APPROACH
Architecture is both a passion and profession. It is the alchemy of form, light, space, and people. We design places of inspiration for people to live, learn, work, and play. Successful design demands an attention to detail, without losing sight of the larger principles and goals of a project. We seek to achieve a balance of pragmatism and idealism, to design places that satisfy budget and schedule, address new technology, communicate their purpose, and better their communities.

The Team
Abe is fascinated by the intersection of culture and the built environment, manifested in the practice of architecture. Just as culture is constantly in flux, so is the design and technology that influences the way buildings are constructed and then perceived. This constant state of change and growth is a primary source of inspiration. Abe approaches every project with a foundation of knowledge from previous projects, and then builds on this knowledge base with unique ideas influenced by client needs, pragmatic realities of construction and budget, and the cultural impact of architecture.
Abe is a product of a diverse education and professional learning. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from UC Santa Cruz, where he focused on sculpture and painting. Many hours were spent in the foundry strategizing the mechanics of how to achieve an aesthetic result through the laborious and process driven medium of bronze casting. After graduation, he relocated to Denver to receive his Master of Architecture from the University of Colorado. His skills were developed while working on custom homes at Baum Thornley Architects (now Gould Evans), community recreation centers at Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture, and libraries while at Noll & Tam Architects. Abe also serves as a guest critic for the Academy of Art, Cal Poly, and UC Berkeley.
When not contemplating architecture or spending time with his wife and daughters, Abe can be found drifting in the Pacific Ocean, staring at the horizon, and occasionally surfing a wave or two.
JJ is inspired by what architecture can do beyond the boundaries of its footprint and walls. He believes architecture has an inherent presence in our lives, but it can also transcend aesthetics and design through its social impact and place-making capabilities.
JJ received his Master of Architecture degree from Kansas State University. Prior to moving to San Francisco and joining Jayson Architecture, he worked at HOK in Kansas City, MO working on a wide range of project types ranging from commercial offices and corporate interiors to collegiate recreation and professional sports.
When JJ is not playing guitar around the house or reading at a park, you can find him walking around the neighborhood with a sketchbook and camera in hand. Not surprisingly, architecture is one of his favorite subjects to photograph. He also enjoys capturing the city through pen and paper as well.
Diego's primary interest in architecture is its ability to capture and catalyze local culture and harbor community at all scales. During the design process the inhabitants of a building should be the main focus, with an emphasis on learning about the local culture and client narrative to yield personalized spatial experiences. Additionally, Diego believes well designed architectural spaces require curated natural lighting conditions and carefully thought out details.
Diego attended College of San Mateo to receive his Associate of Architecture. In 2017, he transferred to University of California, Berkeley to receive his Bachelor of Arts in architecture. Prior to joining Jayson Architecture he worked on projects in the residential and hospitality sectors.
Out of the office, Diego enjoys taking arduous hikes in National Parks, listening to his vinyl collection, and weightlifting.
Jay grew up in Brooklyn, New York. Several years after completing a Philosophy BA at Yale and tarrying in Asia and Iowa, he ended up in California for a Master of Architecture at UC Berkeley.
He studied Mandarin Chinese in Taipei, Taiwan on a travel fellowship to document vernacular cave houses in northwest China. After graduate school Jay lived in Kyoto, Japan while researching Japanese gardens and the films of Ozu.
As an architect he has had the privilege to work on many different building types - offices, labs, multifamily housing, but he has always loved designing libraries by far. He believes in architecture as "The beautiful answer to the more beautiful question", to quote E.E. Cummings.
He endeavors to build connections through architecture -between people, climate, light and sky, and to create a shared nexus of life - both in city and landscape.
Beyond architecture, Jay loves books, drawing, stargazing, aikido, the Brooklyn Public Library Main Branch, the ocean, and his family.
