Archinect
James Shannon, RA

James Shannon, RA

Brooklyn, NY, US

 

About 

Architecture_Design_Innovation

Born in Atlanta Georgia,  James Shannon has had a diverse experience growing up and has lived for extended periods of time in London England and Madrid Spain where he discovered his passion for Architecture and Urban settings.   At the age of fifteen James Shannon moved to London with his family where he completed his high school degree while taking numerous evening art classes and the Chelsea College of Art and Design, the Camberwell College of Art, as well as Brunell University . Understanding his proximity to Spain, James decided to attend Tandem Escuela International which is an international Language and liberal arts school where he studied the Spanish language and attended history and current events classes.  After living and studying in Madrid for nearly six months he moved to Savannah, Georgia in the late summer of 2005 to pursue his Bachelors and Professional Masters in Architecture at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

James has always had a strong passion for design and is invigorated by translating that in to the built realm.  He loves to explore the possibilities of what can be built while creating design solutions to accompany these notions.  In finding design solutions he enjoys using parametric modeling techniques and scripts to realize complex geometries in architecture.  James also has a strong passion for urban design and urban spaces, to him, the functionality of the building's foot print is just as important as the overall design and function of the building.  He feels urban areas in new projects must pull people in and create spaces that better the lives of the people of the city.  James believes architecture and urban design go hand in hand as one cannot have one without the other.

Along with pushing the envelope of design in buildings and infrastructure James is a strong believer of mixing biomass and horticulture with architecture.  Through his thesis research he has gained valuable insight on the environmental benefits in doing this and how they are numerous and ever increasing.  Over the last couple of years he has been experimenting with his own urban horticultural prospects.  He has pursued urban farming techniques in Savannah, GA and Brooklyn, NY.


Currently, James Shannon, is a licensed Architect registered in NY State. He is practicing architecture with a Manhattan firm working on numerous types of commercial projects in New York City.

Elsewhere:

Employment 

Kleinmann Architects, New York, NY, US, Project Architect

Kleinmann Architects - New York City, NY (July 2012 - Present)
Currently a Project Architect at Kleinmann Architects specializing in commercial projects throughout New York City. Overall responsibilities include managing and supervising staff to produce a variety of projects from single tenant build outs to gut renovations, building rehabilitations and building system upgrades. Main project types include: hospitality(bars, restaurants, night clubs, hotels), mixed use build outs, multi-family residential, storage facilities, warehouses and TPA event spaces.
Additional duties include but are not limited to:
•Preliminary and full zoning and code analysis for project feasibility studies.
•Preparation of project proposals.
•Site surveys and preliminary project due diligence.
•Initial schematic design, design development and client presentations.
•Manage production and quality control of construction documents and construction details.
•Consultant coordination: MEP, Structural, Fire Alarm, Sprinkler, Standpipe, Lighting, Expediters/Code Consultants, Environmental, Asbestos and Special Inspection Agencies.
•Various types of client management: Developers, Private Owners, Corporations, partnerships etc.
•Coordination with NYC DOB on project filings for New Buildings(NBs) applications, ALT1s, ALT2s, ALT3s, TPA applications and violations.
•Attend plan examination meeting at the NYC DOB and NYC Development HUB.
•Attend and present projects at Community Board(CB) meetings and LPC at public hearings
•Review of contract bid documents, shop drawings, RFPs, RFIs, COs and submittals.
•Construction Administration: Site visits, contractor project meetings, review and resolution of site discrepancies, punch list review and project close out.
•Attend Final and Temporary Certificate of Occupancy inspections.

Jul 2012 - current
 

Vickery Construction and Remodeling, Savannah, GA, US, Site Manager and Carpenter

Site management of multiple projects at one time. Speaking with clients about construction progress, design options, budgets, and time constraints. Organizing subcontractor schedules as well as carpentry work.

Jan 2012 - Mar 2012
 

May River Contracting, Bluffton, SC, US, Site Manager

Hired on to assist with site management on a multimillion dollar residential project for the self made billionaire Zdenek Bakala. Work responsibilities included working closely with the Master Builder, Project Superintendent and Project Manager on the delivery of materials, site organization and site documentation.

Aug 2011 - Oct 2011
 

AAA Parking, Savannah, GA, US, Freelance architectural designer

Created design iterations for valet office renovations in an existing Hilton Hotel. Project included creating design iterations for a curtain wall to enclose a subbasement level office. In response to better circulation and operation strategies imagery was created for design options to build out an office in the lobby of the Hotel.

Mar 2011 - Mar 2011
 

Education 

Savannah College of Art and Design, MArch, Professional Masters in Architeture

Architectural Thesis + Parametric modeling and CNC Fabrication

Sep 2009 - Jun 2010
 

Savannah College of Art and Design, BArch, Bachlors of Fine Arts_Architecture

Sep 2005 - Jun 2009
 

Areas of Specialization 

Skills