Thomas L Shafer AIA
Principal
Thomas Shafer, AIA is a founding principal of Grunsfeld Shafer Architects, LLC. Shafer received his Master of Architecture with Distinction from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. Shafer was an instructor for Harvard’s Career Discovery Program and at graduation received the Appleton Traveling Fellowship for academic excellence. Previously, Shafer attended Washington University in St. Louis graduating with a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Architecture. At Washington University, Shafer was a Luce Scholar and Rhodes Scholar finalist, and a finalist for the School of Architecture’s Widman Prize for outstanding excellence.
Shafer developed professionally having worked in numerous high-profile firms. He was a Senior Associate / Studio Head while at Lohan Associates in Chicago, IL and was responsible for the design of several office towers. While at Kohn Pedersen Fox PC in New York City, NY he worked directly with Mr. William Pedersen, principal-in-charge-of-design as a Senior Designer responsible for the design and development of two office towers – The Rizzoli Tower on 5th Avenue in New York City, and One Fountain Place in Cincinnati, OH. He worked in the office of Silvetti + Machado in Boston, MA and with Fred Koetter & Associates in Boston, MA in which he was part of the team who took first place in the Beacon Corporation Crescent Building Competition. Shafer worked on the United Airlines Terminal project while in the office of Murphy / Jahn and worked on high-end residential projects while at Krueck + Olsen Architects in Chicago.. He founded Shafer Architects PC in 1991 and ten years later established Grunsfeld Shafer Architects LLC.
Shafer is a mentor for the Intern Development Program and has volunteered as a Thesis Advisor and Studio Professor for an Advanced Design Studio at the Illinois Institute of Technology and a visiting critic at Harvard University, The University of Chicago – Circle Campus, The University of Wisconsin, The Art Institute of Chicago and the Illinois Institute of Technology. Currently he serves on the Board of Trustees and the Auditorim Analysis Committee for the North Shore Country Day School in Winnetka, Illinois.
Shafer is a member of the American Institute of Architects and a past Chairman of the Young Architects Committee. He is a member of the Lake Shore Country Club and was a Co-Chair for The Centennial Project; he recently completed a term on the Board of Governors. Shafer has juried the Highland Park Preservation Awards, was a commissioner on the Highland Park Historic Preservation Commission, served on the Highland Park Cultural Arts Commission, and was active in the restorative development of The American Legion Hall building for the Suburban Fine Arts in Highland Park, Illinois.
Shafer has been active in The Harvard Club, The Chicago Architectural Club, and The University Club of Chicago and has volunteered for the Alumni and Parents Admission Program for Washington University in St. Louis. Tom is an enthusiastic competitive bicyclist, is married to Kathy Shafer, and a proud father of three children.
