conscious material selection, demonstrating how high-performance design can become both deeply technical and human.⁠
⁠
More than a singular residence, the Yannell Conservation Habitat reflects a broader shift in practice: toward homes that are resilient, restorative, and designed in reciprocal relationship with the environments they inhabit.⁠
⁠
Thank you to AIA Chicago and the CRAN leadership team for creating space for thoughtful dialogue around the future of residential design and the role architects play in shaping healthier, more sustainable communities.⁠
⁠
📷: Travis Frangie of Evening Cue Photography

05/11/2026

Nurture is expanding!

We’re looking for a Registered Architect with 12+ years of experience to join our studio as an Associate, leading thoughtful and technical projects rooted in high-performance design.
⁠
At Nurture, our work is guided by curiosity and a deep commitment to people and place. From regenerative strategies to resilient communities, we believe design can create lasting environmental and social impact. We offer a hybrid work environment, competitive compensation, and comprehensive benefits within a mission-driven studio culture.
⁠
If this approach to practice resonates with you, visit bit.ly/Nurture_Associate_2026 to learn more and apply.

05/08/2026

The CRAN Symposium is a leading forum for residential practice, and April will represent Nurture at ArchiTalks with a presentation on the Yannell Conservation Habitat, a regenerative home designed to meet all seven petals of the Living Building Challenge.

Hosted by AIA Chicago on May 14th at The Mart, the program convenes architects advancing residential innovation through systems integration and performance-driven methodology. April’s presentation synthesizes outcomes from integrating the Living Building Challenge and Passive House design, with emphasis on energy balance modeling, enclosure continuity, and thermal bridge mitigation as primary drivers of operational performance.

It also examines integrated water systems targeting closed-loop performance, material strategies aligned with Red List compliance and embodied carbon reduction, and the translation of LBC Petals into quantifiable architectural and systems-based decision-making.

Save your spot here: bit.ly/Cran-2026

📸: Michigan Drone Photography

04/23/2026

As Earth Day celebrations continue, we’re reflecting on the power of community-driven design to shape healthier, more connected public landscapes. ⁠🌎️
⁠
Last week, Nurture shared early concept drawings at a community meeting for Steelworkers Park, part of an ongoing dialogue to reimagine this 16.5-acre former U.S. Steel site as a resilient, accessible park rooted in both ecological renewal and neighborhood identity.⁠
⁠
Guided by input from residents and partners, the evolving framework plan explores ways to strengthen connections along the South Lakefront while introducing native habitat restoration, shoreline protection, and spaces for gathering and reflection. It’s an effort to honor the site’s industrial past while shaping a more inclusive future for the Chicago community.⁠
⁠
Learn more about our community projects taking shape in our Earth Day Newsletter here: bit.ly/Nurture_Newsletter

04/21/2026

The Nurture Team is growing! 🌱
⁠
We are seeking a Registered Architect (12+ years) to join our team as an Associate, leading complex projects that integrate design, project management, and technical leadership with a focus on high-performance design.⁠
⁠
Nurture is a collaborative, mission-driven studio where design serves both people and place, offering a hybrid schedule, competitive salary, and comprehensive benefits.⁠
⁠
If you’re driven to create meaningful environmental impact and help shape a more resilient future, click here to learn more: bit.ly/Nurture-Associate-2026

Address

314 West Institute Place, Suite 1E
Chicago, IL
60610

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13129449600

Website

http://www.nurturearch.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Nurture Architects posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Featured

Dardon Construction Inc.
3925 W. Armitage Avenue

Want your business to be the top-listed Contractor in Chicago?