Ross Barney Architects in Evanston, Illinois
Did you know that Evanston, Illinois, is home to several building designs by Ross Barney Architects?
Ross Barney Architects are proud and privileged to have contributed to Evanston’s urban landscape through the design of several landmark projects that have become community icons. Since the early 1990s, our work in Evanston includes notable building designs such as the LEED Platinum Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation Synagogue, the Levy Senior Center, the Howard Street/Theo Ubique Theatre, the Wells Fargo Bank (formerly World Savings Bank), and multiple design projects for the Evanston/Skokie School District 65.
Working with a community that values design excellence—functional, sustainable, cost-effective, and engaging public spaces—has been an inspiring and rewarding experience for Ross Barney Architects.
Happy 10th birthday, The 606! | Chicago Tribune
Built on the concrete remains of the century-old Bloomingdale Line—an abandoned industrial structure—the 606 has become a vibrant rails-to-trails destination, celebrating 10 years.
In 2012, architect Carol Ross Barney of Ross Barney Architects led community engagement that produced the Bloomingdale Trail and Park Framework Design Plan and contained the basic design for the 2.7-mile park. Brooklyn-based landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh later refined the design, and the park opened in 2015.
This week, The 606 marks its 10th anniversary. During planning, community members raised concerns about gentrification and displacement. Barney recalls: “One of the main issues was the disparity in income and amenities between the west and east sides of the trail. We aimed to design a space that brought neighborhoods together.” She adds, “Architecture, planning, and landscape architecture are vital, but they don’t solve social issues alone.”
Edward Keegan of the Chicago Tribune notes: “There was nothing obvious about this old Bloomingdale Line that led to its revival as a park. Yet, many residents recognized its potential and dedicated years of effort, now rewarded with its enduring beauty.”
Click here to read the column by the Chicago Tribune.
Groundbreaking Ceremony on the O'Hare International Airport Runway
Marking a major milestone for our design team of Skidmore Owings and Merrill with Ross Barney Architects, JGMA, and Arup, "We celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony this morning on the runway at O’Hare International Airport!" said Eric Martin, AIA, Principal, Ross Barney Architects.
Marking a major milestone for our design team of Skidmore Owings and Merrill with Ross Barney Architects, JGMA, and Arup, "We celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony this morning on the runway at O’Hare International Airport!" said Eric Martin, AIA, Principal, Ross Barney Architects.
Click here to read more about the project.
Read the full project feature for Dezeen here.
Ross Barney Architects ranked 46th on Architizer's list of Top 100 Architecture Firms in the US
Ross Barney Architects has been ranked 46th on Architizer’s list of the top 100 Architecture firms in the United States. We are honored to be recognized for our meaningful contributions to the built environment through innovative and sustainable design solutions. Click here to read the full list.
Architectural Record at IIT: Women in Architecture Awards and Sustainability in Practice
Don’t miss this duo of events by Architectural Record in CHICAGO at one of the nation’s most noted buildings, Crown Hall at the Illinois Institute of Technology.
On September 9, join Architectural Record as they celebrate the Women in Architecture Awards at IIT’s Crown Hall, designed by Mies van der Rohe. The awards promote the significant contributions of women design leaders, across generations and specialties. Come and be inspired by the recipients of these prestigious awards. Click here to register.
And at the same venue on the following day, September 10, Architectural Record will host the Sustainability in Practice event. At this free seminar, attendees will learn from Jeanne Gang, Stefano Boeri and Andy Groake and Kevin Carmody as they share their approaches to sustainable design. Click here to register for the free event.
The Architect's Newspaper 2025 Best of Practice Honorable Mention, Medium Firm — Midwest
Joining colleagues from across the nation and continent, Ross Barney Architects was honored as a “Best of Practice” honorable mention in the Medium firm, Midwest category, by the Architects Newspaper. Click here to read more about the Architect's Newspaper 2025 Best of Practice Awards.
We believe that public buildings and spaces should inspire and uplift, fostering health, sustainability, and social equity. Our vision is clear: to design environments that empower individuals and communities. We believe that the places we inhabit should enable everyone to lead meaningful, fulfilling lives. Shaping our environment is a shared responsibility, and together, we have the power to forge a radically sustainable future.
AIA Chicago River North Firm Crawl
Join AIA Chicago’s Design Knowledge Community and Young Architects Forum Affinity Group on Thursday, June 26, to tour three award-winning architecture firms in the heart of Chicago’s River North neighborhood.
The tour begins at the Ross Barney Architects studio, and afterward heading to JGMA and Krueck Sexton Partners. Each firm will open their doors for a rare opportunity to see the inner workings of their projects and studio environment. Following the tour, there will be a social hour at the Green Door Tavern.
Click here to register for the event.
Railyard Park – ULI Americas Awards for Excellence Special Mention
Ross Barney Architects is pleased to announce that our transformative project, Railyard Park in Rogers, Arkansas, has been honored with a Special Mention in the prestigious ULI Americas Awards for Excellence. This recognition underscores the exceptional design vision and innovation embedded in this community-enhancing space.
“With the City of Rogers, Arkansas, we designed a visionary space that blends innovative forms with groundbreaking materials and versatile uses,” stated Carol Ross Barney, FAIA, HASLA, Founder and Design Principal of Ross Barney Architects.
ULI, the world’s leading network of multidisciplinary real estate and land use professionals, has celebrated excellence in development through these esteemed annual awards, spotlighting projects that set new standards across private, public, and nonprofit sectors.
Click here to read more.
La Biennale di Venezia 2025, PORCH: AN ARCHITECTURE OF GENEROSITY
PORCH: AN ARCHITECTURE OF GENEROSITY, presented at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia, brought thousands of visitors to the US Pavilion with an exhibition representing contemporary American architecture and design with an emphasis on civic engagement, community building, and social and environmental resiliency.
Fifty-four Architects were selected to create and exhibit a contemporary manifestation of the porch. Ross Barney Architects’ response is based on the gracious and generous Chicago Riverwalk. Our construction is a window on the world, a stage where life happens, and everyone is welcome.
“Visiting the Venice Architecture Biennale is immersing yourself in an incredibly dense stream of data and ideas. You may be swept into the future.” – Carol Ross Barney, FAIA, Design Principal and Founder, Ross Barney Architects, 2023 AIA Gold Medal Recipient.
Ross Barney Architects celebrates National Bike to Work Day
Ross Barney Architects celebrates National Bike to Work Day with a bold vision to reimagine a borrowed lane of Upper Wacker Drive in downtown Chicago as an enhanced bicycle and pedestrian zone. This is the type of city-making design improvements cities need to thrive.
Click here to learn more about the proposed Chicago Riverpark.