On the heels of celebrating their 75th anniversary, FGM Architects (FGMA) is excited to announce that Joe Chronister has been named Managing Director of the Central Texas Region office in Austin, John Jackson has been named Director of the firm’s Faith-based Practice and Rich DePalma joined the firm as Business Development Principal. Each of these individuals share the firm's vision and help create thoughtful and resilient communities.
Since FGMA's merger with Jackson Galloway Architects in 2019, the firm has continued to prioritize building community, both internally and externally. An employee-owned firm, FGMA is committed to cultivating a collaborative, engaging culture and providing clients with exceptional service.
Managing Director Joe Chronister joined FGMA in 2007 and is an Executive Vice President, serving on the firm’s Board of Directors. He relocated from FGMA’s Chicago office to Austin in 2019 and has helped build the firm’s presence in the Texas region. Prior to joining FGMA, Chronister was the Director of Design and Construction for the University of Chicago. Joe has partnered with several high profile universities to deliver projects including Northwestern University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Wheaton College, Valparaiso University and City Colleges of Chicago. Locally Joe is working with Austin Independent School District and the City of Austin.
Joe notes that “It’s an honor to lead FGMA’s Austin office. Austin is a unique market and we are excited to continue partnering with our clients to shape the city’s landscape for years to come.”
Director of Faith-based Practice John Jackson was previously Managing Director of FGMA’s Central Texas Region office and a founding partner at award-winning Jackson Galloway Architects. John specializes in the design of faith-based facilities and has partnered with Austin Oaks Church, Grace Covenant Church, Tarrytown United Methodist Church and The Lakeway Church, among others. With over 30 years of experience, John is passionate about designing inspiring spaces that impact the city.
Business Development Principal Rich DePalma has a long history of involvement and community service in the Austin area. Rich brings over two decades of public/private sector experience, has advised numerous AEC firms in Texas and is a trusted resource for officials across the state. Rich is a member of the National Recreation and Parks Association, and the Association of Hispanic Municipal Officials, an affiliate of the Texas Municipal League. Rich’s commitment to research-driven solutions and creating value for his clients is an asset to the firm.
FGMA’s projects enhance the environments where people live, learn, work, play and worship. With a local office in Austin, Texas and the support of offices in Chicago, St. Louis and Milwaukee, FGMA’s practice areas include faith-based, PK-12, higher education, municipal and public safety, recreation, and federal facilities. Founded in 1945, FGMA celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2020. Recently, Building Design+Construction named FGMA #69 among the “2020 Top 155 Architecture Firms” nationwide.