Owner’s Representation | Property Condition Assessment | Repair | Reconstruction Services | Sustainability | Structural Engineering | Accessibility | Construction Loan Services
Architecture, Engineering & Construction Consultants
Denver | Seattle | San Francisco | Pasadena | Orange County | Dallas | Houston | Atlanta | New York
Property Condition Assessment
Owner’s Representation
Rest assured. Today and tomorrow.
Minimize project risk. Maximize return.
Repair | Reconstruction Services It’s in the details.
Construction Loan Services Take us to the bank.
Sustainability
The big, green picture.
Accessibility
Structural Engineering
Improve, maintain and preserve.
Find compliance clarity.
Collaborative consulting and realistic solutions for property investments. Marx|Okubo is a national AEC consulting firm that works with real estate owners, investors and lenders —AT EVERY POINT OF THE PROPERTY LIFECYCLE—
to evaluate their building projects,
solve complex challenges and
implement tailored solutions.
We help clients understand their projects’ complexities, so they can make more informed decisions and, ultimately, mitigate their risk.
Broad practical expertise. Local market insights.
THE FIRM BEGAN IN 1982 WITH A SIMPLE MISSION:
Use pragmatic construction expertise to solve problems in a troubled real estate market.
From its beginnings as a small, locally focused organization, our firm has transformed into a national architecture and engineering consultancy with offices coast to coast.
Acting as an impartial affiliate to keep everyone accountable, Marx|Okubo brings together two key components:
BROAD PRACTICAL EXPERTISE
&
LOCAL MARKET AWARENESS.
Openly and collaboratively, we provide greater perspective,
integrate with existing project teams,
synthesize critical information
and deliver what our clients need to make intelligent decisions.
As environments and rules have changed, Marx|Okubo has also adapted and evolved. Building on the collective power of integrity and excellence, we have strategically broadened our team, capabilities and geographical areas to serve
the commercial development, financial services and construction industries.
TODAY OUR FIRM PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING CONSULTING SERVICES TO A DIVERSE AND GROWING CLIENTELE WORLDWIDE.
National reach. Local approach.
Over the past few decades, Marx|Okubo has worked on thousands of diverse architecture, engineering & construction consulting projects
from coast to coast.
During that time, we have
grown our technical talent,
strengthened our network of experts
and opened new offices to serve clients throughout the U.S.
Our entrenched regional teams know that real estate projects are all about location. And for that you can count on local insight from licensed architects and engineers who know local construction practices as well as expert, integral consultants in your area. Marx|Okubo brings together diverse internal resources and collaborative community relationships to deliver exacting standards for each and every complex construction endeavor.
Services
Material insight. Solid solutions.
Services
finance
THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT— project management construction
design development
& other elements
engineering
architecture
—IS AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM.
Therefore we consider it a prerequisite to provide cohesive services that cover critical aspects of your multifaceted project. Marx|Okubo works on behalf of building owners, lenders and equity investors to bring valuable, realistic solutions to the complexities within each variable real estate investment. We consult to limit your exposure now, giving you greater confidence in your decisions for the future.
Our multidisciplinary regional teams include experienced, licensed architects and engineers who leverage core architecture, engineering and construction expertise and collaborate with top-tier industry consultants to deliver a comprehensive, highly qualified service set, including:
Owner’s Representation
Minimize project risk. Maximize return.
Repair | Reconstruction Services It’s in the details.
Construction Loan Services Take us to the bank.
Property Condition Assessment Rest assured. Today and tomorrow.
Sustainability
The big, green picture.
Accessibility
Structural Engineering
Improve, maintain and preserve.
Find compliance clarity.
