CGS was founded in 2013 by Jason Hall. In 2022, the studio announced Jen McCord and Cathy Grable as additional equity partners. Today Jason, Jen, and Cathy are a close-knit senior level team with the ideal skill complements of creative vision, rigorous execution, broad industry experience, and a shared commitment to growing the next generation of Chicago designers.
CGS was named after Jason’s maternal grandfather, Charlie Greene Mann. Charlie wasn’t an architect or interior designer – he was an electric meter reader from Columbus, Georgia. His persona is what CGS stands for: empathy and respect, honesty and a healthy dose of humor, people and lasting relationships.
Jason Hall
Jason works to bolster the performance of organizations by developing solutions that integrate people, place, and process. His experience encompasses a broad range of project types and sizes, bringing unique expertise to his clients. Regardless of scale, all of Jason’s projects begin with careful planning and a focus on storytelling in space. He collaborates with clients and consultants to create thoughtful, compelling interior space
Jen McCord
Jen’s dedication to client service drives her creative work. The decisions she makes on a client’s behalf are grounded in the impact they will have on users. This empathetic approach results in spaces tailored to and inspired by her clients, telling their stories in clear, concise, and sometimes unexpected ways.
Cathy Grable
Cathy believes that the details of a project aren’t just the details. They’re the project. From project milestone planning to executing the minute details of a design, she delights in making a client’s vision become three dimensional. She is committed to the success of her clients, consultant teams, and all project partners. And she’s never met a ToDo list she didn’t like.
Nick Gutowski
Nick thinks in three dimensions, and designs environments that improve people’s wellbeing. His diverse background includes retail and residential design, consultation with major sculpture and lighting artists, and development of custom design features for spaces across the country. This breadth of work has cultivated a keen sense for high-impact visual storytelling in all types of projects.
Alison Nordstrom
Alison is dedicated to guiding her clients through each step of the process of design and construction with empathy and intention. She is observant, purposeful, and detail-obsessed. Above all, she believes that design, while dealing with serious realities, should also be fun.
Emily Koss
Emily is driven to exceed expectations throughout the entire project process. An architect by education, she is adept at moving seamlessly from high level strategy to technical specifications and details. Her experience includes creative workplace, professional services firms, and showrooms. If she’s not designing, you will probably find Emily on a golf course.
Our business is almost entirely driven by repeat clients and referrals. We work with people who value design and understand that it is more than a means to an end. We focus on brand in space, and this expertise resonates with our clients and their business goals. These are some of our clients.
Follow us on Instagram
