News
GSA Volunteers in New Orleans
From November 8th through November 13th, Grunsfeld Shafer Architects’ along with about a dozen seniors from the North Shore Country Day School volunteered in Louisiana’s St. Bernard Parish as part of the on-going St. Bernard Project.
The St. Bernard Parish, which sits adjacent to New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward, was one of the communities hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina. One hundred percent (100%) of the homes in the parish were rendered officially uninhabitable; many families lost everything. Government response, sapped by the more prominent rescue and rebuilding efforts in neighboring New Orleans, was and continues to be limited. Two-thirds of former residents are still out-of-home, living in either FEMA trailers or attics that were spared from the floods.
Founded by Liz McCartney, who was CNN’s Hero of the Year recipient in 2008, the St. Bernard Project provides low- to moderate-income families in the parish with rebuilding and community wellness programs. The Rebuilding Program utilizes volunteer labor and donated or affordable building supplies to rehabilitate homes for families that would otherwise be unable to re-start their lives. The Rebuilding Program works on over thirty houses at a time, and has rebuilt 228 homes to date.
4 December 2009
Tom races 109 miles for the kids at Tu Nidito in Tucson, AZ
On November 21st, 2009 Tom Shafer raced in the 27th annual El Tour de Tucson “Ride for a Child” 109 mile bike race. Charitable contributions from the race went to Tu Nidito, a Tuscon-based non-profit counseling center whose mission is to provide support for children impacted by serious illness or death. Tom finished the race as the benefit’s leading fundraiser, and his efforts helped sponsor Danielle’s participation in the center’s Children to Children program. To learn more about Danielle and Tu Nidito please visit Tom’s Fundraising Page for the race @ Riding to help a child’s future
2 December 2009
CNN Hero of the Year Liz McCartney Visits GSA Office
On October 19th, CNN’s 2008 Hero of the Year and St. Bernard Project founder Liz McCartney met with Grunsfeld Shafer Architects’ staff to discuss our November volunteering efforts. In addition to providing our own labor to the cause we will also help the St. Bernard Project team evaluate their efficiencies in the re-building process.
21 October 2009
GSA Completes Lecture Series at North Shore Country Day School
On October 23, Phil Semon presented the final lecture in a three-part series prepared by Grunsfeld Shafer Architects for students at North Shore Country Day School participating in this fall’s service trip to New Orleans. The lecture, titled After Katrina: How (and Why) a City Rebuilds, discussed the physical, political and sociological challenges New Orleans has faced in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Previous presentations were New Orleans: A Historical Perspective, by Lisa Jacobson, and The Structures of the Delta, by Scott Crowe.
5 October 2009
Residence 1162 Under Construction
Construction photos for Residence 1162 are now posted.
22 July 2009
Fifties Love Affair Featured on House Tour
The Fifties Love Affair residence was one of five houses featured as part of the 2009 Chicago Lighthouse Associate Board House and Garden Walk. Proceeds from the House and Garden Walk benefit The Chicago Lighthouse. Founded in 1906, The Chicago Lighthouse is the nation’s most comprehensive agency serving individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
10 July 2009
Conceptual Design For a Lake Michigan Beach Shelter
New images of a Beach Shelter on Lake Michigan are now posted.
2 July 2009
Lakefront Residence Cover Story in LUXE Magazine
Volume III, Issue II of LUXE Magazine: Chicago features a cover story on the Lakefront Residence.
14 May 2009
Residence 111 and Residence 4287 Under Construction
New construction photos for Residence 111 and Residence 4287 are up!
27 March 2009
Fifties Love Affair Featured on NBC Chicago
The Fifties Love Affair residence was featured on the December 14th episode of LX.TV Open House Chicago. See the video here!
15 December 2008
Residence Featured in Midwest Home Chicago Fall 2008
The Fall 2008 issue of Midwest Home Chicago featured on the cover a Highland Park residence by Tony Grunsfeld. The article, titled ‘Home Gallery,’ describes the client’s need for a modern home that would allow them to display their contemporary art collection.
28 August 2008
Fifties Love Affair Featured in Chicago Tribune Magazine
The August 3, 2008 edition of the Chicago Tribune Magazine features the Fifties Love Affair residence in a multi page spread. The article, titled ‘Leave Me or Love Me,’ describes the owners’ decision to commission Grunsfeld Shafer Architects to expand and renovate their home of over twenty years.
18 August 2008
939 Chicago and Fifties Remodel featured in FLOR catalog
939 Chicago Avenue and Fifties Remodel are featured in the Spring 2008 FLOR Inspired Modular Floorcovering catalog.
28 February 2008
Fifties Love Affair cover story in Chicago Home + Garden
The March/April 2008 issue of Chicago Home + Garden features our Fifties Love Affair project. The article focuses on a collaborative effort between an owner and their design team to revamp an elegant mid-century modern home for contemporary living.