Services
Owner’s Representation
Minimize project risk. Maximize return. A DEDICATED ADVOCATE FOR YOUR INVESTMENT. As an owner’s representative, Marx|Okubo acts as the owner’s advocate to keep projects on schedule and on budget, while also minimizing project execution risks to meet investment objectives. With a national platform n and scopes owner’s representation services to meet the needs of a and skilled staff, Marx|Okubo scales diverse client and project universe. Whether working as a key advisory member of a project team, focusing on constructability issues and monitoring progress and quality, or taking a more active role as construction project manager, Marx|Okubo tailors its efforts to support and augment the investor or project teams’ strengths and weaknesses. Our teams help align interests and facilitate collaboration, ultimately executing a well-constructed, quality project. Our range of owner’s representation services may include: • Definition and refinement of project scope and budget • Professional team scope/qualifications and selection • Construction document oversight and coordination • Construction document peer reviews • Bid process oversight and evaluation • Contract negotiations • Construction observation and reviews • Schedule and contract management • Pay application/project draw processing • Project closeout/punch list and warranty reviews
Services
Property Condition Assessment Rest assured. Today and tomorrow. A MORE PRECISE PROPERTY PICTURE. Marx|Okubo’s property condition assessment (PCA) services are predicated on giving real estate owners, investors and lenders an accurate picture of what a property‘s capital needs will be in the short and long term. Our staff of licensedn architects and civil, structural and mechanical engineers deliver detailed, impartial reports that can help building owners and investors gain a clear, informed understanding of current and future capital risks and benefits. Marx|Okubo also maintains a strong network of the industry’s top specialty consultants in areas such as vertical transportation, roofing, fire/life safety, building envelope and other disciplines for situations where a more specific detailed review of building systems or components is required. In addition, we offer facilities condition assessments (FCAs) to meet the asset management and capital reserve planning needs of our local, state and federal government clients. As we understand the nuances involved in assessing large and small government real estate portfolios, we have extensive experience tailoring our FCA reports to the specific needs of institutional clients as well as government organizations. While all of our services meet the general requirements of the ASTM E2018-15 baseline protocols for most lender circumstances, our strength lies in delving much deeper than minimum requirements as we clearly understand the risks a property owner or equity investor faces if large capital surprises occur. Think of our consultancy as documented assurance that you are making the most informed property decisions possible. Property condition assessment services for both acquisition and disposition can include: • Site and parking structure reviews • Building envelope reviews • Building systems analyses • Seismic evaluations
• Accessibility reviews • Sustainability reviews • Specialty consultant integration • Lifecycle costs
Services
Repair | Reconstruction Services It’s in the details.
GETTING TO—AND SOLVING—THE ROOT CAUSE. Whether it’s the age of the building, poor maintenance or faulty construction, the reasons for failure are not always obvious. And, typically, neither is the solution. Marx|Okubo helps clients understand the complex n issues and domino effects involved in repair and reconstruction by investigating the underlying causes of failure and researching materials and corrective construction methods. Our integrated teams also produce documents and specifications for bid and consult on preventive fixes, such as accessibility upgrades, structural retrofits, waterproofing projects and other capital efforts. Specific repair and reconstruction services include: • Detailed condition assessments • Investigative and destructive testing • Discussions with property maintenance and engineering staff • Research for viable and cost-effective solutions • Preparation of corrective drawings and specifications • Preparation of contracts and bid documents
Services
Sustainability
The big, green picture. SUSTAINABLE PROPERTIES: INCREASED BUILDING VALUE. Green design is becoming a standard solution for reducing the long-term operating costs of a property and adding greater efficiencies and value to the built environment for the next generation. Providing sustainability n consulting on both new construction and existing property projects, Marx|Okubo’s sustainability teams help owners, investors and lenders determine the sustainability potential of a property and life-cycle cost benefits; navigate government regulations and environmental certifications; and comply with sustainability benchmarking and reporting initiatives. Sustainability services can include: • Green property condition assessments • LEED existing building (EBOM) gap analysis • Building commissioning and retro-commissioning services • Energy and water audits/benchmarking • Pre-construction sustainability reviews • Indoor air quality audits • Building resiliency and natural hazard risk analysis • Healthy building certifications • Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmarking (GRESB) consulting
Services
Structural Engineering
