JCJ Architecture

06/17/2026

Project Spotlight: Tempo by Hilton Washington D.C. Downtown

Every building has the potential for a second life. This week, we’re spotlighting Tempo by Hilton Washington D.C. Downtown—a spec office building that has been reinvented into a hospitality destination inspired by the energy, culture, and creativity of downtown D.C.

Fundamentally grounded in JCJ’s longstanding partnership with Hilton, this project exemplifies our belief that great hospitality design begins with a strong sense of place and a focus on the guest experience.

Developed by OTO Development and located near Farragut Square in the heart of D.C., the property has been completely reimagined to become a destination for both travelers and the local community. JCJ’s scope included the design of the public spaces and guest rooms, where we created an experience rooted in the character of the surrounding neighborhood and expressed through a sophisticated, moody aesthetic.

Drawing influence from nearby art galleries and social destinations, the design balances activity and relaxation throughout the property. Guests are welcomed by a lobby that encourages engagement and connection, while the Public Interest brasserie and Bluestone Lane coffee shop provide distinctive dining and social spaces that extend the hotel's presence beyond its guest rooms. Guests can enjoy sweeping city views from their rooms or the property’s outdoor terraces.

The adaptive reuse presented unique opportunities and challenges for the design team. Working within the constraints of the original structure, the team developed creative solutions to maximize floor area and amenities. The completed property offers 40 distinct guest room layouts and maintains consistent guest experience throughout the property.

The transformation of this former office building demonstrates how adaptive reuse can unlock new opportunities for hospitality in urban environments and how buildings can be transformed for new and unexpected uses.

06/10/2026

JCJ Architecture brought new life to the Bullard-Havens Technical High School in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Photo by Craig Moreau, courtesy of JCJ Architecture. We talk to JCJ Architecture about what EPA rollbacks mean for the AEC community at https://gbdmagazine.com/epa-rollbacks-aec/

06/08/2026

JCJ is very proud to be partnering with Lee Kennedy Co. and Babson College on the new Executive Lodge and Conference Center.

Last week, our JCJ team joined project partners and the Babson community to celebrate a major construction milestone with the Topping Off Ceremony, marking the placement of the project's final structural steel beam.

Scheduled for completion in mid-2027, the state-of-the-art facility will feature more than 70 guest rooms, a restaurant and bar, a large banquet space, and high-quality classrooms and conference facilities designed to foster meaningful learning experiences for students, alumni, and executives alike.

Congratulations to Babson College, Lee Kennedy Company, and the entire project team on reaching this exciting milestone. We look forward to seeing this vision continue to take shape.

06/08/2026

JCJ is proud to have Emily Czarnecki, NCIDQ, Principal and Director of Interior Design, and Fawn Walton Pellegrini, AIA, LEED AP, MCPPO, Associate Principal and Senior Project Manager, presenting at the 2026 A4LE-Association for Learning Environments Northeast Annual Regional Conference this week.

On Wednesday, Emily and Fawn will lead the session, "Constraint to Opportunity: Value-Driven Learning Environments that Inspire Student Growth," exploring how thoughtful design, strong client partnerships, and strategic value engineering transformed two Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford facilities into vibrant spaces that support learning, connection, and community pride.

Aligned with this year's conference theme, "Small Resources, Big Impact: Reimagining More with Less," the presentation will highlight lessons learned from creating high-impact educational and community environments within limited budgets, demonstrating how design can maximize value and social impact.

Emily and Fawn both look forward to sharing insights from these transformative projects and connecting with fellow education design professionals throughout the conference.

06/03/2026

Project Spotlight: Ogunquit Playhouse

In celebration of our 90th anniversary, JCJ is proud to spotlight the many clients and institutions we are privileged to work with — organizations that exemplify community impact, cultural stewardship and creative excellence. This week we acknowledge an institution that is a cornerstone of New England’s cultural landscape —the Ogunquit Playhouse.

Founded in 1933, and located on the beautiful Maine coast, the Ogunquit Playhouse is one of America’s last remaining summer stock theaters. What began as a seasonal venue has evolved into a nationally recognized performing arts destination, welcoming more than 100,000 visitors each year and providing arts education, youth engagement, and a commitment to making live theater accessible to all.

JCJ is honored to be working with the Playhouse on the redevelopment and modernization of its historic campus. The project seeks to preserve the character and spirit that generations of audiences have cherished while creating a more accessible, comfortable, and sustainable home for the future.
Current plans include a new theater designed to reflect the spirit and heritage of the existing Playhouse and campus while providing enhanced amenities, improved accessibility, upgraded infrastructure, and modern support spaces for performers and staff. The project includes site improvements, expanded gathering spaces, an educational center, landscape enhancements, and environmental initiatives that will strengthen the Playhouse's connection to its surroundings.

