ABOUT US
James M. Vanderheyden

A 1975 graduate of the School of Architecture at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, James Vanderheyden finished his graduate training also at UIUC earning a Master of Architecture Degree in1977. Graduating with Honors, James also distinguished himself in the discipline of Urban Design and Planning by receiving one of eight awards given in the 1976 William Van Allen Architect Memorial Award, an International Design Competition open to Schools of Architecture at Universities throughout the world. Jim completed his internship in the Chicago firm of Shaw & Associates and passed the Illinois State Licensing Exam in 1981.

In 1982 Jim founded his own company and named it Architectural Dynamics playing on the idea that Architectural Design is "ever changing" and "always in motion". Since then his body of work includes both Residential and Commercial Projects. Working out of his house, Jim's largest body of work has been in Residential Addition & Renovation Work in Oak Park and River Forest including his own house on Wesley Avenue in Oak Park. A 28 year resident of Oak Park, Jim has completed nearly 150 projects in Oak Park and River Forest alone. Combined with projects all over the Chicago Metropolitan Area and as far away as the Florida Keys and Cameron in West Africa, Jim has completed over 250 projects worldwide.

Moving to Batavia, Illinois in 2005, Jim continues to provide the highest level of Quality in Architectural Design & Planning and highest level of Professional Integrity to clients throughout the entire Chicago Metropolitan Area. Jim's projects have received awards from the Oak Park Historic Preservation Commission in 2008 & 2009. His projects have been featured in the Parenthesis of Oak Park & River Forest "Kitchen Walks" in 2008 and 2011 with the 2008 project being featured in a 2010 national publication of Kitchen Trend magazine.