Carlson designed projects for Chicago-based C.F. Murphy Associates, which later became Murphy/Jahn Architects. He worked on the original $35-million, 320,000-sq-ft McCormick Place that opened in 1960 but burned down in 1967. He also served as architectural production chief during the early 1970s on all terminals, gates and operational facilities for the 13 original airlines at O'Hare International Airport.