Our office is bustling with new faces and we are excited about opportunities to collaborate as we grow. We interviewed our newest freshman class and asked each of them to give us a brief introduction:
Alexandria Gill
Alexandria grew up in Maryland and attended the University of Maryland where she earned a Bachelor of Architecture. After graduation, she worked for a small design firm where she gained experience in commercial interior renovations. Alexandria then attended the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY where she earned her Master of Architecture degree. While attending the Pratt Institute, she worked for an architecture firm where she was primarily on the facade team for two mixed-use towers being constructed in Queens. She then lived in Brooklyn for 3 years before making her way to Los Angeles. She is inspired by the notion of giving back to people through thoughtful and genuine design. Alexandria enjoys traveling, trying new foods, and recently started learning pottery. She also likes checking out new art exhibits, going to the beach, and staying active.
Erick Rodriguez
The unique intersection of social awareness, design, and innovation at KFA aligns fully with Erick’s aspirations for architecture. He is inspired by the team’s passion to bring quality housing to LA. Erick brings six years of experience as a design and community development professional. He previously worked for non-profit affordable housing developers in Cleveland, Ohio. His role focused on making sustainability an essential part of neighborhood planning, community organizing, and development. He has managed projects, from the schematic design phase through construction spanning housing, commercial, and greenspace development. Erick’s roots are in the San Fernando Valley. He is passionate about leveraging design to inspire youth to make a difference in their community. He has previously facilitated this work in LA and Cleveland through programs like CityArtPlay and Making Our Own Space (wearemoos.org).
Fernanda Amezquita
Born and raised in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Fernanda grew up living in an area between the scenic mountains and the sunny beaches in her own little paradise. She was first introduced to the world of architecture by her father who is a civil engineer. He has a personal interest in the design and artistry of the projects he completes, which inspired Fernanda to pursue architecture as a career. She was accepted to the Savannah College of Art and Design where she earned a BFA in Architecture. While studying at SCAD, she developed an interest in sustainability and environmentally-friendly design. After graduation, she moved to Los Angeles and joined the KFA team. It’s her first time living in a big city and she loves being able to explore all the notable LA sites, especially the art museums. She also has a mean tennis serve, and loves to play the piano and paint.
Jeanette Pastrana
A proud Boston native, Jeanette is excited to call Los Angeles her new home. She comes to the west coast with experience in a wide range of project typologies including campus work (sports facilities/student centers/student housing), corporate interiors, and some civic work. Jeanette enjoys working with young people to expose them to the design field while in high school, or working with interns to help them transition into the professional realm. She is most interested in projects that have a strong social impact. When not in the office, you can find Jeanette exploring a National Park, cheering on the Celtics, riding her bike, or researching her proximity to the best ice cream & donut shops around. On rarer occasions, you may find her training for a marathon or trying her hand at karaoke in a West Hollywood establishment. For the contributions that KFA gives to its city and for the strong sense of community that is fostered within the firm, Jeanette is enthusiastic to be a new member of the KFA family.
JK Lim, AIA
JK brings over 30 years of architectural and design experience in multi-family housing, student housing, hospitality, historic restoration, mixed-use, shopping centers and university projects. He began his architectural career in Phoenix, after receiving his Bachelor of Science in Design from Arizona State University. He then traveled the world working on a myriad of architecture projects in Washington DC, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur prior to settling down in Los Angeles. JK recently joined the KFA team, bringing a depth of design and project experience.
Kathy Kurtak, AIA
Kathy has over 10 years of experience in a range of project types, scales, phases and roles. That work has included affordable and market rate multifamily, primary and higher education, renovation and new construction, and slum upgrading in Ghana. Kathy’s goal on any project is to work within the parameters of user and client needs, community priorities, regulations, and budgets to create well-designed environments that optimize the potential of available resources. To achieve this, she balances effective client communication and big picture thinking, with an ability to focus on and unpack complex issues and details. Kathy cares deeply about the complex and varied ways the built environment can better the human experience. Her training in both architecture and urban design continues to inform her work at all scales. That continues outside the office where she enjoys trying new things and enjoying the little details.
