My name is Jon and I love working with people. Buildings are great, but they're just sculpture without the people who use them. I believe that design should be people first - what are the client's needs? What might be best for them now? In the future? How can we design to help them do what they love?
I find my favorite way of designing is by planning, whether in sketching or writing. The more thought and intellectual shape I can put to a design, the better. I also love working with high school kids at my church, drinking coffee, and rowing.
Signs of Life, Inc, Lawrence, KS, US, Asst. Manager
I assist in most every function of the store: cafe activities (coffee, mostly), working the bookstore, and arranging the art gallery and events. I am the only employee able to work in any aspect of the store.
St. Louis County, Clayton, MO, US, Building Code Intern
As the summer intern I was responsible for checking and approving applications for residential construction in St. Louis County. Projects ranged from basement refinishes to new home construction. I was also exposed to the commercial side, with large projects such as big box stores and smaller strip mall build-outs.
The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, MArch, Master of Architecture
During my 5 years at KU I was put through the rigors of design school with projects of various sizes. Beginning with a small, program-less pavilion, I progressively designed a small child care center, an international hotel, a refugee shelter (Design-Build), a hotel and convention center, a community building with physical therapy clinic, and a soccer stadium. My final semester was an independent study, where I wrote a thesis entitled "Sacred Architecture: Stadia and the Sacred Grove"
