Finding the right fit

Some people have a hard time leaving the good life in a small midwestern town. Not Kris Teubel.

Kris had a “pretty great upbringing” in Gridley, IL. He went to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale for both bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and met his wife, Jen, there. After graduation, they pondered their “what’s next?” and North Carolina and Tennessee were high on the list. Tennessee won out when Kris got a job offer, so they packed up and moved.

Fast forward six-plus years, and now Kris has landed at JJCA after an active job hunt. For one reason or another the other firms didn’t fit like JJCA did. His conversations with leadership were great, and he had a hunch that JJCA was the right choice. The people at JJCA are awesome and the work is interesting, he says.

Before JJCA, he worked on multiple recreation centers, a jail, a community center, and some smaller community projects like a visitors center and maintenance building. He also trained colleagues and design studio students in computer drafting. Now, he’s working on a couple of JJCA’s behavioral health projects.

Kris’ favorite building in Nashville is the John Sevier State Office Building, and he admits to being biased not only because it’s a beautiful building but also because he worked on its recent renovation. It was built in the late 1930’s and he loves the beautiful beaux-art style detailing. He says the best part of the architecture profession is how art and architecture can excite people. He enjoys seeing hand sketches received well during a design meeting or watching an owner’s surprise at how good their building looks as it comes out of the ground.

When he’s not at work, he and Jen enjoy mountain bike trail riding, and watching the Nashville Predators play at Bridgestone Arena when they can.

We’re glad Kris landed in Tennessee and that his hunch to join JJCA was right. He certainly fits well here.