Burnham Nationwide

09/04/2026

Daniel Burnham was born 180 years ago today. "Make no little plans" was his mantra, one we still carry on today. It shapes how we think about cities, buildings, and getting things done right.

09/02/2026

Join us September 15 in Addison, IL for High Wind, Tornado and Safe Room Design at the Association of Licensed Architects' Fall Conference. The Code Group's own Chris Chwedyk, AIA, CSI, NCARB will bring the code perspective to this moderated panel alongside experts in insurance, legal, and architecture.
Details at https://hubs.li/Q04whd870. We'll see you there.

09/01/2026

Combustible. Noncombustible. Protected. Unprotected. Four terms that shape every building's fire safety and design potential. Learn how construction types work, and how mass timber is rewriting the rules. The latest from The Code Group's Chris Chwedyk:

Learn how building codes classify construction types by combustibility & fire protection, including the new mass timber Type IV-A, IV-B, & IV-C categories.

08/28/2026

This week some of our Chicago team toured The Rookery, designed by Daniel Burnham and John Root in 1885, with a light court later redone by Frank Lloyd Wright. Standing in a building tied to our own name was a special moment, especially with The Code Group's Chris Chwedyk leading the way through details he knows like the back of his hand.
The group got into the Burnham Library on the 11th floor, once the offices of Burnham & Root themselves. Jessica Sulka, who's managed permitting for several ground floor tenants there, joined along with Leah Riley, Jamie Riley, Mary Thies, Laura Tonkinson, and Peggy Kienzle.
Thanks for the tour, Chris!

08/27/2026

15 Years of Getting It Done: Miguel Medina
Fifteen years ago, Miguel Medina got his start with Burnham in New York. Even after relocating to Orlando, he's kept his New York projects running strong.
Ask him what stands out most and he points to 2012, when the whole company flew to Chicago for Burnham's 15th anniversary. "It strengthened our bond and made Burnham feel like family," he says.
"My colleagues in New York and Nationwide were a big reason for my success," Miguel says. "I have a level of trust in them I'm sure I'll never find anywhere else."
Miguel, thank you for growing with us. Simply Getting It Done.

08/24/2026

Wood, steel, concrete, masonry. The materials look different, but building codes care about one thing above all: fire resistance. Chris Chwedyk of The Code Group breaks down the five construction types, what combustible vs. noncombustible really means, and why mass timber changed the game. Read more:

Learn how building codes classify construction types by combustibility & fire protection, including the new mass timber Type IV-A, IV-B, & IV-C categories.

08/21/2026

As summer winds down, we're proud to revisit the Obama Presidential Center.
Burnham supported this project since 2017 through last year's final revision across five South Side structures. It opened this summer. We're grateful to have been part of it.
Read the full story:

The Obama Presidential Center spans five structures, dozens of permits, and nearly eight years of work. Here is what that looks like up close.

08/20/2026

Celebrating 5 Years: Andrew Paget
From Chicago's Obama Presidential Center to the Thompson Center, Andrew Paget has spent the last five years helping move some of the city's most recognizable projects forward.
Asked what's stood out most, Andrew shared: "Working on some of Chicago's iconic buildings such as the Obama and Thompson Center has been amazing, and it will be great to say I had a small hand in bringing those projects forward in the future."
And what keeps him around? "I would say the Nationwide aspect keeps things interesting. I could be working on a high rise in NYC in the morning and a data center in New Mexico in the evening."
Carson Kyhl put it simply: "When something doesn't make sense, Andy's the guy who takes a step back and thinks about it for a second. That's the kind of person every team needs."
Congrats on five years, Andrew!

08/17/2026

Zoning Essentials: Chicago Exterior Signs is this Wednesday, don't miss it.
If your projects touch signage in Chicago, this is the session you don't want to miss. Join Louie Greenebaum, Burnham's Director of Signs and Licensing, for a deep dive into the zoning rules that trip up even experienced teams.
📅 Wednesday, August 19
🎓 1 AIA LU credit
Sign design, permitting timelines, common code pitfalls: we're covering it all in one hour.
Register here:

Learn how Chicago zoning shapes sign permits, sign types, and approval timelines for architects, contractors, and building owners.

08/13/2026

Celebrating 5 Years: Jimmy Allen
Jimmy Allen is celebrating five years at Burnham Nationwide this month!
When asked what's most memorable about his time here, Jimmy shared: "Seeing the projects I've worked on go from an initial idea to being approved and built. It's satisfying to see the work we do behind the scenes come together and ultimately help turn someone's plans into a reality."
And what keeps him around? "The relationships I've built with my coworkers. Over the last 5 years, I've had the chance to work with many great people, and those relationships make the day-to-day experience more enjoyable. The Nationwide Team works so closely together that it almost feels like working with family."
Fun fact, courtesy of Carson, who loves telling this one: last year, Jimmy and a buddy tied in their fantasy football league finals and decided to split the winnings to buy tickets to a Bears playoff game together instead of declaring a winner.
Congrats on five years, Jimmy!