J. Robert Hillier (Bob) is one of the leading and most highly-respected architects in the United States. He is perhaps best known for having built one of the largest and most successful architecture firms in the world. Bob is distinguished for his design, for his business acumen, and for his contributions to the field of architecture as a practitioner and educator.

He has been on the core faculty of Princeton University’s School of Architecture since 1992 where he teaches two graduate seminars. He has served on the AIA National Fellowship Jury and as Chair of the Selection Committee for the Dean of Princeton’s School of Architecture.

He is the recipient of over 350 of individual honors and awards including, an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from New Jersey Institute of Technology and an Honorary MBA from Bryant University. Other honors include the Legacy Award from the Urban Land Institute, the AIA’s Michael Graves Lifetime Achievement Award, and The President’s Medal from New Jersey Institute of Technology. He is also a Trustee Emeritus at McCarther Theater, Peddie School, and Bryant University. He has given over 200 lectures and participated in dozens of design juries. He and the firm have been widely published in national and international journals, newspapers, and magazines.

In May of 2019, the New Jersey Institute of Technology renamed its College of Architecture the J. Robert and Barbara A. Hillier College of Architecture and Design.

Jerilyn is Principal and Chief Financial Officer at Studio Hillier, where she oversees the firm’s financial operations and plays a key role in strategic planning. Since joining the firm in 2014, she has been instrumental in driving fiscal responsibility, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth.

Before Studio Hillier, Jerilyn spent ten years in public accounting, where she built a foundation in financial management, compliance, and business operations. This experience informs her strategic, results-driven approach to financial leadership.

She holds a BS in Accounting from The College of New Jersey and an MBA from Rider University. She is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of New Jersey. In addition to her professional work, Jerilyn has served as Treasurer, Walk Chair, and Board Member for NAMI Mercer, and as President and Treasurer of her homeowners’ association.

Chris joined Studio Hillier in 2022. He is a Registered Architect and LEED Accredited Professional with experience in a variety of leadership roles within diverse architectural settings. After obtaining a Master of Architecture degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Chris worked for a design/build firm, in the public sector, as an in-house architect for a developer, and as founder and principal of his own firm. Notably, Chris served as Director of Design for Industry City, a $1 billion transformation of an underused 35-acre waterfront district in Brooklyn that is one of the largest adaptive reuse projects in the United States. Additionally, he has received several awards and honors for his work including the New York City Public Design Commission Award for Excellence in Design, the American Society of Landscape Architects New York Chapter Honor Award, the AIA|DC Historic Resources & Preservation Award, recognition as a NYCxDESIGN Project Finalist Honoree, and the Architectural Record House of the Month. His projects have been published in Architectural Record, The New York Times, New York Magazine, The Guardian, The Architect’s Newspaper, Oculus, World Landscape Architecture, and The Plan.

Jack joined Studio Hillier in 2009. Trained in the Arts and Architecture, Jack has a profound interest in culture and the environment, and how each affects the architectural opportunity. He approaches his work through the user experience while balancing the external forces: gravity, dew point, budget, time. He is adept as at construction details as he is in interior planning and design. Nearly all of Jack’s experience with the firm has been on clinical medicine and research based science buildings, most recently, the 630,000 square foot, $447M University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro.

John sees architecture as a strategic balance between artwork and craftwork.  John feels architecture must be driven by clear ideas and concepts, but also, it must meet the technical requirements and conditions of the real world.  Consequently, John has endeavored throughout his career to maintain a level of expertise in both the “art” and “science” of building and even more so since joining Studio Hillier in 2022.

John has had the good fortune of working on projects of all types and of all sizes.  This includes residential projects for individual users, as well as commercial and retail for individual proprietors.  It also includes medium-scale institutional projects like schools and museums.  On a larger scale, John has worked on corporate campuses and urban centers, as well as multi-use cultural centers.

Some large-scale projects include Brookfield place in Battery Park City, Manhattan, New York City and LUHU Cultural Center in Shenzhen, China.  Brookfield Place was a 6-year endeavor with Pelli Clarke Pelli (NY), which involved an extensive reconfiguration of the 4 tower podiums + lobby and exterior facades.

