Eckenhoff Saunders Architects founding principal, Steve Saunders, to retire

Founding principal Steve Saunders, AIA, is retiring from Eckenhoff Saunders Architects, (ESA) the firm he co-founded, effective November 30, 2018. Saunders is responsible for many award-winning buildings throughout Chicago and the surrounding area. His work includes the Allerton Hotel renovation, the Museum of Broadcast and Communication, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association Headquarters, Westell’s Corporate Headquarters, multiple medical buildings for DuPage Medical Group and over 50 industrial buildings.

Saunders has held leadership positions with the River Forest Plan Commission, AIA Chicago, AIA Illinois, Washington University and Jane Addams Hull House Association. His retirement is an important step in a well-planned transition plan that started 15 years ago and has evolved into a clear vision for the future leadership at ESA.

Saunders will continue to work with several non-profit organizations and will focus on his other passion, photography. His photographs are in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Illinois State Museum, the Santa Barbara Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Photography as well as numerous corporate and private collections. Saunders recently published his first book, Silver Dust, a collection of 52 images with a foreword by noted author and physicist, Alan Lightman.