28 February 2008
15 Ways to Go Green
The Top 15 Things You Can Do to Stop Global Warming, courtesy of the Winter 2007 Lewis & Clark College Chronicle. For more information and practical solutions to global warming, please visit www.climatesolutions.org.
21 January 2008
Fifties Love Affair Wins Award
Fifties Love Affair wins a 2007 Builder’s Choice Grand Award from BUILDER Magazine.
20 December 2007
Settling in at the new office
Pictures of our new office at 939 Chicago Avenue are now up!
29 October 2007
House in Highland Park Wins Award
The Suburban Cottage Residence wins 2007 Preservation Award for Excellence in New Construction from the City of Highland Park, Illinois.
25 October 2007
Tony Grunsfeld featured in Chicago Tribune article
Tony Grunsfeld is featured in the New Homes cover story in the Friday, June 8th edition of the Chicago Tribune. The article, titled Cliffhangers, discusses the inherent benefits and difficulties of building on a lake bluff or ravine. Grunsfeld, an architect of over thirty such residences in the Midwest, draws from personal experiences in explaining how homeowners should approach developing these unique parcels of land.
11 June 2007
Shelter features Winnetka Residence
The May - June 2007 issue of Shelter Magazine published an article exhibiting the Winnetka Residence and the client’s extensive art collection.
17 May 2007
Fine Homebuilding recognizes the Canyon House
The 2005 Fine Homebuilding annual Houses issue recognizes the Canyon House.
18 April 2007
Explorations of a Vacation House on Lake Michigan
Conceptual design of Wisconsin Lake House is currently underway.
25 August 2006
Rural Estate featured in Chicago Tribune Magazine
The June 11, 2006 edition of the Chicago Tribune Magazine contains a multi page spread on the Rural Estate. The article describes how a collaborative design process resulted in a prefect fit for a family of five.
11 June 2006
House for an Art Collector featured in Photography Exhibit
Interior Journey : Furniture Renaissance is an exhibit of Interiors and Furniture, opening June 9, 2006 at the David L. Pierce Art & History Center, located in Aurora, Illinois. Hosted by The Aurora Public Art Commission, the exhibit will include images of the House for an Art Collector by local Photographer Sally Good.
1 June 2006
Midwest Living Magazine features the Rural Estate
The June 2006 issue contains a multipage feature on the Rural Estate. The project is described from the perspective of an active family of seven and how their intimate involvement in the design process resulted in a custom home that stands up to the challenges of everyday living.
1 June 2006
Grunsfeld Shafer Architects Cover Story on Design & Architecture
Grunsfeld Shafer Architects was featured as the cover story for the premiere issue of Design & Architecture June/July 2004. Several projects by both Tony Grunsfeld and Thomas Shafer were highlighted in this article.
22 February 2006
House for an Art Collector Makes Cover of Midwest Chicago Home
The Fall 2005 issue of Midwest Chicago Home provides a detailed review of the House for an Art Collector. The article describes how the home provides an elegant backdrop for both the Owner’s extensive art collection and daily family life. Meticulous attention to detail and incorporation of lush materials brings warmth and life to the home’s spare planes and minimal volumes.
1 October 2005
Eiesland Builders Features Our Work
Eiesland Builders feartures two of our houses in their brochure.
6 July 2005
Grunsfeld Shafer Architects featured in Hope's Windows Catalog
Canyon House and Historic Beeman House are featured in the 2005 Hope’s Steel Doors & Windows catalog.
18 June 2005
House in Glencoe Wins Award
The North Shore New England Residence wins 2005 Preservation Award, for New Construction from the Glencoe Historic Preservation Commission.
12 May 2005
Historic Beeman House Wins Award
Historic Beeman House wins 2005 Preservation Award from the Winnetka Landmarks Preservation Commission.
1 May 2005
Fifties Remodel featured in the Chicago Tribune Magazine
The story behind the fifties remodel is told in the July 1, 2001 edition of the Chicago Tribune Magazine. The article sheds light on the husband & wife collaboration which brought life, color and texture to a tired Highland Park home.
1 July 2001
Salt Lake Magazine features the Canyon House
The September / October 2000 issue, features the Canyon House. From material selections to the framing of views, the article emphasises how the design responds to the unique conditions of the landscape.
1 September 2000
Canyon House Cameo
Artisan Entertainment’s thrill-drama Way of the Gun uses Canyon House as the residence for a lead character. The house is prominently featured in the opening scene.
1 January 2000
Chicago Magazine features Work of Tony Grunsfeld
The August 1998 issue of Chicago Magazine extols the career of Tony Grunsfeld and his impact on the architectural completion of the North Shore. Residence in White, is prominently featured in the article.
1 August 1998
Canyon House Receives International Attention
Global Architecture Houses, Project 1996 includes a feature on the Canyon House. Written prior to construction, the article describes how the residence actively mediates the relationship between inhabitant and landscape. The main gathering areas are dominated by expansive views of the valley, while the private areas of the residence are more introspective, offering tightly cropped, intimate vignettes of the world outside.
1 January 1996