LJC Design & Engineering

LJC Design & Engineering, formerly Lamar Johnson Collaborative, occupies the 15th floor of the historic Jewelers Building at 35 E. Wacker. Originally known as the Pure Oil Building, the 40-story, 523-foot tower was completed in 1927 and was once the tallest building in the world outside New York City. The building was co-designed by structural engineer Joachim Giæver and architect Frederick P. Dinkelberg, with Thielbar & Fugard supervising. Dinkelberg, who worked on New York’s Flatiron Building, brought Beaux-Arts grandeur, while Giæver provided the structural ingenuity behind the Jazz Age tower. Within this landmark setting, LJC’s office supports collaboration, flexibility, and creative exploration. An expansive gathering space welcomes clients, while studios provide dynamic workplaces for design teams. A neutral palette creates a backdrop for models, renderings, materials, and design inspiration. The south side of the office is dedicated to teamwork, with meeting booths, a design lab, materials library, VR lab, kitchen, and flexible space for presentations and charrettes. The result is a workplace that invites clients and colleagues into the design process.