Born and raised in Chicago, Frank X. Medrano was influenced by the city’s historically significant architecture and art museums. Frank developed a passion for design that would eventually lead him to study architecture at Lawrence Tech University in Michigan. After receiving his bachelor degree in 1992, Medrano worked for Pappageorge Haymes Architects in Chicago. Inspired by the current movements in architectural theory and design, Frank moved west for further studies at Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-ARC ) in Los Angeles where he received his masters degree in architecture in 1997. First year of Master studies was spent living in Vico Morcote, Switzerland.
After studying with many notable architects, Medrano secured a position with Frank Israel Architects working directly with Annie Chu and Dagmar Richter. While there he worked on the UC Riverside- Fine Arts Facility, the UCLA-Revlon Breast Center, and the Maclin Apartments in London.
Medrano left Frank Israel to work for Michael Maltzman Architects in 1997 where he remained until joining Frank O. Gehry & Assocites in 1998. Medrano reveled in the opportunity to work on Gehry’s Millennium Park Band Shell in his hometown of Chicago. “Working for Gehry was inspiring,” says Medrano. “The projects were vast and complex and encouraged equally inventive methods of construction where I learned the significance of details, but for me the human scale was missing. Also, most projects were out of the country so it was difficult to connect with the final product.”
In 2000, Medrano was offered a position with Kelly Wearstler Interior Design as Senior Designer. While at KWID, Medrano played a critical role in the company’s astronomical success on projects such as the Viceroy Santa Monica and Palm Springs Hotels; the High Roller Suite and Body English Nightclub in the Hard Rock Hotel, Las Vegas, as well as several retail boutiques, office spaces and private residences. “The Viceroy project was the very first project completed with Kelly. It was such a great experience,” says Medrano. “I finally had a recognizable connection with Los Angeles.”
With an impressive resume of projects for many namesake firms, Medrano has set course to prove himself as a recognizable name in the design and architecture world. “I have a gut-level, intuitive approach,” he says. “I listen and observe the environment or context and offer an inventive perspective to clients so that they may improve their own.”
In 2005 Medrano began to take on personal projects including the Avalon Hollywood Lobby and Honey Restaurant, Brannon Hair Salon- Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and restoring a John Lautner residence to its original condition. In 2006 Medrano formed Franklin Studios, Inc. In 2013 after restructuring Frank re-launched under a new brand, Frank Associates International (FAI). While continuing the successful design of restaurants, night clubs, lounges, retail, and residences, the new brand is expanding into other product categories ranging in not only urban housing projects (rehabs, townhouses, & mid-rises) but also designing International Hotels and Luxury Resorts.
FAI Frank Associates International, Los Angeles, CA, US, Design Director/ Project manager
• Prepare/ oversee design presentations.
• Introduce design concepts to current and prospective clients.
• Prepare/ Monitor project design development.
• Provide design direction and support.
• Attract, manage and develop staff.
• Manage projects within established design budgets.
• Enhance public awareness of firms design capabilities and accomplishments through interaction with PR consultants and design/business trade publications.
• Contribute to local and firm-wide business development goals.
• Provide design review of marketing materials, brochures, mailings and other visual materials with graphic design content.
• Maintain awareness of industry trends (such as related-technology and green design), educate staff and modify practices.
• Participate in community design events and competitions.
Projects:
Parkland Bay Life Hotel & Service Apartments
Veneztia Jewelry Store- MGM Grand- Las Vegas, Nevada
The Rocks Fine Jewelry Store- The Palazzo- Las Vegas, Nevada
Kurhaus Hotel- Nidda Germany
Anarkali Indian Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
Bay Hill Hotel - Lushun, China
Sightseeing Tower - Kashgar, China
Jinshan Temple, China
Zhaitang Hotel Phase 3- China
Kashi Hotel - Kashgar, China
Yang Jia Yu Villa, China
Yanqing Winery, China
Tangshan Villa, China
FRANKLIN STUDIOS INC., los angeles, Design Director/ Project manager
• Prepare/ oversee design presentations.
• Introduce design concepts to current and prospective clients.
• Prepare/ Monitor project design development.
• Provide design direction and support.
• Attract, manage and develop staff.
• Manage projects within established design budgets.
