Our Craftspeople
Jason Boone
Jason was born and raised on a working small farm in NW MO. From an early age his curiosity developed and grew through woodworking. He also had a natural inclination towards entrepreneurship, which manifested itself in selling woodcraft patterns door to door, and later returning with a finished product. In 2003 Jason earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Kansas State and worked professionally in architecture offices for a decade, including four with renowned firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. Craving a more hands-on outlet than the Architecture world could provide Jason combined his childhood passion for woodworking with his design training and started experimenting in Sculpture. This experimenting quickly outgrew his home work space leading him to take up an Artist in Residency position at John Metzlers Urban Tree Forge. While there Jason’s curiosity immersed itself in John’s vision of reclaiming Pittsburgh’s aging forest and creating quality wood products. With John’s untimely death in 2010, Jason stepped up to fulfill existing UTF contracts and later founded Urban Tree to preserve and evolve the work of its predecessor.
You can reach Jason at jason@pittsburghurbantree.com
Steve McDonald
Steve went to a vocational-technical high school where he studied construction trade. He then attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania for art where he majored in drawing and minored in furniture design. Graduating in 2000, he moved to Pittsburgh that same year and has lived primarily in the east end ever since. After spending 17 years at a neighboring woodshop, Steve found his way to Urban Tree in January of 2018. We’re happy to have his expertise and humor around the shop, but when he’s not carefully crafting a custom piece, Steve can be found at home in Swissvale with his wife and two dogs or starting up a band with fellow Urban Tree team members.
Makenzie O’Connor
Mak is a designer and design researcher asking how the built environment influences mental health and well being. With a Master’s in Design Science from the University of Michigan and a B.S. in Global Health from Allegheny College she has always been drawn to working in creative spaces. From running a small business Mak.O Designs to pursuing an art practice, Mak brings over 7 years of design and management experience to Urban Tree. She can be found in the showroom working with customers during the design process or in the shop learning from one of UT’s crasftpeople. When not at Urban Tree, Mak can be found running on a trail, rock climbing in West Virginia, or gardening.
You can reach Mak at mak@pittsburghurbantree.com
Chris Lausch
Chris earned an Associate of Arts degree from Bucks County Community College where he focused on furniture design. He also received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a focus in furniture design and jewelry. At twelve years old he started woodworking in school and at home and knew woodworking would always have a strong place in his life. After graduating he worked at James Wood Works for more than 20 years producing high-end custom furniture and cabinetry until the owner’s retirement when he was able to transition out of that shop and into ours. When not at Urban Tree, Chris enjoys outdoor adventures with his wife and son, and being the personal driver and equipment manager for all of his son's sporting activities.
