Architectural glass company Skyline Design is celebrating 40 years of operations and domestic manufacturing this year. Based in Chicago’s Humboldt Park since 1996, Skyline Design’s factory operates processes of large-scale glass tempering, etching, back-painting, digital printing, lamination and a recently integrated process of Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (smart glass). In addition to the in-house processes, the company has an open line made of collaborative collections with design companies such as the estate of Alexander Girard, Bonnie Edelman, Patricia Urquiola, Erwan and Rowan Bouroullec, Scholten & Baijings, Knoll, Maharam, and Suzanne Tick.
Skyline’s history
Founded in 1983 by Charlie Rizzo, the company was initially named Skyline Art Services and specialized in thematic fabrication, crafting sculptural design elements to create immersive environments. It utilized various methods and mediums, from cast fiberglass to painted murals, and poured resin to engraved glass. After roughly a decade and Rizzo’s discovery of a glass etching process during an apprenticeship with British glass master craftsman Robert Pine, Skyline Art Services transitioned to Skyline Design. It focused its work on large-scale architectural glass.
Skyline Design arrives at this 40-year anniversary after the January retirement of its founder and president Charlie Rizzo, now succeeded by Vipul Bhagat. Rizzo will remain actively involved with the company as its board chairman, while Baghat will assume the president's responsibilities, overseeing all finances and operations. Bhagat started working at Skyline Design fresh out of architecture school at the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1993. He has worked in many aspects of glass manufacturing over his 30-year tenure, including sales management, production supervision, and most recently, chief operating officer.
“I’m honored to step into the role of president at Skyline Design, a company I have had the privilege of working with for so long. Skyline has brought unique perspectives to the design industry for 40 years, and I’m excited to usher in the next 40 years of growth and innovation,” says Vipul Bhagat.
The company’s growing team
In addition to the leadership handoff, Skyline is building its team with a proactive growth mindset.
To lead Skyline Design’s creative marketing are Jessie Devereaux, communications director, and Darcie Young Tashey, marketing director, who share a passion for supporting ethical domestic manufacturing. Devereaux led major creative rebrands for manufacturers Maya Romanoff and Crypton Fabric to the contract market and has curated art shows for independent gallery spaces since 2006. Tashey has spent the last 10 years leading marketing at Skyline Design. In 2016, Tashey co-founded the Chicago-based non-profit Women Unite!, which offers design and marketing services to organizations historically excluded from traditional philanthropy and financing models.
Skyline Design added privacy smart glass and film to its offerings in 2022. Leading the smart glass charge is National Sales Director Steve Spangler, who was previously vice president of a leading supplier of smart glass solutions in the U.S. He now acts as the primary technical liaison, bridging the gap between sales representatives and customers during the specification process.
Chris Allen recently joined the team as an Atlanta-based specialist in precision architectural metal systems. Allen will oversee the launch of Vector to the national market. Vector is a new wall-cladding system resulting from a partnership with Skyline Design and a trusted attachment system manufacturer. This new system will hit the A&D market in Fall 2023.
Skyline’s philanthropy
In its 40th year, Skyline Design is partnering with Chicago organizations to provide job placement opportunities for refugees, formerly incarcerated individuals and people with developmental disabilities. The company also supports various non-profit organizations, including the American Bird Conservatory, Be Original Americas, Association House of Chicago and RefugeeOne.
“We are responsible for the stewardship of our planet, and we take that responsibility seriously,” says Rizzo.