• Enhance public awareness of firms design capabilities and accomplishments through interaction with PR consultants and design/business trade publications.
• Contribute to local and firm-wide business development goals.
• Provide design review of marketing materials, brochures, mailings and other visual materials with graphic design content.
• Maintain awareness of industry trends (such as related-technology and green design), educate staff and modify practices.
• Participate in community design events and competitions.
Projects:
Courtyard by Marriott Hotel – Dalian, China
Eagle Rock Housing Development (8 single homes) – Eagle Rock, CA
AVS Corporate Headquarters – Carson, CA
Venice Beach Residence – Venice, CA
Fullerton Residence – Orange County, CA
Fresh Dry Cleaners – Los Angeles, CA
MGM Mirage City Center Club & Lounge – Las Vegas, NV
Appian Way Residence – Hollywood Hills, CA
Kalologie Skin Care – Houston, TX
Planet Funk Flagship Store – Los Angeles, CA
Foxtail Supper Club – West Hollywood, CA
Bardot Nightclub – Hollywood, CA
Lloydcrest Residence – Beverly Hills, CA
S. Residence – Beverly Hills, CA
Kalologie Skin Care – Studio City, CA
Tengu Restaurant – Santa Monica, CA
Avalon Hollywood Lobby and Honey Restaurant – Hollywood, CA
B. Residence – Studio City, CA
Brannon Hair Salon Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Las Vegas, NV
M. Residence – Beverly Hills, CA
Abode Restaurant & Lounge– Santa Monica, CA
HBA / Hirsch Bedner Associates - Americas, Santa Monica, CA, US, Associate/ Senior Project Designer & Manager
• Prepare/ oversee design presentations.
• Introduce design concepts to current and prospective clients.
• Prepare/ Monitor project design development.
• Provide design direction and support.
• Attract, manage and develop staff.
• Manage projects within established design budgets.
• Manage a design team of 10.
Projects:
AB Resort & Residential Development – Dalian,
China Kashi Resort Concept Development – Kashi,
China Convention Hotel – Kunming, China
The Sanctuary Hotel & Resort – Kiawah Island, USA
Fragrant Hills Hotel (Concept) – Beijing, China
Ritz Carlton Dubai – Dubai, UAE
KWID, Kelly Wearstler Interior Design, West Hollywood, CA, US, Senior designer/ In-house Architect
Senior designer, project manager, business development,
Supervised all design to construction phases; programming, research, concept design, budgeting- build out & FFE, schematic design, design development, construction documents- coordination with all consultants, detailing, and construction administration- RFI’s, mockup and site review,
Projects:
Viceroy Hotel & Residences– South Beach, Miami
Viceroy Resort & Residences– Mayakoba, Mexico
Tides Hotel & Residences– Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
Viceroy Resort & Residences– Anguilla
Hollywood & Vine Condo conversion- Hollywood, CA
Eastern Columbia Condo conversion- Los Angeles, CA
Bergdorf Goodman Restaurant- New York, NY
Eastern Columbia Model Room- Los Angeles, CA
Hard rock Hotel Nightclub “Body English” – Las Vegas, NA
Trina Turk Boutique- Los Angeles, CA
Hard rock Hotel jewelry store- Las Vegas, NA
Hard rock Hotel lingerie store- Las Vegas, NA
Hard rock Hotel high roller suite - Las Vegas, NA
Lincoln American Steak House- Santa Monica
Rescu Cosmetique- Los Angeles, CA
Marlowe Apartments- Los Angeles, CA
Viceroy Hotel- Palm Springs, CA
Rescu Cosmetique- Santa Monica, CA
N. Yacht- Marina Del Rey, CA
Viceroy Hotel- Santa Monica, CA
House Beautiful Showcase House- master bath
Frankel Medical Office- Beverly Hills, CA
Gehry Partners, LLP, Santa Monica, CA, US, Architect
Projects:
Millennium Park Band Shell – Chicago, IL
Bard College Arts Center - New York, NY
Peter B. Lewis School of Management – Cleveland, OH
Israel Callas Shortridge Associates, Los Angeles, CA, US, Architect
Frank Associates, Laredo, TX, Architect
CAPA, Chicago Associates Planners and Architects, Chicago, IL, US, Architect
Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), Los Angeles, CA, US, MArch, architecture