The LUHU Cultural Center is a 104,500 sq m structure, focused on cultural arts (opera, theater, fine art) and library sciences.  Some small-scale work include brewpub/ restaurants in Princeton, NJ and New Hope, PA, for Triumph Brewery, as well as a museum addition for The Morris Museum, in Morristown, NJ.

Since joining Studio Hillier in 2016, Julian's work has encompassed a wide range of creative activities including architectural design from concept through construction, digital fabrication, and the production of rendered images and videos. He has led the design of projects of all scales and has particular expertise in large multifamily developments and high-end single family homes.

His work is distinguished by its bold statements, artistry, and attention to detail, a reflection of his background in music and fine arts. He is the recipient of individual honors and awards including, as a recent graduate of the New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Hillier College of Architecture and Design, the Graduate Integrated Studio Award, the Master of Architecture Medal, and the AIA Henry Adams Medal.

Caryn joined Studio Hillier in 2019. She is a skilled designer with experience in architectural design, documentation, construction administration, interior design, and project management. As an Associate at Studio Hillier, Caryn has led the interior design of significant educational, residential, retail, and sports & recreation projects. She brings a discerning eye to her work and enjoys drawing from historical and contemporary influences.

Previously, as a founding partner of Farnum and Lee Studio based in Industry City, Brooklyn, she designed boutique storefronts, restaurants, and entertainment spaces. Their interior renovation of Webster Hall, the landmarked concert venue in the East Village, was recognized as a 2020 NYCxDesign Award honoree in the “Shining Moment” category for projects that capture the essence of NYC, as well as the AIA|DC Historic Resources & Preservation Award.

Caryn received her undergraduate degree from Duke University and a Master of Architecture degree from Washington University in St. Louis. While in graduate school, she spent semesters studying at the Helsinki University of Technology in Helsinki, Finland, and the Sociedad Central de Arquitecos in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Upon graduation, she worked for ten years in New York City at award-winning practices including Bernheimer Architecture and Guy Nordenson and Associates.

Prior to joining Studio Hillier in 2024, Emily graduated from New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Hillier College of Architecture and Design with a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design and a Master of Architecture. Living in Newark for over five years and doing public bid design work in Trenton for several years after has galvanized Emily’s interest in advocating for and empowering clients with a strong public mission. In addition to her knowledge of building science and technical drawing, she is skilled in digital visualization and graphic design. Emily is enthusiastic about working for Studio Hillier because of its deep ties to the local community, which offers unmatched cultural and educational experiences for a town of its quaint scale.

Felix joined Studio Hillier in 2011. He is an award-winning designer with experience in architecture, with work featured in The New York Times, The Seattle Times, and other national publications. His portfolio includes extensive work on multi-family residential projects, hospitality, educational, sports, and entertainment facilities. As a LEED Accredited Professional, he brings a sustainability-focused perspective to each project. Felix is interested in systems thinking and emerging technologies, both in the tools designers use and in the evolving material production methods that shape the built environment. He is also a proponent of integrating artificial intelligence into the design process and has been published in AI Architecture Magazine. With years of experience managing large-scale, complex BIM projects, Felix contributes deep technical expertise and strategic oversight across all design and construction phases.

David, who joined Studio Hillier in 2022, is a recent graduate with a B.S. in Building Science & Sustainable Design from Pennsylvania College of Technology. During his academic career, he consistently made the Dean's List and won the Larry A. Ward Design Competition & Scholarship. David also competed with Penn College at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon Design Competition in Golden, CO. As a LEED Green Associate, David demonstrates a clear dedication to sustainable and environmentally conscious design. His interest in architecture was sparked by a lifelong connection to the construction trade, having worked closely with his father from a young age. This hands-on experience, combined with early exposure to architecture courses and visits to notable architectural landmarks, cultivated a deep appreciation for the built environment. David’s work is driven by a belief in architecture’s power to shape not only physical spaces, but also the future of communities and the health of our planet.

Emily joined Studio Hillier in 2021 and serves as Executive Assistant to the Managing Principal. She supports daily operations while leading the firm’s marketing, communications, and social media efforts. Emily holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication from Rowan University.

