FORT WAYNE – Elevatus Architecture is pleased to onboard John E. Taylor, Jr., CDT , to a Construction Administration & QA/QC role. Taylor Jr. will assist the firm’s specifications writing, QA/QC operations, Construction Administration site visits and reports. His professional background consists of construction administration, project design and management, and specifications writing. Taylor Jr. is a former member of the Construction Specifications Institute - Fort Wayne Chapter and was a volunteer with the Eagle’s Nest Youth Center, Inc. 

Taylor Jr., who boasts 45 years in the AEC world, returns for second stint at Elevatus (formerly SchenkelShultz - Fort Wayne). His knowledge in specifications and construction documentation will continue to clarify and expand the Elevatus commitment to quality drawings for clients and contractors. 

Emma Ocken, aAIA, has brought her talents to Elevatus Architecture as an Architectural Graduate. The team said it cannot wait for her experiences to reflect in her work. Her education background consists of Bachelor’s of Science in Architecture, Master’s of Architecture, and Master’s of Historic Preservation from Ball State University. She is a past member of the American Institute of Architecture Students, a chapter for students who plan to pursue the field of architecture. She is also a past member of the Associated Students for Historic Preservation and was a director for Freedom by Design. 

Her professional work involves design for several multi-family residential projects, both new construction and adaptive reuse, as well as higher education, recreational and industrial projects and will use that experience to bolster the Elevatus portfolio. Ocken has worked on historic buildings that have underwent various protocols sought through the historic designation process at the local, state, and federal levels.