From an early age, Jarrett J. Jensen knew he would be an Architect. Immersion in the world of draftsmen at his father’s prominent Chicago Architectural firm, drawing on top of the detailed drawings the draftsmen shared with him, was followed by technical drawing courses in middle and high school and summer apprenticeships at Jensen & Fore Architects and Engineers. Jarrett pursued his Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, working his way up to draftsman in the summers and exploring the new technology of Auto-CAD within the firm.
After receiving his Masters of Architecture Degree from Arizona State University, he returned to Chicago and worked on high-profile projects as an apprentice at Booth Hansen under the guidance of Larry Booth. Upon licensure in 1992, Jarrett returned to Jensen & Fore where he was promoted to Vice President in 1996 and President in 2000, leading the firm to adopt new technologies and expand the practice further in retail, industrial/warehouse, residential, and multi-family endeavors.
Over the past 20+ years, Jarett has grown the firm strategically in practice and geography. Though well-known for grocery stores and neighborhood retail centers, he has been instrumental in adding restaurant design specialization, including kitchen and state-of-the-art facilities design. The firm is licensed in a dozen states across the country, including those experiencing tremendous growth, as clients continue to expand their national presence. In addition, the Jensen team completes master planning and works with brokers, corporate clients, and private developers to bring their projects to fruition. Jensen & Jensen Architects is known for their sophisticated, life-like renderings and construction documents accurate even to the detail of the finishes on the interior dining room walls and floors and the HVAC units on the roof.
In an ever-accelerating industry (project timeliness has compressed, and the projects take 1/3 of the time they used to), Jarett and his team work with cities on site plan reviews, elevation and rendering approvals, coordinate landscape and civil engineering documents as well as utilities set ups and approvals, and complete construction documents, permitting, and construction administration through final punch list and occupancy.
Jarrett is an active member of AIA (American Institute of Architects), IBC (International Building Code), NCARB (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards), ICSC (Innovative Commerce Serving Communities, formerly International Council of Shopping Centers), and ALA (Association of Licensed Architects). He is a registered architect and a registered Chicago Energy Professional. He and his family reside in suburban Chicago.
Jarrett J. Jensen, AIA, NCARB, ALA is a Licensed Architect in IL, IN, MI, MN, IA, WI, OH, AZ, FL, NV, FL, TX
Outside of Architecture and Design Jarrett enjoys coaching for his daughter’s softball games, Golf and is a seasoned musician on Electric and Acoustic Guitar and Bass, and has played in multiple bands over the decades – Blues, Classic Rock and Jazz.