Iuliia believes the most inspiring aspect of architecture is the potential to create positive change in the world. Iuliia is passionate about creating human-centric, sustainable, innovative, and functional designs that positively impact communities. She deeply believes in the power of architecture to transform our cities, enhance social interactions, and improve the quality of life. Through her work as a Designer Iuliia seeks to inspire positive change and contribute to the creation of a more sustainable and equitable world for all.
Iuliia has a diverse educational background. She holds a Master of Architecture degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a Sustainability Certificate from UCLA. Professionally she has worked on a variety of project types and scales ranging from multifamily residential and commercial buildings to public parks and large-scale urban development projects, giving her a broad perspective on the industry and the diverse needs of different stakeholders. She values this experience, which has provided her with the opportunity to make a valuable impact on local communities and work on projects that reflect the unique character and identity of each city and district.
Travelling is one of Iuliia`s favorite activities outside work. She likes to draw inspiration from the world around her and finds traveling an excellent opportunity to experience new environments and gain fresh perspectives that inspire her to approach to work.
Valentina is deeply passionate about exploring the intersection between Architecture and Sustainability, and how she as a Designer can play a role in making a positive impact on the world. She firmly believes in designing buildings that not only meet the client's requirements but also prioritize environmental responsibility and social impact. Valentina sees architecture as a force for positive change, capable of generating creative solutions to the pressing social and environmental challenges of our time.
Valentina holds a Master’s degree in Architecture from the University of Texas at Austin. Throughout her career, Valentina has worked with international architecture firms on a broad range of large-scale residential and mixed-use projects, where she has gained invaluable experience in the field. She also received a Certificate in Sustainability from UCLA which has provided her with the new perspectives and knowledge necessary to create designs that are environmentally responsible, socially equitable, and economically viable.
In addition to Valentina`s passion for Architecture and Sustainability, she is an experienced traveler who enjoys discovering new places and cultures. She believes that traveling is an excellent way to broaden one's perspectives, gain new insights, and learn about different ways of life. Valentina is particularly fond of exploring cities on foot as she thinks it is the best way to experience a city's unique character.
Lin is a multidisciplinary designer, crossing the boundary between architecture and art. She is passionate about space, space-making, and having a positive impact on the built environment. Through her works, she strives to capture the enigmatic beauty and complexity that pervades everyday life, drawing inspiration from personal memories and collective histories.
Lin holds a Master of Architecture degree from UC Berkeley. Prior to joining Jayson Architecture, she has worked professionally in architecture firms including gmp, PC&P, and Gensler. Her professional journey spans projects across different scales with a focus on workspace, mixed-use, residential, as well as cultural designs. She is not only interested in nut-and-bolt construction details but always has a big picture of the building designs in mind.
Outside of her professional pursuits, Lin finds solace and joy in painting and skiing. Moreover, she indulges in the thrill of amusement parks.
Ellie is passionate about contextual architecture that positively impacts communities through thoughtful exploration of site, history, and local culture. She is also keen on materiality and innovative design solutions. She believes that architecture should maintain a cohesive concept throughout all scales.
Ellie earned a Bachelor of Architecture and a Minor in Computer Science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, shaping her perspective on how technological process influences architecture and can be used to enhance architectural qualities.
Beyond her professional life, she enjoys charcoal drawing, piano playing, traveling, and using public transportation. In her perspective, public transit can be a means to foster connections, bringing individuals together and strengthening community. While travelling, she finds inspiration by immersing herself in unique moments of new locations.
Yiyi is passionate about designing spaces that enrich people's experiences and well-being. She believes that architecture has the power to influence emotions, and that thoughtful design can inspire, uplift, and foster meaningful connections with the environment. Her goal is to create spaces that bring joy and enhance the quality of life through intentional design solutions.
Yiyi holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Southern California. Before moving to San Francisco and joining Jayson Architecture, she worked at CannonDesign in Los Angeles, where she contributed to projects in the education and healthcare sectors.
Outside the office, Yiyi enjoys drawing, traveling, and cooking. She loves experimenting with cuisines from around the world, preparing dishes such as Chinese stir-fry, paella, beef Wellington, and Basque cheesecake.