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John Ash, AIA
John was born in Vallejo, California and raised in Detroit Michigan. After graduating from High School John joined the Navy as a photographer during the Vietnam War and served for four years with primary assignments in aerial photography and photo intelligence. Upon discharge John returned to Michigan to attend Oakland Community College where he served, as Student Body President for a one-year term before transferring to San Diego State University to complete his undergraduate studies. At San Diego State he served on the Student Council and as managing editor of the Daily Aztec newspaper. It was at San Diego State that John first turned his interests to architecture. While attending summer classes at U.C. Davis, John studied under architectural professor, Sim Vander Ryn. It was this event that exposed him to an art form and profession that ignited both his mind and creative spirit. Upon completing his work at San Diego State John transferred to the Boston Architectural Center (BAC) for his graduate studies in architecture. The BAC provided an opportunity to work with teaching architects on the adaptive use of several important historic buildings. Upon completion of work at BAC John moved to Los Angeles where he founded John Ash Group, Architects. John has over 30 years experience as a registered architect and as a principal of his own architectural firm in Los Angeles and Eureka.. John’s historic preservation and new building design experience has helped him develop a combined focus on the adaptive reuse and repurposing of existing buildings. John provides the leadership to the collaboration process that is essential to creative reuse of buildings and land planning. John takes an active interest in community activities having served for several years as a running coach for the Special Olympics and serving on a variety of boards for non-profit organizations. John still finds time for adventure sports, including running, swimming, kayaking, bicycling, and flying. The highlight of this activity was completing the Ironman Triathlon in 1990, a 2.5 mile swim, followed by a 112 mile bike ride and ending with a 26.2 mile run.
Dick Gee, AIA, LEED AP Dick Gee has twenty years of experience in architectural practice. He joined JAG Architects in 1990 and has been the lead Principal of the Los Angeles office since 2000. Dick has a diverse range of experience. Over the course of his career, he has worked on arts, medical, retail, restaurant, entertainment, commercial and residential projects. He has extensive experience in historic rehabilitation and adaptive re-use, working on many significant historic projects in the Southern California region. He served as the project architect for the El Capitan Building in Hollywood, the U.S. Post Office Terminal Annex in Los Angeles, the Miles Playhouse in Santa Monica, the Walker House (San Dimas Mansion) in San Dimas, St. Vibiana Cathedral and rehabilitation of the historic buildings of the Pechanga Tribe. He also worked on such historic resources as the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the Olvera Street project. He is the recipient of three California Preservation Foundation (CPF) awards. Dick graduated with a Bachelor degree in Environmental Design from U.C. Berkeley in 1988. Prior to joining JAG Architects, Dick worked in the San Francisco area at the firm Fong and Chan Architects. During that time, he was involved in numerous hospital and laboratory projects for San Francisco General Hospital, Stanford University and U.C.S.F. He is a LEED AP and the firm’s director of sustainable design. He is also the project architect for the Madame Tussauds project in Hollywood, adjacent to the Chinese Theater, which is currently under construction. |
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Larry Blake, AICP, LEED AP Larry Blake earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Community and Regional Planning from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Larry is a Registered Architect in the State of Nebraska, a LEED-Accredited Professional, and has been named a Certified Planner by the American Institute of Certified Planners. Prior to his work in higher education, Larry worked for 18 year in private architectural practice. He was an Associate in the firm of Sinclair Hille & Associates of Lincoln, Nebraska and has experience in Chicago and San Francisco. Larry served on the Planning Commission of the City of Ashland, Oregon for over two years and is currently serving on the Planning Commission of the City of Arcata, California. |