Improve, maintain and preserve. IMPROVING, MAINTAINING AND PRESERVING YOUR VALUABLE ASSETS. Marx|Okubo’s Structural Engineering Group (SEG) knows your real estate portfolio is a substantial investment, and growing its short- and long-term value means staying on top of the property’s physical condition in n order to properly improve, maintain and preserve it. Our specialized in-house group is staffed with licensed structural and civil engineers who have expertise in all aspects of analysis and design and can evaluate a building’s condition, diagnose causes of degradation or failure, conduct seismic assessments and develop strategies to renovate, repair or retrofit, as well as perform new construction services and resiliency studies. Working with Marx|Okubo, real estate owners, lenders and private equity groups get access to and insight from architects and engineers who are on staff. As our firm is multidisciplinary and takes 360-degree approach, our experienced/credentialed Structural Engineering Group is already informed and trained to consider the bigger-picture—the industry and all disciplines involved, local economies and competition—in order to reduce your risk, maximize your investment and ensure nothing is missed. In the process, we are keenly aware and respectful of our industry’s demand for accountability—to adhere to budgets and schedules with attention to detail. Our structural engineering services include: Construction Services • Structural repair/retrofit design and consultation • Structural preliminary project review • Constructability studies • Peer review Assessment Services • Structural condition assessment • Seismic/wind evaluation and risk assessment • Earthquake resiliency studies
Forensic Investigation • Construction defects • Structural damage • Foundation settlement
Services
Accessibility
Find compliance clarity. ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING FOR PROPERTY OWNERS AND DESIGN TEAMS. Marx|Okubo serves as an impartial reviewer of a project’s accessibility compliance. While the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Federal Fair Housing Act (FFHA) are more than 25 years old, accessibility n compliance remains a challenging prospect for many property owners. Even in new construction, overlapping requirements can bewilder owners, designers, architects and engineers. Non-compliance items involve serious questions of cost and risk analysis. Property owners are best served by an accurate understanding of which accessibility codes, standards and regulations truly apply to their buildings and which portions of a property must be upgraded to meet current requirements. Marx|Okubo can provide owners clarity about conformity with federal laws and, ultimately, a plan of action through an opinion of cost, timeline scenarios, and even drawings, project bidding and management. Our range of accessibility services include: • Americans with Disabilities Act compliance reviews (Title III) • ADA Title II accessibility transition plans • Federal Fair Housing Act compliance reviews • Certified Access Specialist (CASp) - California-specific inspections • Accessibility plan review and plan check for design teams • Accessibility project management and owner’s representation • Accessibility construction monitoring • Accessibility code/standards consulting • Construction documents for accessibility repairs • Litigation support and expert witness services
Services
Construction Loan Services Take us to the bank.
DIRECTING AND MONITORING DISBURSEMENTS TO POWER YOUR PROJECT. Every construction project requires careful controls to stay within budget and on schedule. With experience gained on thousands of construction projects throughout North America, the professionals at Marx|Okubo n are versed in tracking and documenting loan disbursements and project-team payments to keep building construction as efficient and financially sound as possible. Specific loan construction services include: • Pre-construction feasibility reports • Construction progress observations • Monthly draw disbursement monitoring • Change order reviews • Scheduling/permitting/testing and inspection status • Workout services
Projects
National reach. Local approach.
Projects: Palace Hotel Garage
CLIENT
Kyo-Ya Management Company, Ltd.
LOCATION
San Francisco, California
SERVICES
Seismic Retrofit
This almost 100-year-old structure required a seismic evaluation, schematic design and full retrofit, including an accessible bathroom, locker room and storage area, plus a new basement-parking ventilation system and design for an accessible path of travel. Following San Francisco Building and Planning Department guidelines, due to the historic nature of the hotel, Marx|Okubo completed the retrofit design within a very short construction schedule while creating considerable cost and time savings over hiring separate design companies in a conventional design-bid-build project system.
Projects: Nordstrom Stoneridge
CLIENT
Nordstrom
LOCATION
Pleasanton, California
SERVICES
Destructive Water Testing; Complete Plans and Specifications; Project Management
Marx|Okubo performed initial reconnaissance and destructive water testing for water intrusion on the large decorative clerestory above the upscale retailer’s central escalators. After completing plans for a new drainable stucco system, Marx|Okubo, acting as project manager, conducted a competitive bid process, guiding two subsequent subcontractors through the work while remaining on budget. During the process, we also found a previously undiscovered window-installation defect and designed, implemented and watertested corrective work to ensure the elimination of all water intrusion.
