Bio:
The great architect, RaMona Westbrook, founder and president of Brook Architecture, has a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Illinois and is a LEED Accredited Professional. In 1992, Ms. Westbrook became one of the first African-American women to be licensed as an Architect in the State of Illinois. A native of Chicago, RaMona serves on the Boards of the Chicago Architectural Biennial and the Vivian Harsh Society, a support organization for the Midwest’s largest African-American archive.

How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
My high school required two years of drafting and I really enjoyed it. My counselors realized that my aptitude in math, art and physics would make a successful architect. After a summer workshop at Notre Dame I decided to make it my college major.

What do you do?
I am president of my company,Brook Architecture. I spend most days strategizing how to best solve a problem around the built environment and how my company can contribute to the solution’s ultimate success.

What excites you in the work you do?
I like gaining a thorough understanding of my client’s problem and executing a successful design solution. It’s also exciting to suggest solutions to my staff and then watch them take ownership of developing designs that will elevate our community.

Who or what inspires you professionally?
I am inspired when I tell people l know what I do and they in turn start to believe that they too can impact the quality of life in their community.

What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
I am most proud when my employees become licensed architects. When I started there were no African American women licensed to practice in Illinois. Now there are more than 10. I am pleased to make opportunities to exponentially increase that number.

Featured Project Name: 
Chicago Public Schools Central Office Relocation
 
Featured Project Location: 
Chicago, IL
 
Featured Project Completion Date: 
2014

Role in Featured Project: 
Executive Project Manager
 
Featured Project Description:
Brook was the lead architect on the project team Chicago Public Schools selected to manage relocating their Central Office. The program, design and interior buildout for 200,000 sf of private offices, workstations and ancillary spaces for 900 employees was completed in a compressed11-month schedule. Bright colors and bold graphics with student images are introduced in the lobby and carried through five floors in the escalators and upper floor reception areas, workstations and collaborative spaces.

Photography Credit:
James Steinkamp Photography Inc.