Craig O'Halloran
Where do you live? Chicago, Illinois.
Current company and position? Global Professional Services Leader and Design Manager at Gensler.
First job and what it taught me? At the ripe old age of 12, I landed my first gig as a store attendant at a family friend's deli and wine shop. Saturdays were spent stocking shelves, sweeping floors, and helping customers, basically doing everything short of sampling the wine (which, at 12, would have been off-limits). It was my first real lesson in connecting with people outside of family and friends, customers and coworkers who were much more senior. I learned the value of hard work, the pride of making my own money, and the importance of treating everyone with kindness. That last lesson paid off in a big way: years later, one of those customers introduced me to the architecture industry–my dream career. Funny how sweeping floors can lead to building them.
How do you embrace your Irish heritage? When I moved to Chicago, I didn’t know a soul. The Irish community became my support network, a home away from home. I joined Ireland Network Chicago (INC), and in 2024, I was honored to be elected President for a two-year term. INC is a not-for-profit organization and one of Chicago’s largest Irish-affiliated networks, connecting newcomers and established professionals through social, cultural, and charitable initiatives.
This opportunity has given me incredible ways to stay deeply connected to my heritage, and dare I say, even strengthened it. From working with the Irish Consulate and Irish American Heritage Center, to marching in the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade, to hosting events with sporting legends Peter O’Mahony and Niall Quinn, to fostering discussions on topics including the African American Irish Diaspora and the future of AgriTech and FoodTech, the Irish community covers a lot of ground. And I couldn’t be prouder to be part of it.
Under my leadership, we’ve focused on growing our membership, strengthening our internal structure, building local partnerships, legacy planning, and continuing to support our charity partners—Irish Community Services and Concern Worldwide—while always preserving what makes INC unique: its role as the cultural heartbeat of Chicago’s Irish community.
Something people would be surprised to know about me... I nearly gave up on my architecture dream before it truly began. While in university, I worked part-time in a wine shop (although not the one where I was employed as a child, apparently, I have a theme). After graduating in 2011 with a degree in Architectural Technology, Ireland was still feeling the aftershocks of the 2008 financial crash. So, alongside my first full-time architecture position, I kept my college job at the wine shop for a little extra cash.
Fast forward to a year later: hours at the architecture firm started slowing, so I picked up extra shifts at the wine shop. One day, a conversation with the shop owners led to meeting a winemaker from New Zealand. Next thing I knew, I had a job offer for a harvest season, with the potential to turn it into a career in the wine industry. Flight booked, accommodation sorted, visa secured. I was ready to trade construction sites for vineyards.
Then came a phone call from an architecture practice in London. Just like that, the plan to make wine in New Zealand was out, and I was packing my bags for the UK, back on the path that brought me to where I am today. So yes, I almost became a winemaker… but architecture won by one perfectly timed phone call.
Biography: Craig is passionate about designing flexible, inspiring spaces that seamlessly integrate architecture, interior design, and branding. Based in Gensler’s Chicago office, he has led teams on projects around the world, delivering strategic, creative design solutions. Deeply committed to his local community, Craig is active in professional leadership, including Ireland Network Chicago. He is a Fellow and Chair of the Americas Center for the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists and was named Architectural Technologist of the Year in 2023. Outside of the office, Craig and his wife, Maren, are avid travelers, attempting to visit all 50 U.S. states and 50 countries.
