National Firm Grows its Las Vegas Presence with the Appointment of a Principal and Associate Principal and the Hiring of a New Design Principal

JCJ Architecture (JCJ), a forward-thinking and nationally ranked planning, architecture, and interior design firm, is pleased to announce the growth of the leadership team within its Las Vegas studio. The firm has elevated Mike Larson, AIA, NCARB, MBA to Principal and JoyceLynn Lagula, Assoc. AIA to Associate Principal, while welcoming new hire Derek Sola, AIA, LEED AP, BD+C as Design Principal.

“JCJ’s relationship-driven approach has been key to our growth in the Las Vegas market and having a team of experts who have their finger on the pulse of this dynamic and evolving industry is crucial for our continued success,” said Robert Gdowski, AIA, Principal and Director of Hospitality Design at JCJ Architecture. “These new developments are a commitment to building upon the tremendous strides we have made in terms of cultivating a best-in-class team of exceptional creative talent, balanced with a rigorous approach to project delivery. As JCJ continues to flourish across the gaming, hospitality, education, civic and cultural sectors, we will continuously seek opportunities to showcase our commitment to the Las Vegas community.”

The following personnel moves strengthen JCJ’s leadership team firmwide, as well as further reinforce the firm’s presence in the Las Vegas market:

• Mike Larson, AIA, NCARB, MBA, Project Director and Studio Leader, has been promoted to Principal. An entrepreneurial-minded architect with over 19 years of experience in the Las Vegas hospitality and gaming industry, Larson has served as the face of JCJ in the Las Vegas community. Larson has held an integral role in such notable projects as Caesars New Orleans Casino, Grand Sierra Resort, MGM BeauRivage Resort & Casino Sports Book, and more—projects that have been crucial in cementing JCJ’s reputation in this market on both a local and national level. 

• JoyceLynn Lagula, Assoc. AIA, Senior Associate and Project Director, has been promoted to Associate Principal. Lagula joined JCJ in January of 2022, bringing over 16 years of experience in global hospitality and entertainment interiors, most recently as Creative Director and Principal at Campbell House and before that, as Design Director and Principal at Wilson Associates. A mainstay of the Las Vegas market since 2006, Lagula has leveraged her strong relationships and innovative design talent across significant projects at JCJ such as Caesars New Orleans, becoming an integral part of JCJ as the Las Vegas office expands its design talent.  

• Derek Sola, AIA, LEED AP BD+C joins JCJ as Design Principal. With over 25 years of experience, Sola joins the firm from Gensler’s Las Vegas Office, where he held the roles of Design Director, Studio Director, and Firmwide Gaming Leader. Working in the Las Vegas market since 2006, Sola has spearheaded projects for some of the world’s most recognized gaming corporations and has previously collaborated with JCJ on projects for Penn National. Complementing Larson and Lagula’s expertise, Sola brings to the team an affinity for developing innovative design solutions that provide transformative experiences for hospitality guests.

Together, Larson, Lagula, and Sola will lead the Las Vegas studio and spearhead JCJ’s influence in an era of tremendous growth both for the firm and the region as a whole. JCJ’s successes in the Las Vegas market reflect on the strength of the firm’s national presence in the gaming and hospitality markets across all seven offices, and demonstrate its firm-wide ethos of a relationship-driven, client-first approach to business and design. The studio’s latest personnel appointments further solidify its commitment to the regional market and its industry-leading leadership team.

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About JCJ Architecture

JCJ Architecture is a forward-thinking and nationally ranked planning, architecture and interior design firm offering comprehensive services to clients in the hospitality, gaming, civic, K12 and higher education sectors. Founded in 1936, the employee-owned firm’s mission is to provide innovative design solutions that enhance the environment, enrich people’s lives and help organizations succeed. 

With a long-standing reputation for business acumen and project delivery excellence, JCJ focuses on bringing the qualities of adaptability, integrity, respect and collaboration to a design process that leverages the unique qualities and potential of each project. JCJ collaborates with clients across the United States from offices located in Boston, Hartford, New York City, Phoenix, San Diego, Tulsa, and Las Vegas. For more information, please visit www.jcj.com.