Projects: 1170 Market Street
CLIENT
Haig G. Mardikian Enterprises
LOCATION
San Francisco, California
SERVICES
Facade Repair
During the design of this structural wall repair, temporary scaffold support and replacement stucco facade system, Marx|Okubo overcame a number of challenges. Working with difficult access points due to the adjacent property’s historic status and weak load-carrying capacity, we designed repair protocol for corroded, proprietary, high-strength steel pencil-rod studs with rigid cast-in-place cavity insulation. Additionally, the Marx|Okubo team performed empirical design and proof-testing of the stucco facade system’s lateral support attachment.
Projects: Sempra Energy
CLIENT
CGA Capital Corporation
LOCATION
San Diego, California
SERVICES
Project Design Review; Seismic Risk Assessment (SRA); Construction Loan Monitoring
After reviewing the construction budget, schedule and drawings for potential issues and general coordination, Marx|Okubo took on SRA and loan monitoring for this urban office tower. Engineering challenges include navigating groundwater issues, such as dewatering for the subterranean parking garage; constructing around three historic buildings, including Fire Station No. 4; and implementing sustainable design strategies for LEED Gold certification.
Projects: Grand Naniloa Hotel
CLIENT
Hall Structured Finance
LOCATION
Hilo, Hawaii
SERVICES
Pre-Construction Plan Review; Construction Loan Monitoring
The Grand Naniloa Hotel is a 389-room resort hotel on a 6.35-acre waterfront site with an adjacent ninehole golf course. The hotel’s three towers are named after three of the five volcanoes that make up the big island: Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and Kilauea. The Marx|Okubo team was engaged to evaluate the renovation plans and monitor the construction for an out-of-state client. We provided valuable feedback to the design and construction teams, and kept our client abreast of the project’s schedule, budget and construction status, as well as advised on the unique conditions of constructing in Hawaii. Marx|Okubo provided timely and accurate review of each month’s applications for payment.
Projects: Hilton Hotel
CLIENT
Justice Investors
LOCATION
San Francisco, California
SERVICES
Owner’s Representation; Construction Management Services
This was a fast-track renovation of 550-guestroom hospitality project with four floors of public spaces that entailed new design-build MEP systems, modifications to the porte-cochere and exterior waterproofing repairs. Marx|Okubo performed full-time owner’s representation and construction management services including assembling and directing the design development team; expediting building permits; managing three general contractors; and scheduling and coordinating 21 owner-direct subcontractors and vendors. With a highly integrated and responsive team, we completed this project in an unprecedented seven and a half months and received two prestigious awards: the Hilton Developer of the Year and the McGraw Hill Best of California Hospitality Award.
Projects: 325 Lytton Avenue
CLIENT
Miller, Morton, Caillat & Nevis, LLP
LOCATION
Palo Alto, California
SERVICES
Construction Management; Engineering Forensic Investigation
Marx|Okubo determined factors contributing to excessive concrete slab deflection and radial slab cracking at columns on a new build. Analyzing issues from material, procedural and quality-control perspectives, we performed a comprehensive study, including a comparative topographic survey; ground-penetrating radar (GPR) non-destructive testing; integrated destructive testing and petrographic analysis of concrete material; and independent comparative slab computer modeling.
Projects: Trump Hotel Waikiki
CLIENT
Hypo Real Estate Capital Corporation
LOCATION
Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii
SERVICES
Owner’s Representation; Pre-Construction Project Review
The 38-story, 462-unit Trump International Hotel Waikiki (hotel/ condominiums), completed in 2010, has a seven-story podium with ground floor porte-cochere, lobby and restaurant, four levels of parking, and upper level registration lobby, bar and pool area with a fitness center/spa and office area above. The challenges during design and construction began with a complex regulatory review process, numerous design modifications, and ongoing material and finish changes driven by evolving market conditions. The high-profile, intensely developed Waikiki neighborhood and congested surrounding public streets (vehicles and tourists), coupled with construction over the entire site footprint, created a difficult construction logistics and sequencing scenario. The Marx|Okubo team developed custom documentation review and effective client communications to address such complexity in a timely manner.
Projects: Queen Mary
CLIENT
Queen Mary
LOCATION
Long Beach, California
SERVICES
Disabled Accessibility Review; Creation of Repair Documents; Construction Administration
Working with challenges, including the historic nature of the Queen Mary, now operating as a hotel, as well as the ship’s “slope” and tide fluctuation, the Marx|Okubo team provided permit repair documents to address immediate accessibility deficiencies, which added way finding and accessibility signage. We also developed creative, non-traditional verification and drawing documentation for the ship’s unique conditions, meeting the intent of the code while taking into consideration existing physical and historical constraints of the ship.