Alex joined Studio Hillier in 2017 and is a valued and accomplished designer and project manager. He is a creative thinker, an avid problem solver, detail oriented, and a gifted sketcher. He has led, designed, and managed numerous mixed-use, hospitality, commercial, institutional, and residential projects ranging from concept/schematic design all the way to final construction and execution in the United States, China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. The skills and insights gained from his professional experience internationally, as well as locally, have crafted his design approach, his attention to detail, and his appreciation of scale. Some notable recent projects include PS376Q, a brand-new primary school located in Bayside, Queens, the iconic CTF Finance Centre, a 530m mixed-use supertall tower in Guangzhou, China, and the Lake Drive Residence, a new custom-residential home set on Lake Carnegie in Princeton, NJ.

As a member of the firm’s marketing team, he was the driving force in producing the ‘Hillier: Selected Works’ monograph, a collection of various projects by Hillier over the last 25 years, published by ORO Editions.

Prior to joining Studio Hillier, Alex worked for internationally recognized and award-winning companies including Kohn Pedersen Fox, Gensler, GLUCK+, and RAFT Architects in New York City. Alex received a Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University.

Sean Rackowski joined Studio Hillier in 2022. He has a Bachelor's degree in Architecture and a Master's degree in Infrastructure Planning from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. Sean has received numerous awards and academic honors, including the winner of ARCHITECT Magazine's 2019 Studio Prize, and recipient of the Construction Roundtable of New Jersey Scholarship. He is proficient in the wide range of software and programs used in the architectural industry, and has significant experience with 3D printing.  Sean is a detail-oriented designer with experience in high-end multifamily projects, multi-million dollar luxury housing, large-scale educational projects, and historic renovation and preservation. Sean is passionate about using his design skills to develop creative projects, that work as well on the inside as they look on the outside.

Bob is an architect with a diverse background in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction industry. In the 1980’s, with the onset of affordable computing in design, Bob helped pioneer the use of digital technology at Hillier as Director of Design Systems. Leveraging 3D design technologies Bob was recruited to work directly with Philip Johnson and John Burgee on the design of four high-rise office towers at the heart of Times Square in New York City. Implementing new technology and processes Bob went on to help streamline digital design at Payette Associates in Boston and Gensler in New York as the Director of Information Technology and Building Information Modeling. For the global publisher, Wiley, Bob guided the creation of software and digital assets offered to the purchasers of popular AEC publications including Architectural Graphic Standards and Autodesk’s Official Training Guides. Bob went on to provide construction administration services for Spiezle and DiCara|Rubino Architects for a variety of building types including healthcare, educational, commercial, residential, and industrial facilities before joining Studio Hillier in 2022 as a Construction Administrator and IT Advisor. Recent projects with Studio Hillier include the Newark School of Architecture and Interior Design, the Peddie School Athletic Center, a multi-family development at Hillsdale, and faculty townhouses at the Institute for Advanced Study.

Kathy has been a valued member of Studio Hillier, since 2015, serving as Assistant Controller. In this role, she is instrumental in managing the firm’s daily financial operations. Her responsibilities include financial reporting, payroll, and ensuring compliance with accounting standards and internal controls.

Prior to joining Studio Hillier, Kathy gained extensive experience in accounting through roles with several private companies. This background provided her with a solid foundation in financial operations, internal processes, and business support functions across various industries.

Known for her strong attention to detail and proactive approach, Kathy works closely with firm leadership to maintain financial accuracy and support strategic decision-making. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Peirce College.

David is an accomplished architectural designer and project manager at Studio Hillier since 2011, where he has led projects from conception through construction across residential, commercial, and educational sectors.

His expertise includes zoning research, site planning, and generating designs with multidisciplinary teams, thoughtfully integrating architecture within its environment. Beyond design, David is well-versed in project development and navigating municipal approvals.

He is known for his rigorous, research-driven approach to design and exceptional visual communication skills, shaped by a previous career as a graphic designer. Early professional roles with Acconci Studio and Archi-Tectonics also included work in parametric design installations and luxury retail environments.

David has taught at two of his alma maters – Syracuse University and The Lawrenceville School – and currently teaches digital representation at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. His academic research explored integrating post-industrial urban landscapes with nature, and investigated how emerging materials and fabrication technologies can inform sustainable architecture through advanced digital modeling.