Business Details
36 Years
experience
Your Trusted Architectural Partner in Chicago
Since 1990, Zed Architects has delivered client-centered architectural solutions for commercial, residential, and institutional projects. Our five-person team prioritizes design excellence, focusing on daylight optimization, ventilation, and spatial harmony to create habitable environments. With over 25 years of local expertise, partners Nabil Zahrah (NCARB-certified, licensed in six states) and Catherine Wetzel lead projects ranging from 50+ Accelerated Physical Therapy clinics to restaurant designs.We coordinate multidisciplinary teams for renovations, new constructions, and facility evaluations, emphasizing economic space utilization and natural light integration. Our portfolio includes 15,000 sq. ft. sign production facilities and 2,400-6,000 sq. ft. dining establishments, always balancing client budgets with quality outcomes. Veronica Pazaran, with 14 years of tenure, ensures precise production operations execution. We maintain long-term client relationships through technical precision and contextual design sensitivity.
Services
Residential Design
Commercial Architecture
Restaurant Planning
Space Optimization
Facility Evaluation
Details
- Year established: 1990
Highlights and features
- Over 25 years of Chicago-specific architectural expertise
- NCARB-certified partner licensed across six states
- Proven track record with 50+ healthcare facility projects
- Specialized restaurant design experience with 2,400-6,000 sq. ft. spaces
- Client-centered approach balancing budget and design quality
Services
Residential Design
We create functional residential spaces through new construction and renovations, optimizing natural light and ventilation. Our expertise includes single/multi-family units, garage conversions, and adaptive reuse projects. With deep understanding of Chicago's housing market, we balance personal space needs with investment value, transforming urban living environments into spacious, connected spaces.
Commercial Architecture
Our commercial services cover office, showroom, and warehouse projects with comprehensive space planning and facility evaluation. We coordinate civil, structural, and MEP engineers for renovations and new builds, serving diverse sectors including healthcare, retail, and industrial clients. With experience across six states, we deliver operational spaces that meet technical requirements while maintaining design integrity.
Restaurant Planning
Specializing in restaurant architecture, we design efficient food production operations with precise MEP coordination. Our portfolio includes barbecue restaurants, coffeehouses, and Italian dining establishments ranging from 2,400 to 6,000 sq. ft. We optimize existing spaces for customer comfort and workflow efficiency, balancing seating capacity with technical kitchen requirements in urban environments.
Space Optimization
We maximize building potential through strategic space planning that enhances functionality. Our approach considers daylight access, ventilation systems, and spatial relationships to create ordered environments. This service includes existing conditions assessments and programmatic evaluations to transform underutilized spaces into efficient, habitable areas meeting both client needs and regulatory standards.
Facility Evaluation
Our facility evaluation service provides comprehensive analysis of existing structures for renovation or expansion projects. We document current conditions, mechanical systems, and structural integrity to inform design decisions. This service supports clients in understanding building capabilities and limitations before undertaking major modifications or adaptive reuse initiatives.
People
Nabil Zahrah
Partner
Licensed architect with NCARB certification across six states, Nabil Zahrah directs office operations and project execution at Zed Architects. With 30+ years in Chicago's architectural landscape, he specializes in residential and commercial projects, balancing economic investment with functional design solutions.
Catherine Wetzel
Partner
Partner Catherine Wetzel contributes to project definition and design work at Zed Architects. Her expertise spans commercial and institutional projects, with a focus on technical coordination and client-centered solutions. She brings decades of Chicago-specific architectural experience to the firm's diverse project portfolio.
Veronica Pazaran
Production Manager
With 14 years at Zed Architects, Veronica Pazaran leads production operations, ensuring precise execution of design plans. Her technical expertise maintains the firm's quality standards across residential, commercial, and healthcare projects, serving as critical link between design concepts and construction implementation.
Questions
What architectural services does Zed Architects offer?
We provide residential, commercial, and institutional architecture including new construction, renovations, space planning, and facility evaluations with specialized restaurant design expertise.
Which states are Zed Architects licensed to work in?
Partner Nabil Zahrah holds licenses in Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, and Iowa, enabling multi-state commercial project execution.
What restaurant design experience does Zed Architects have?
We've completed multiple restaurant projects including 5,000-6,000 sq. ft. spaces for pizza, Italian, barbecue, and coffee concepts with full MEP coordination for food service operations.
How does Zed Architects approach residential projects?
We focus on optimizing natural light and ventilation while balancing personal space needs with property investment value through renovations, additions, and new constructions.
What commercial project experience does the firm have?
We've completed 50+ projects for Accelerated Physical Therapy clinics and designed facilities for showrooms, warehouses, daycare centers, and product test kitchens nationwide.