Manuel Vanegas
Manuel received his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arizona before moving to Los Angeles. His experience ranges from single family housing to commercial office, to large scale infrastructure, to private aviation. Manuel always had an affinity for technology and computer science and his interest constantly shifted to the integration of the latest technology with the more traditional and (some would say) more noble, aspect of Architecture. Currently, his career is focused on Building Information Modeling and bringing leading edge technology into our industry. While waiting for winter to come for some snowboarding action, you can find Manuel working on his lofty goal of trying every restaurant in Los Angeles, nose deep in an engrossing book (young adult fiction preferred) and indulging in varied pop nerd culture.
Matej Strbka
Born and raised in the heart of Europe, Slovakia, Matej has always been interested in exploring new countries and learning about other cultures. After completing his architecture studies in Bratislava, Slovakia and Milan, Italy, he decided to pursue his professional career in Paris at Agence SEARCH. He worked there for 2 years as an architect / 3D specialist on various international projects, metro stations, museums, and office buildings. Before moving to the United States and joining the KFA team, Matej used to spend his summer holidays working at a summer camp in Wolfeboro, NH. That’s where he fell in love with American culture for the first time. When he’s not working, Matej enjoys traveling, learning foreign languages, cooking, running, and hiking.
Matthew Finn, AIA
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Matthew has witnessed how the City has changed over time and recognizes the many possibilities for improving the built environment. His career started in the office of Oscar Tusquets Blanca in Barcelona, Spain. Having had the opportunity to live and work in a foreign country has inspired him to travel more and broaden his understanding of other cultures. What Matthew most appreciates about Los Angeles are the unique passions that its diverse residents bring to the culture of the City, especially food. When not exploring the unique food scene in L.A., you can find him surfing the biggest waves or riding down the highest peaks on his mountain bike.
Matthew Hohmeier
Matt grew up in Chicago marveling at all the amazing architecture throughout city. Inspired by the older city buildings that give Downtown Chicago much of its character and charm, he decided to pursue a career in architecture. He started in construction in 1998 by working for an architect and general contractor in the local area. After graduating from Illinois Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 2004, Matt started gaining experience by working on mixed use developments and adaptive reuse projects for a mid-sized architecture firm in Chicago. He really enjoys detailing building envelopes, water management, insulation, and indoor air quality. From his first job working at a hardware store to recently joining the KFA team, Matt has always been interested in the art of building, the built environment, and how it can positively influence the way we live. Matt can often be found traveling, visiting new cities, and exploring the buildings of Los Angeles with his family.
Morgan Haley
Born and raised in Southern California, Morgan has developed a strong appreciation and connection to the city of LA. After graduating from USC, he’s gained a wide range of experience, working both locally and abroad. He believes that the diverse fabric of Los Angeles and its ever-evolving nature create unique opportunities for architects, and the communities they serve, to address the challenges that arise. Morgan thinks that great architecture often arises out of great compassion. He was drawn to KFA by its mission to understand and satisfy the needs of our city with empathy and creativity.
Tamra Aslan
Tamra’s interest in architecture began just after the 1994 Northridge earthquake when her family’s home was nearly destroyed. Tamra was fascinated about the redesign and rebuild of their home, especially the construction phase. Her favorite part was that her parents allowed her draw on the walls before they were painted. The whole experience gave her a deeper understanding of what architecture actually means. Her career began in Downtown Los Angeles, where she was involved in the design of large affordable housing projects and nonprofit health clinics. She also worked as Chair of the Materials and Health and Wellness Committee for Living Building Challenge, LA. Her passion is to design buildings that have a positive impact on their communities, as well as the people who use and live in them. In her free time, Tamra loves running with her dogs and sitting under a tree with her sketchbook.