Raymond Schaefer, AIA/NCARB
An Architect, President & Founding Principal of Gravity Architecture + Design as well as an Illinois Institute of Technology Graduate with a BArch - yes, he loves Mies Van der Rohe! Raymond has two children - his daughter graduated from Johns Hopkins and then Kings College London with her undergraduate degree in Psychology and her Master's degree in Neuropsychology. She currently resides in Baltimore and is on Faculty at Johns Hopkins lecturing/supporting several psychology courses. His son is a graduate of Mount St. Mary’s University with a degree in Entrepreneurship and has his Graduate completion in Digital communications/business. After playing four years of NCAA Div. 1 Golf in the Big East Conference and the MAAC for Depaul and The Mount, he is in the early stages of living his dream of being a professional golfer. He is the husband of nearly 33 years of a lovely wife, an Audiologist - who has her graduate degree from Northwestern but is more proud of being a graduate of The University of Iowa!
Ray loves Mexican food and all things Chicago (go White Sox!). His favorite teams are the Indiana Pacers, Indiana Men's Basketball (yes, he even has a pair of candy stripe warm up pants), Syracuse Basketball and DePaul Basketball. He lives in the Chicago suburbs, but also has a great place in Orlando. He's a member of Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club but does not own a set of golf clubs! His favorite restaurants are: O Ya Boston, Lalo's Chicago, Optimist Atlanta & Nipper's Bahamas. When Raymond is not working, you can catch him watching his favorite movies – any “film” with Nic Cage, Hoosiers, Top Gun, Caddyshack and Slap Shot, or listening to ALOT of Elvis with a healthy mix of Kenny Chesney or Sir Mix Alot!
If not an architect, Ray would be an ex-NBA player who now owns a small Tavern/Pub in Scotland. Moving to work, his favorite project moments are - Sitting with his wife and Rich Melman at the opening of FoodLife in Chicago drinking way too many Tequila Sunrises and sitting with Priscilla and Lisa Marie at Elvis Presley's Memphis - and having them say "Elvis would have loved this place!” - while Jewel played the opening party!
On a more serious note about Gravity, the 20 plus years of success for the firm is humbling to him. Getting the opportunity to work alongside so many talented, special people at Gravity on amazing projects around the world means the world to Ray. His Clients have become friends and the relationships that he has built with amazing restaurateurs, chefs and industry professionals makes the work – well, seem less like work. Taking pride in the end success of the projects (not just the creative aspects) has allowed him to grow as an Architect, business consultant and Hospitality leader in the United States and beyond.