Projects: Newport Plaza
CLIENT
Equity Office
LOCATION
Newport Beach, California
SERVICES
Energy Audits; Retro Commissioning
This Equity Office-owned modern commercial building was not functioning efficiently enough. After performing an energy audit, Marx|Okubo determined that various systems and building components needed re-calibration or upgrading to allow the building’s performance to match the quality of its architectural design. Under tight time constraints, due to a pending sale of the property, our California team led a retrocommissioning effort to minimize Newport Plaza’s energy footprint and to help keep operating costs in line.
Projects: California Retail Center
CLIENT
Withheld
LOCATION
Los Angeles County, California
SERVICES
Project Design Review; Disabled Accessibility Review
As a part of the redevelopment of a former aerospace industrial plant and film studio property into a 665,000-square-foot retail center, the project developer retained Marx|Okubo to perform an accessibility review of the site plans and several on-site reviews during the course of construction to verify that site features and path of travel were compliant with applicable standards. The Marx|Okubo team was able to additionally serve as an on-call advisor, assisting the architect and the developer with recommendations for the inclusion of accessible electric vehicle charging stations.
Leadership
Broad practical expertise. Local market insights.
Leadership
NAME
Leo James Marx, AIA, NCARB
LOCATION
Denver, Colorado
POSITION
Executive Chairman
Jim Marx is Founder and Executive Chairman of Marx|Okubo. He established the company in 1982 and has successfully led Marx|Okubo to its current national status. With over 40 years of architectural, development and construction-related experience in all property types, Jim is responsible for coordinating and overseeing large, multi-layered projects in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. His expertise in the project and construction management process, including contract preparation and review, project scheduling, job costing, feasibility studies, on-site construction observation, construction litigation and coordination of related project consultants, has resulted in continued success and millions of dollars worth of savings for Marx|Okubo’s clients over the years. Jim holds a bachelor of architecture degree and has completed advanced studies in the urban and regional planning department from University of Colorado. He is a licensed architect in Colorado, Georgia, California, Massachusetts and Tennessee, and is certified with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Jim is also a member of the American Institute of Architects, Construction Specification Institute and Urban Land Institute. jim_marx@marxokubo.com
Leadership
NAME
Parrish S. Boren
LOCATION
Denver, Colorado
POSITION
President/CEO
Parrish Boren, President/CEO, has been with Marx|Okubo for more than 20 years. Directing all financial and operational concerns, he has been a key part of growing the firm to a national platform. He has over 25 years of experience in management and commercial real estate, including contract negotiations, asset management, redevelopment/development and brokerage, involving over 10 million square feet of commercial space and 30,000 multifamily units. Previously Parrish served as an executive with a national multifamily firm and for an institutional real estate investor. He is proficient in the economic analysis of all commercial and multifamily property types and real estate ventures, including sensitivity, redevelopment analysis, loan modifications, operating strategies and distressed work-out situations. Parrish holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental design from Texas A&M University and an MBA with an emphasis in real estate finance from Southern Methodist University. He is a licensed real estate broker in Texas and Colorado as well as a member of the Urban Land Institute and National Association of Industrial and Office Properties. parrish_boren@marxokubo.com
Leadership
NAME
Gary C. Cohn, AIA
LOCATION
Orange County, California
POSITION
Executive Vice President
Gary Cohn, Executive Vice President, has been with Marx|Okubo for over two decades and has successfully broadened the company’s client base in the Southwest, including work in California, Arizona and Nevada. Working on commercial, retail, industrial, multifamily residential and hospitality projects, he has successfully managed the construction of everything from mid-rise office buildings to multi-unit condominium properties. With this range of experience, Gary can quickly evaluate property issues and help solve the challenges of the firm’s private and institutional clients. His broad professional background includes four decades of work in architecture, stints at civil engineering and environmental consulting firms, and high-rise office and hotel construction projects for a large general contractor. Gary holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from California State Polytechnic University - Pomona and completed additional coursework in development finance and construction law at the University of California. He is a licensed architect in California and is registered with the state as a disaster service worker. gary_cohn@marxokubo.com
Leadership
NAME
Sandy S. Blair, AIA, CASp
LOCATION
San Francisco, California
POSITION
Vice President
