Since our inception in 1984, Muller & Muller, Ltd (M2), has been helping to shape our built environment. Founders Jay and Cindy Muller both grew up in Chicago and share a fascination with the urban environment, its architecture, and systems that allow it to operate and thrive. After meeting during their architectural studies at the University of Illinois, Jay began his career working for SOM, while Cindy joined the offices of Metz, Train & Youngren in the late 1970’s. In 1984 after having recently become parents, they took a leap of faith and opened a three-person WBE firm in the attic of their Logan Square home. The practice began by designing single family homes however before long they were awarded their first public project designing a new Metra station in 1986. From there M2 started on a journey that would grow the firm far beyond its humble beginnings.
Today, with the assistance of an enhanced leadership team, M2 has expanded to more than 45 employees with offices in Chicago and Dallas. The timeline below provides a brief overview of our contributions over the last 37-years.

The M2 led, $500M expansion and renovation of Chicago’s O’Hare International Terminal 5 begins construction.
This project represents O’Hare’s largest terminal expansion in more than 30-years, which will add eight new gates, new lounges, new concessions/retail, reworked baggage handling systems, enhanced customs and border patrol processing, and expanded TSA check points. This is perhaps the largest project in the country to be led by a WBE prime with the assistance of the key partners of HOK and T.Y.Lin International.

M2’s relationship with the Chicago Public Schools continues and strengthens, with the award of 11 renovation projects.
Building off our first contract with CPS in 2019, which included full design services for an annex and renovation at the Barbara Vick Early Childhood and Family Center. Additionally, M2 has completed numerous CPS school projects through the Public Building Commission of Chicago.

The M2 Designed, $100M, 80,000 Square Foot Expansion of Chicago’s Midway International Airport opens.
M2 was able to accomplish planning challenges but also recognized the project as an opportunity to create a new, architecturally significant gateway to and from Chicago through which each of Midway’s over 20,000,000 yearly arriving and departing passengers will travel.

Construction starts on the Chicago’s Riverwalk East.
The new ‘Riverwalk East’ creates valuable outdoor amenities through outdoor gathering spaces, recreation and play opportunities, public art, plantings that focus on creating color and interest throughout the year, and path upgrades that re-orient the visitor with the river.

M2 entered a design competition at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to re-envision the “Gate Lounge of the Future”.
As a result of our winning entry, M2 led a a true interactive collaboration between M2 and numerous DFW stakeholders. Also in 2018, M2 secured a significant on-call contract which has resulted in over a dozen separate projects, with more exciting projects in the works. As a result of this work, M2 also established a Dallas-based office in 2019.

Several Rail Stations on Amtrak’s Chicago to St. Louis High Speed Rail Route are opened for passenger service.

M2 provided full design services for four of the stations and program manager services for an additional four stations. Recently, M2’s was included on teams recently selected for program management services for Amtrak’s Chicago to Rockford and Chicago to Quad Cities corridors.

As part of a collaboration with renowned artist Theaster Gates, the Black Vessel for Saint Sculpture Pavilion opens at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, MN. Earlier collaborations with Theaster Gates include numerous projects throughout Chicago.

Construction Starts on the M2 Designed Navy Pier Bicycle Path Fly Over Project.

This unique elevated path provides for safer walking and biking along the Lakefront Trail near Navy Pier. The distinctive structure along with integrated murals and integrated decorative lighting create a memorable gateway to Navy Pier.

Design begins on four stations for the Chicago Transit Authority’s Red Purple Line Modernization Project, as part of the Preliminary Engineering Consultant Team.

In 2020, this same team also began working on the design of four stations for the CTA’s Red Line Extension Project. As of 2021, M2 has contributed to the design of 56 CTA station projects.

Construction finishes on the M2 designed Chicago Union Station Transit Center.
As Chicago’s busiest rail terminal and as the nation’s third busiest rail terminal, nearly 130,000 passengers pass through the station on an average weekday. Originally opened in 1925, the station requires various improvements to handle the large volume of Amtrak and Metra passengers and future projected ridership increases. In addition to the Transit Center project, M2 participated in a major masterplan project for the sprawling station and in 2019 M2 began design on a major project to repurpose a former mail platform for passenger service.

The M2 designed Riveredge Park opens in Aurora, Illinois.
As the second largest City in Illinois, Aurora was looking to transform a number of crumbling industrial sites along the Fox River. The City’s Stakeholders decided to issue a Design Competition looking for design excellence for a new major public gathering place – a game changer for Aurora, IL. M2 formulated their winning entry by bringing together the talents and expertise of a unique team of local, but nationally recognized leaders in sustainable design, green urbanism, waterfront-oriented park and open space planning, and landscape ecology.

M2 hires their first Beagle. He’s often found sleeping on the job.

The M2 designed Evanston Fire Station #5 opened.

This building is the first LEED Gold fire station in the State of Illinois. Additionally, it was nominated as one of Evanston’s 150 Great Buildings as part of the city’s 150th birthday celebration. M2 continues our municipal legacy working on numerous public safety and maintenance type facilities.

The Aurora RiverEdge Park begins to receive the first of many awards. The park and amphitheater will officially open in 2013, bringing new life to the Fox River region in Aurora, IL.

After 70 years of constant use the historic two-level Wacker Drive viaduct required complete reconstruction. Included in the reconstruction was restoration of the architecturally significant stone facade along the river edge.

M2 completes design of the Near South Transfer Tunnel at State St. and Roosevelt Rd. This journey through time was one of the first tunnels to push creative story telling within a public transit space in the City.

The M2 Designed McDonalds Cycle Center in Chicago’s Millennium Park opens and receives accolades from around the world. It is one of the first facilities in North America created for bicycle commuters, providing storage for bikes, showers, bike repair, and even headquarters for the Chicago Police Lakefront Bike Patrol.

M2 completes design of the Damen Avenue Bridge, one of the first non-bascule bridges in Chicago. M2 would go on to contribute to design of multiple bridge projects, including Chicago’s Halsted Street Bridge and North Avenue Bridge over the North Branch of the Chicago River, among numerous others.

M2 moves from their offices on Elston Ave. to their current location in Chicago’s River West neighborhood.

The Public Building Commission of Chicago becomes one of M2’s early public clients, and helps M2 break into the Education sector, that continues to this day, with the design over 20 elementary schools.

The company incorporated in 1989 to form the Chicago architectural firm of Muller & Muller, Ltd. (M2).

M2 began work with Metra, igniting their transportation sector, and beginning M2’s longest standing client relationship. To date, M2 has participated in over 50 Metra Projects, including stations and maintenance facilities.

M2 is founded! First projects include residential flips, financed by Jay and Cindy’s credit cards. An award-wining firm is born.