Dan Earles


Dan Earles, ALA, AIA, LEED AP ID+C
President
Earles Architects and Associates, Inc.


Dan Earles was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan where his love for architecture blossomed in the 5th grade when he drew his first floor plan. He graduated from Lawrence Technical University with a BS in Architecture and realized there was not much opportunity for architecture in the Detroit area at the time so moved to Chicago in the early 80’s to begin his career in the field of architecture. Dan worked for several Chicago firms in his early career including a stint with a firm that opened an office in Los Angeles, that he assisted in setting up, in the mid 80’s. He found California not the place he wanted to be and returned to Chicago and his mid-west roots, where he worked for a large architectural firm for several years before co-founding a firm in the early '90s.

Dan is a licensed architect and the owner of multiple Chicago-based businesses. He is President of Earles Architects and Associates, Inc. (EAA), a full-service architectural design firm that has served the corporate, tenant development, institutional, industrial, retail and hospitality sectors for over 30 years. Through his extensive work with Chicago’s premier landlords and businesses, Dan has helped shape, define, adapt, reuse, and reconfigure space interiors for many of Chicago’s well known architectural buildings as well as worked with some of Chicago’s top Building Owners and Managers including Tishman Speyer, The John Buck Company, JLL and CBRE.

Dan’s other businesses include SEAATS a full service commercial furniture company that provides a personalized and resourceful approach to providing clients with the right solution for their project. With access to over 100 manufacturers SEAATS can deliver a creative and budget appropriate solution for clients. Also included is the unlikely but fun business, Epic Gourmet Popcorn is a gourmet inspired brand that creates a memorable popcorn experience, built on the foundation of quality ingredients, innovative crave-worthy flavors and unparalleled customer service.

Dan received the Business Owner of the Year award in 2018 from the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois. Dan also was listed on Crain’s 2019 & 2020 Notable LGBT Executives. EAA and its affiliates are certified LGBT Business Enterprises by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and actively seeks to advocate on behalf of supplier diversity, specifically within the LGBT business community. Ranked number four out of the top 100 Best Places to Work in 2019 by Crain’s Chicago Business, EAA prides itself on promoting an environment of inclusion, collaboration, open communication and superior employee benefits.