As another year begins, we reflect on the pillars that make TBA what it is today, and what we strive to be. From sustainability and thoughtful collaboration to impactful design, our team — and work — embodies a spirit unique to TBA.
This holiday break, we were inspired to catalogue moments during our time away from the office. This collection of photos offers a glimpse into the personal perspectives of our team, many of which translate into that special spirit.
SANTA CRUZ STROLL: “Taken during a chilly pre-dawn walk in Santa Cruz.”
– Tim Barber, Principal
ALABAMA WINTER: “In the heart of Alabama during the winter there is not much green to be seen. However, in this particular spot I was able to find a patch of dandelions that shined against an old metal bridge. It shows a glimpse of new life in an aging area of the city.”
– David Stone, Director of Operations
MAN & SEA: The first day of every year, we go to the ocean and read the remarks — regarding the relationship between man and the sea — made by President John F. Kennedy at the America’s Cup Dinner on September 14, 1961.
– Sharon Kramer, Controller
THE FABYAN WINDMILL: “The Fabyan Windmill is an authentic, working Dutch windmill dating from the 1850s located in Geneva, Illinois. The windmill sits atop a hill that is a popular sledding location in the wintertime.”
– Kelly Becker, Senior Project Manager
BENNETT PARK: “We visited Bennett Park, the former site of Fort Washington (George Washington’s last stronghold against the British) on the island of Manhattan. It’s also the highest natural point on Manhattan: 265 feet above sea level.”
– Ari Engelman, Senior Project Manager
OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO: “Although I stayed in California this break, a family member sent me this picture of the field outside of my childhood home.
– Korey Kromm, Senior Project Manager
SPACESHIP EARTH: “This is Spaceship Earth at Epcot in Florida’s Walt Disney World. It is a geodesic sphere designed by the Wallace Floyd Design Group and was completed in 1982. It is the symbol of Epcot and houses an attraction celebrating human communication.”
– Jim Coyle, Project Manager
CHICAGO SITES: “An interior view of the Chicago Cultural Center (formerly the Chicago Public Library).”
– Katie Peterson, Project Manager
AN ITALIAN FEAST: “Making pasta by hand for the holidays.”
– Bill Zahurak, BIM Manager
VENTURA VIEWS: “Over the holidays, I got to spend a lot of time with family, including a trip to a local estuary/bird sanctuary with my mom and grandma.”
– Kyra Bauman, Job Captain

– Ben Jensen, Job Captain

– Mengying Bai, Design Associate

– Eric Romero, Design Associate

– Julie Luu, Interior Architecture Design Associate

REST WITH A VIEW: “I went hiking at Runyon Canyon with a few friends and took this picture during one of our many rest breaks.
– Priya Dhairyawan, Design Associate
A MINI MODEL: “Following completion of assembling a metal model of the Notre Dame Cathedral.”
– Omar Femat, Design Associate
DINO ENCOUNTER: “Both Maritzas (mother and daughter and their dog Ronnie) decided to make the most of their holiday time off and explore the Palm Springs area in a mini day trip, which included a stop at the Cabazon Dinosaurs.”
– Maritza Lugo, Office Manager
THE ST. LOUIS WHEEL: “My family took a ride on the recently opened “St. Louis Wheel” at St. Louis’s historic Union Station. Standing at 200 feet tall, this modern adaptation is smaller than the “Original Ferris Wheel,” designed for Chicago’s 1893 World Columbian Exposition and then dismantled/rebuilt a final time for the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis.”
– Stephanie Morrow, Communications Manager
Looking for more inspiration? Check out the rest of our blog, and stay tuned each month for new posts!