As the Playhouse looks ahead to its next century, we are grateful for the opportunity to help advance the vision of an institution that has had such a lasting impact on the arts, the local economy, and the cultural life of New England.

We would also like to recognize the dedication of the JCJ team members helping bring this vision to life, including Jim LaPosta, Nick Brooks, Peter Morgan, Carrie Nielsen, Ken MacLeod, Moises Robles, Maddie Sorgio, and Daniel Bhopaul.

05/27/2026

Studio Leader Spotlight

We created the Studio Leader role at JCJ ARCHITECTURE to provide more direct leadership for people in all our offices — a critical bridge between individual career growth and the broader success of the firm. We felt it was important that every member of the firm have access to a leader who could help guide professional development and strengthen communication between staff and senior leadership. By building trust and gaining a deep understanding of each individual’s goals, strengths, and development areas, they are able to thoughtfully align people with the right teams and opportunities.

A strong Studio Leader creates an environment where people feel heard, respected, valued, and genuinely supported while building trust that fuels collaboration, creativity, and personal growth. By advocating for their team and fostering meaningful connections between the office and the larger firm, they cultivate a culture where people are invested in one another and inspired to consistently do their best work.

Many thanks to each of our Studio Leaders for their daily contributions to growth and development at JCJ! Christine Leary, Jim Ryan, Christine Faverio, Alison DiVenere, Jordan Kazmierczak, Fawn Pellegrini, Sean Pendley, Allie Guthridge, Erika Lara, Kyla Hall, Emma Plagemann, Daniel Thornton

05/26/2026

We're pleased to see Rowdy's Esports Arena at UMass Lowell recognized as New England Real Estate Journal's Project of the Month.

A great collaboration with UMass Lowell and Vantage Builders, Inc., this project transformed underutilized campus space into a vibrant destination for student engagement and connection.

Thank you to our client and project partners for helping bring this vision to life for students!

Photo credit: Leigh Chodos Lowell, MA Vantage Builders, Inc., a commercial contractor specializing in pre-construction, construction management and design-build

05/20/2026

JCJ has had the honor of contributing to many significant projects across a broad spectrum of typologies, from high energy environments and spaces that inspire creativity, to places that bring people and communities together. Our Las Vegas team thrives in meeting the exacting needs of the Las Vegas marketplace, and we believe our practice is fundamentally defined by using design as a tool to generate possibilities and promote connection.

This week, as we continue reflect on 90 years of practice, we want to acknowledge the incredible dedication of the JCJ team leading one of the most important and impactful projects in our history: the Las Vegas Forever One Memorial.

When the call went out for concepts to create a Memorial to honor the victims who perished in the immediate aftermath of events that occurred at the Route 91 Harvest Festival, our Las Vegas team felt compelled to answer that call. Our journey through the early design process brought our team into direct contact with stakeholders - survivors, families and friends of victims, community members, first responders and civic leaders; our team became their advocates and developed a design response based on healing, remembrance and connection for the lives lost and lives impacted. After our team’s proposal was selected, this group continued to work through the design advocacy process.

It has been our great honor to serve on this project. While JCJ has team members across the firm who have contributed, this design journey has been deeply personal for JCJ's Las Vegas residents Mike Larson and Derek Sola. As final design for Forever One comes into full focus, and as we approach a groundbreaking that will enable opening the Memorial to mark the 10th-year remembrance, we celebrate this team’s contribution, tenacity and abiding sense of purpose.

We invite you to learn more about the work of the Las Vegas Strong Fund and the Forever One Memorial: https://foreveronememorial.org/

Forever One Memorial

05/13/2026

ESOP Committee Spotlight

As we celebrate 90 years of JCJ, we’re recognizing the people who help shape the culture behind our work every day.

Our ESOP Committee brings together employee-owners from across offices who are passionate about connection, collaboration, and creating opportunities for teams to engage beyond project work. From office traditions and pop-up celebrations to team outings and Office Olympics, these moments help strengthen the relationships that support our culture and the way we work together.

Their dedication reflects what employee ownership means at JCJ: shared pride, shared responsibility, and a collective investment in each other’s success.

Thank you to all our ESOP Committee members for the energy, creativity, and time you bring to making JCJ such a special place to work!

Justin Ewing, Liz Hoffman, Lena Detter, Alison DiVenere, Jordan Kazmierczak, Erin West, Erika Lara, Taylor Grucza, Denise Raphael, Rose Hodges, Taylor Sims, Carrie Nielsen, Mary Ann Mloganoski, Gelare Majidzadeh, Kyla Hall