Biographies of Principals - Smiciklas

Thomas Smiciklas
Principal

In 1991, Thomas D. Smiciklas obtained a Bachelor of Architecture in Design degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. While earning his degree Tom worked at Desman Associates, an Architectural / Engineering firm in Chicago. During this time between 1986 and 1991 he learned all facets of architecture; design, technical and presentation drawings.
 
Tom joined Aria Group Architects, Inc. in May 1991. In January of 1998 Tom became the firm’s youngest Principal and now heads a studio for many of the firm’s local restaurant projects. Tom’s responsibilities also include Human Resources duties, hiring new staff, and mentoring team members. His depth of experience enriches a strong creative design approach that fits all types of budgets and client needs. Tom’s design philosophy is a simple but direct approach in which thoroughly researched product marketing becomes embedded within the client’s vision of a successful restaurant.
 
Notable Chicago projects include Joe’s Bebop Café and Jazz Emporium at Navy Pier, Bistro Zinc on State Street, Keefer’s in the Chicago River North area, Grace O’Malley’s in the South Loop, P.J. Clarke’s in the Gold Coast area and three McCormick and Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants in the Chicagoland suburbs. In 2000 Tom completed the very successful Chicago Firehouse Restaurant in Chicago’s South Loop district that won a design award from the Friends of Downtown Civic organization. Most recently Peter de Castro asked Aria Group to design Tavern at the Park, a classic American fare restaurant in downtown Chicago, and Tom was instrumental in the design of its exterior and interior. Since opening it has had rave reviews and has rapidly become one of the hottest restaurants in the city. 
 
Tom’s involvement with Aria Group Architects’ out of state projects includes Hubbell & Hudson, a 22,000 SF gourmet food market and bistro in The Woodlands, Texas. This concept developed for owner Cary Attar won Texas Construction Magazine’s Best of 2009 “Award of Excellence: Small Project”. Tom’s involvement also includes numerous McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant projects throughout the East and West coasts.
 
Tom was a founding member of the Illinois chapter of the National Children’s Cancer Society, a not-for-profit organization that provides financial support to families of children with cancer. He currently resides in the South Loop loft development in Chicago.