Get a behind-the-scenes look at one of Logan Square's newest affordable housing developments! Encuentro Square Apartments is 100% affordable apartments located immediately adjacent to the western end of the 606 Trail. The development provides a mix of unit sizes along with amenity space to support residents and help them thrive. Hear from a panel of interdisciplinary professionals who helped bring Encuentro Square to life, then tour the campus to learn more about the challenges and successes encountered along the way.
Learning Objectives
Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Time: 3:00-5:00 PM (please arrive by 2:45)
Professional Development Credit: CM | 2.0
Registration: (max capacity 25 attendees):
Remember to dress for the weather including a water bottle and comfortable shoes.
Jaime Torres Carmona is Founder and Principal of Canopy / architecture + design, LLC, an award-winning architecture and urban design practice based in Chicago. Recognized for his approach and sensitivity towards the end user, social impact and the environment, Jaime explores the role of design as a vehicle for positive change. Through projects ranging in scale from community and health centers to housing, schools, mixed-use buildings, and urban design, Jaime is drawn towards the urban and civic realm and its impact on the human experience.
Jaime’s work has been presented in a number of venues and universities including the Chicago Architecture Biennial, the Chicago Architecture Center, as well as the National AIA Conference in New York City and Chicago. A distinguished graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he has taught at UIUC, Judson University, and other local universities where his studios have focused on cities, urbanism, people, and culture.
Kate Gronstal, Evergreen Real Estate Group, is the VP of Development Operations and project manager for several mixed-used developments utilizing innovative financing structures. Her experience includes the Independence Apartments & Library, Northtown Apartments & Library, and Ravenswood Senior Living. For Evergreen's co-located library and housing projects, Kate used her experience with public-private partnerships to bring together multiple public agencies, private investors, and other stakeholders to ensure spaces that meet the needs of the communities they serve. Kate received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Master of Public Administration from the Illinois Institute of Technology. Her coursework included: Principles of City Planning, Action Infrastructure, and Urban Development Process.
Additionally, Kate is a member of the Ravenswood Community Council, active in the Illinois Housing Council's legislative committee, and fundraises for the Illinois Special Olympics.
Carmen Martinez, NOMA, Assoc AIA, currently serves as a regional leader within the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) for the City of Chicago, overseeing the Northwest Region, which encompasses 14 wards. In this role, Carmen plays a dynamic part in shaping the future of Chicago’s communities, with a strong focus on design excellence, community investment, and equitable development. Her work focuses on commercial corridor studies, overseeing planned developments in the Northwest Region, identifying future planning sites and opportunities, providing design consultation for ongoing and upcoming city projects, and leading community and developer engagement initiatives.
With over two decades of architectural experience, Carmen brings a diverse skill set that includes project management, master planning, interior design, construction administration, implementation leadership, consultant coordination, and training in Building Information Modeling (BIM) and digital data design. Much of this work has been concentrated in the healthcare, behavioral health, and K-12/higher education sectors. In 2020, Carmen transitioned into urban planning and public sector work, merging a deep passion for design and community engagement with city planning. This shift marked a significant career milestone—leveraging years of architectural expertise to help shape entire neighborhoods and districts across Chicago. Her favorite aspect of the work remains the same: bringing a client’s—or now, a community’s—vision to life. Today, that vision spans multiple communities, enabling long-term goals in urban design and master planning to flourish in a broader civic context.