Architecture is powerful
It reflects our philosophical, cultural, and core values. It influences our perception of the world and is where we spend most of our time. It can help, or hinder, us in being collaborative, productive, and inclusive. It can inspire us. In the best sense architecture can be influenced by almost anything and therefore offers a real opportunity for exploration. Most importantly it is our gift to the next generation and must be created thoughtfully.
HIGH PERFORMANCE DESIGN STUDIO
RACER is a high-performance design studio that thrives in this dynamic era of change. Architecture is fixed and costly to modify and therefore must be designed in a manner that allows versatility. Our curiosity is complimented by our creativity and driven by our technological aptitude.
CROSSING TYPOLOGIES
The RACER design experience crosses traditional typologies providing a unique insight into each project. The next-gen rec project is part hospitality, part education, civic, and completely enabled by technology. With experience in Higher Education, K-12, Science and Technology, and Hospitality, the RACER design perspective is unmatched by typology-dedicated teams.
Robert Benson AIA NCARB | Partner
Architect, writer, artist, Robert is identified by his peers for his creativity, passion, humor, and talent. An adjunct professor for many years, he structures his design studio similarly to the manner in which he taught. His love of learning has him constantly gravitating toward new opportunities and challenges.
Operating with a conceptual mind and a fascination with light and void, Robert has garnered over 30 major design awards from the AIA and IIDA. His work has been published and exhibited both nationally and internationally and he was named to Building Design + Construction’s National 40 Under 40. Robert continues to lecture across the country, most recently on “Post-Pandemic Adaptability” and “Storytelling: Ideas, Experience, and the Nature of Provocation”.
Highly adaptable, Robert’s design expertise is informed by a broad range of project typologies. From Higher Education and K-12 to Science and Technology, Commercial Shell and Core to Hospitality, he makes connections and discovers insight through the unique challenges of each typology. Robert’s passion for research and ability to listen enables him to synthesize the interests of his client partners into the architecture they create.
Robert holds degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.Arch) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (BSAS). Robert believes that to be truly successful we must “design with rather than for” meaning that the design process must include a greater community. Considering the voices that might not be represented, stepping outside one’s own knowledge and experiences, including a broader design voice of community, results in more meaningful and inspired architecture.
Robert lives with his wife, daughter, son, and Jack the canine director of security.
Michael Semenzin NCARB | Partner
As an Intrepid learner, Michael is well read on a broad range of subjects, and even reads science for fun. Michael loves organizational structures and an ability to describe complicated things in simple ways. His ability to collaborate and find common ground with many different types of people is driven by his self-described “extroverted introvert” personality.
Having been in charge of an architecture firm for 26+ years, starting with Cornerstone Architects when he was just 30 years old to MRSA Architects to Racer/MRSA, Michael brings years of knowledge and experience.
Michael is a member of BOMA’s Codes and Education committees and has created and taught classes in both Construction Documents and Life Science Design for BOMA, as well as BOMA measurement.
Bachelor of Architecture from IIT
Board member of the West Central Association
Board member of UCP/Seguin Foundation
Retired Certified Leader in the Mankind Project (Men’s Self Awareness Trainings)
Michael would say he has at least one of everything he could ever want – a wife, a son, a dog, a cat and a single digit handicap.
Greta Muhametaj | Project Manager
Greta hails from the beautiful shores of Albania and received her Master of Science in Architecture at Polytechnic University of Tirana. She became an entrepreneur at a very young age at only 23 years old and, was a partner at an Architecture & Interior Design firm based In Tirana, Albania from 2016 to 2018.
Greta is known for her lively energy and problem solving skills. Being optimistic in nature allows for great strength when facing challenges in leadership roles. A lover of travel, she is always looking for the next destination to visit with her husband and son.
Being certified as a LEED Green Associate she is able to provide a framework for her healthy, efficient, carbon and cost-saving green building projects. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement, and it is backed by an entire industry of committed organizations and individuals paving the way for market transformation.
In recent years she has worked on office projects in Chicago at 737 North Michigan Avenue, 29 North Wacker Drive, and the Chicago Board of Trade Building.
Jay Brough | Project Manager
In his spare time, Jay can most likely be found playing with one of his local soccer teams or supporting his favorite clubs. His love of the game has only served to expand his worldwide network of friends and helped to fuel his love of travel to see his favorite teams compete. You may also find him riding around town on his bicycle, getting in the occasional round of golf, or attending a concert from his favorite bands.
The Hoosier land native earned both his Bachelor of Architecture and his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design at Ball State University in Indiana.
Highly versatile, Jay’s design experience draws from a broad range of project types, from designing high-end single-family residential projects to creating lab spaces that help nurture innovative and cutting-edge Science and Technology. His MRSA portfolio spans the field from urban office spaces to complex multi-phase lab suites.
Jay has many years of experience as a project manager with MRSA, some of the notable projects he has under his belt include:
A Research and Development facility for Natures Fynd, the developer of a meat alternative known as “Fy" protein generated from a strain of fungus discovered in the geothermal springs of Yellowstone National Park.
Three separate phases of development for the pharmaceutical start-up initially known as Therapeutic Proteins, Inc at the Technology Business Center incubator labs at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Those projects ranged from an initial production facility, then to a research and development facility and management office suite, and finally to a fill-finish and packaging facility.
Jay has a continuing relationship with the University of Chicago for whom he has developed many lab spaces for a wide range of research types across several departments. Among those are maker spaces for the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Biotechnologies labs for the Department of Chemistry, Computational labs for the Data Science Institute, and Optics Labs for materials research with the School of Molecular Engineering.
Office, Production, and Warehouse facilities for AZ Polymers, makers of optical-grade polycarbonate and lightweight thermoplastics.
Redesign and modernization of one of the retail corners at Chicago’s Presidential Towers for Waterton Residential.
Cross-Fit gym for F45 Training
Offices and/or Conferencing Centers for various corporate clients including the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, Dyson Management Group, Raymond James, Monitor Liability Managers, Zones Inc, and the Missner Group.
