Zachary Hoffman
Architectural Designer. Thinker. Maker.
zachhoffman.tumblr.com  630.973.8695   zhoffm2@gmail.com

Profile
I am interested in how people move and interact within the built landscape. For me architecture is the stage which creates the choreography for cities.
Experience

Designer/Detailer. RedBox Workshop. Chicago, IL 2014-Current

As a Designer and Detailer for RedBox Workshop I work with the Director of Design on a variety of projects from interactive museum exhibits to playgrounds. My primary responsibilities are building accurate very detailed 3D models for presentations as well as verification of constructibility for the fabrication shop. Once the designs have been approved I am part of the detailing team that assembles all necessary drawings for the construction and installation of the projects.

Project Manager and Senior Construction Manager. Foster Design Build. Chicago, IL 2013-2014

I was hired to be the Project Manager of the renovation of an historic apartment building into a single family residence. Daily tasks included the site management, construction oversite, scheduling, budgets and communications with the Architect, contractors and clients. I was promoted after seven months to the position of Senior Construction Manager where I oversaw the Project Management staff and their running of the projects. I continued to manage a couple of projects myself while overseeing the Project Mangers.

Site Manager. Sullivan Gallery. Chicago, IL 2013

As a site manager in the Sullivan Gallery I was responsible for the curation and installation of the exhibitions within the gallery. The gallery views the installation process as a teaching moment for students so I was part of the team of people teaching and enabling students how best to exhibit their work in the gallery setting.

Teaching Assistant. The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, IL 2011-2012

I was a teaching assistant in three separate situations at SAIC. The first two were in studio classes where I assisted the
professor with the tasks of running the class as well as serving as a critic in helping the
students develop their projects. I worked with undergraduate and graduate students on their projects. The third position was in the Advanced Output Center where I helped to run the lab and teach students how to use the equipment; such as the laser cutters and the 3D scanners.

Studio Assistant. The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, IL 2011
As a studio assistant in the Sullivan Fabrication Studio I assisted students with the construction of their
projects. I helped them develop the proper construction techniques and educated them on the various tools available for use in the shop. I was also responsible for running the check out system where students could check out tools for use inside and outside the shop.

Resident Assistant. UIC Campus Housing. Chicago, IL 2006-2009
My responsibilities as a resident assistant included creating a safe and supportive community in the school’s residence halls for the resident students. I accomplished this through running community meetings, weekly on-duty supervising shifts, hall decorations, program and event planning and weekly staff meetings. I was free to act in any manner necessary to support the needs of my residents.

Architectural Intern. Alan R. Schneider Architects. Park Ridge, IL 2008
I assisted the architects in the firm with drafting construction documents, file management, document editing, archiving, preliminary design work and note taking during meetings.

Architectural Intern. Chicago Department of Transportation. Chicago, IL 2007
The department I was part of managed the design and construction of the city’s transit stations. I assisted the architects with the design of signage and plaques, presentation documents, document editing, archiving, note taking during meetings and site visits.
Education
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Master of Architecture 2012
Studios with: Hennie Reynders, Peter Exley, Linda Keane, Tristan Sterk, George Aye

University of Illinois at Chicago
Bachelor of Science in Architecture 2009
Studios with: Paul Preissner, Dan Wheeler, Sharon Haar, Robert McNaulty
Honors
-SAIC GFRY Design Studio. Sponsored by Motorola and partnered with the Academy for Global Citizenship, the Harris School of Business University of Chicago, CANON Design and Greater Good Studio.
-Exhibition Team Lead for the “Living in a Smart City” class project which partnered with IBM and was part of the AIADO Thesis Show and mentioned in Fast Company by author Greg Lindsay.
-Trustee Scholarship Recipient-School of the Art Institute of Chicago
-UIC Year End Show 2006, 2009