This is the natural time of year to re-state what we’re thankful for, and at HAA, we are lucky to have a heaping helping of people worthy of praise. You may have noticed we have highlighted our amazing architectural designers—Charlie Erler this year and Casey Harris and Joud Bsata previously.
Today’s shout-out in written form goes to Ian Quarterman, another integral part of our architectural designer team since September 2024. In addition to being a member of both the American Institute of Architects and the National Organization of Minority Architects, Mr. Quarterman holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Ball State University in Indiana.
Ian is one of HAA’s resident “green” thumbs, and he has the educational background to bolster the botanical touch. In fact, Ian’s Ball State thesis on “The Green Design of a Community Campus: Urban Farm and Community Center” complements his volunteer work for Chicago neighborhood clean-ups and contributions to his local urban farm in managing the creation of passive environmental systems. Ian helped address food deserts in Chicago, through that same community garden, in the use of sustainable materials, plus passive design elements incorporated into year-round planning systems and the predesign, design development, and construction.
Passive systems, Ian explains, “are design principles and/or building elements that use nature to make indoor environments more environmentally friendly.” And, we might add, more beneficial to human health.
Here at HAA, Ian can be found offering indispensable assistance to project managers, especially in completing redlines and taking precise measurements of a site in his field assignments. He’s also exploring new software solutions to heighten accuracy and efficiency on behalf of HAA clients—always challenging himself to add more to the overall discussion.
That recent educational foray took Quarterman into learning how to use the Matterport device, which involved helping to gather images and measurements on a field assignment for the Olive Residence Remodel and Addition.
When we caught up with an ever-busy Ian, he enthusiastically discussed going to his first project groundbreaking and first solo field assignment to measure the locations of existing trees—all for Firemen’s Park in Maryville, Ill.
Earlier in 2025, he told us he learned how to do landscaping calculations and perfected that knowledge on the Goddard School addition in Springfield, Ill. And, very exciting news, Ian’s studying for his licensing examinations next year; although he does need it, we wish him all the luck in the world.
“I’m learning how to ride my bike again after 10 years to help with my personal weight loss and health journey, [and] I’m also trying to grow a lemon tree inside of my apartment straight from the seeds.”
When he’s not at HAA headquarters or out in the field (quite literally), you might find Ian pedaling away toward his personal goals or flexing that green thumb. He notes that these days he’s “learning how to ride my bike again after 10 years to help with my personal weight loss and health journey, [and] I’m also trying to grow a lemon tree inside of my apartment straight from the seeds.”
Ian has the determination and know-how to check off all the goals, both professional and personal, and we look forward to an eventful 2026 with him on board.
