Above Jeannette O’Connell’s desk hangs a quote from Lao Tzu: “The reality of the building does not consist of the roof and walls, but the space within to be lived.” This philosophy lies at the heart of her design approach - one that centers on the human experience within a space.
Jeannette’s path to design was not a straight line. She first studied foundational health sciences, in Vermont, with clinical applications, but soon realized her true interests were elsewhere. An immersive, three-summer academic program held in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, at Parson’s School of Design opened her eyes to new possibilities, and she later enrolled in the Interior Architecture program at the Rhode Island School of Design. The experience broadened her perspective, introducing her to peers from all over the world. Building an appreciation for design shaped by diverse cultures.
Even as a child, Jeannette was fascinated by the built environment. Her earliest memories of architecture come from summers spent at her grandfather’s house on Absecon Island at the Jersey Shore. She remembers the houses built on pilings and paddling a small skiff underneath them to explore and net blue crabs.
At TSKP STUDIO, Jeannette serves as the Director of Interiors. Drawn to the multicultural character of the office, she joined Tai Soo Kim Partners, now TSKP STUDIO, in 1990. Over her decades-long career, she has contributed to numerous educational and civic projects, including the recently completed Eastern Greenwich Civic Center and Bloomfield’s Prosser Public Library.
Jeannette ensures every project reflects the needs of students, staff, and communities while maintaining a cohesive and thoughtful design throughout. Her design process always begins with a strong concept that serves as the guiding thread that keeps a project cohesive - from its orientation and light to its materials and details. “If you start with a strong concept, that’s going to help make your decisions for you throughout the entire project.”
Among her favorite projects is the U.S. Embassy in Tunisia, a design guided by a strong cultural concept that integrated local craftsmanship throughout. Reflecting on the embassy project, Jeannette recalls how rewarding and collaborative the experience was. During the initial planning phase, the design team visited recently completed embassies in Kuwait and Ottawa to learn from each project’s approach. “It really felt like a team effort,” she remembers. “Our consultants traveled with us, and we’d all gather in hotel rooms, spreading out trace paper and borrowing lamps from every room just so we could better see what we were sketching by hand. It was before laptops and cloud computing. They were wonderful trips.”
Outside of work, Jeannette has always sought adventure. “I have travel in my blood.” In the 1970s, she spent three months backpacking across Europe and traveled across North America in a van. She has explored Northern Africa, including Egypt and Tunisia, and spent a month in China in the early 2000s. She is also a PADI certified, advanced scuba diver and has explored both the cold, deep waters of New England and the clear, tropical seas of the Caribbean. She is also a kayaker, hiker, and cyclist, having completed the 186-mile, two day Pan-Mass Challenge multiple times and raised money for cancer research. One year, she accepted the challenge and rode tandem bike with a visually impaired partner to complete the Sturbridge to Provincetown ride.
As she looks ahead to retirement, Jeannette is eager to embrace the freedom of “life without deadlines”. She plans to spend more time outdoors, prioritize wellness, and travel—setting her sights on Australia and New Zealand, where she hopes to dive the Ningaloo and Great Barrier Reefs.
For Jeannette, whether it is a school, an embassy, or a library, the goal has always been the same: to create meaningful spaces for people. Each design is like a puzzle, bringing together the site, the client’s needs, the budget, and the concept, and the reward comes when it all fits together into something lasting and positively impactful.
Looking back, her career feels like one of her designs. Rooted in concept, shaped by experience, and brought to life through collaboration. From paddling beneath shore houses as a child to her numerous projects at TSKP STUDIO, she has always been guided by a curiosity about how people live, gather and connect within a space.
Because for her, true design has never been about just walls and roofs—it’s about creating spaces that elevate everyday life.
CASE STUDIES: Cohen Eastern Greenwich Civic Center
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