Ted Kollaja

Ted Kollaja, principal and studio director at Gensler, has been named an outstanding alumni by Texas A&M’s College of Architecture for 2012. Fewer than 1 percent of the college’s more than 15,000 former students have received this recognition.

In his nearly three-decade career in architecture and interior design, Kollaja has designed numerous large projects and advanced workplace strategies. Recent projects include Encana Corp.’s 2.2 million-square-foot headquarters in Calgary, Devon Energy’s 2.1 million-square-foot facility in Oklahoma City, and ExxonMobil’s 385-acre campus in The Woodlands. His portfolio also includes Southern California Gas tower in Los Angeles and the U.S. headquarters campus for Ericsson in Plano.

“(Kollaja) is recognized by our general contractor firm and our peers as one of the very best architects to work with on complex projects with intense schedules,” said Jim Thompson, president of JRT Construction in Dallas, in a statement. “Aside from his excellence in technical skills, he is equally respected for his fairness in resolving the inevitable issues that occur on complicated projects. Ted can calmly but firmly bring together several parties and lead the group to a successful and timely resolution.”

After earning a Bachelor of Environmental Design degree in 1984 and a Master of Architecture degree in 1986, Kollaja began his architectural career in the Houston and Los Angeles offices of Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill. Following stints at JPJ Architecture and Lauck Group, he joined Gensler in October 2003.

Kollaja was a key player in the development and construction of the Dallas Center for Architecture. He also has served as president of the American Institute of Architects’ Dallas Chapter and the Dallas Architectural Foundation.

Kollaja will be honored at the college’s 2012 Outstanding Alumni Awards Banquet, set for 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 26 in the Grand Ballroom of Texas A&M’s Memorial Student Center.