Sandy Blair is Vice President and Regional Manager of the San Francisco office. She is responsible for a broad range of services including design and constructability reviews, property condition assessments, review of construction draws and verifying work-in-place, owner’s representation, detailed cost analysis, periodic construction observation services and disabled accessibility reviews. Sandy has been engaged in the fields of architecture and construction for more than two decades, including design/build work in the San Francisco Bay Area, where her responsibilities have included design development, construction document preparation and construction observation involving various residential, retail and commercial facilities. Additional duties have included managing subcontractors, construction planning, budgeting, scheduling, permitting and inspection of construction quality. Sandy earned her bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of California - Berkeley. She is a licensed architect in California and a member of the American Institute of Architects, as well as a Certified Access Specialist (CASp) in California. sandy_blair@marxokubo.com
Leadership
NAME
Tommy Fong, AIA, LEED AP
LOCATION
San Francisco, California
POSITION
Assistant Vice President
Tommy Fong, Assistant Vice President, is an architect in the San Francisco office, where he is responsible for design and construction review, property condition assessments, monthly application for payment review, owner’s representation services and periodic construction observation services. Working in the field of architecture since 1994, he joined Marx|Okubo shortly after the San Francisco office was established. Tommy brings to the firm technical expertise in design, drafting and construction of various municipal, residential and commercial facilities. Additional experience includes working for architectural firms in the San Francisco Bay Area, including a period with the City and County of San Francisco Department of Public Works - Bureau of Architecture. He also has a strong background in design, detailing, construction cost assessment and disabled accessibility review. Tommy holds a bachelor of arts degree with a major in architecture from the University of California - Berkeley and a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Oregon. He is a licensed architect in California, LEED Accredited Professional and a member of the American Institute of Architects and National Trust for Historic Preservation. tommy_fong@marxokubo.com
Leadership
NAME
Joel Villamil, PE, SE, LEED AP
LOCATION
San Francisco, California
POSITION
Assistant Vice President
As Assistant Vice President in the San Francisco office, Joel Villamil performs preconstruction design and constructability reviews, seismic risk analyses,property condition assessments, corrective recommendations, structural design peer reviews, and cost evaluations of new and existing construction and rehabilitation. With 15 years of experience in structural engineering and construction management, he has facilitated projects of up to $135 million in construction costs in the educational, commercial and residential sectors. Joel’s previous engagements working for consulting and design firms have included evaluating and designing buildings, retrofitting masonry and concrete structures and incorporating structural green-building materials. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering, with an emphasis in structural engineering and construction management, from the University of California - Berkeley and a master’s degree in design/construction integration, with an emphasis in structural engineering and project planning and control, from Stanford University. Joel is a licensed structural engineer in California, Nevada and Utah, and a LEED Accredited Professional. He is also a volunteer disaster service worker for the California Office of Emergency Services and a member of Structural Engineers Association of California, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Institute of Steel Construction and the American Concrete Institute. joel_villamil@marxokubo.com
Leadership
NAME
Jason G. Coray, PE, SE, SECB
LOCATION
San Francisco, California
POSITION
Senior Associate, Director of Structural Engineering
Jason Coray, Senior Associate and Director of Structural Engineering, directs and performs structural and seismic evaluations involved with property condition assessments, seismic risk assessments and owner’s representation services from Marx|Okubo’s San Francisco office. He has over 25 years of structural engineering experience, including consulting for office, commercial, institutional and industrial facilities, as well as multifamily residences. In addition, Jason has designed multiple structural repair and seismic rehabilitation projects throughout the West. He specializes in seismic risk and resiliency consulting, performance-based analysis and evaluation of all types of buildings—from single historic buildings with archaic structural systems to portfolios of ultra-modern skyscrapers. Prior to joining Marx|Okubo, Jason was a principal at H.J. Brunnier Associates, where he performed engineering design services worldwide for new, existing and modified structures, which were primarily in highseismic and wind zones. Jason holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo, and he has a certificate in finance from the University of California – Berkeley. He is a licensed structural engineer in California, Hawaii and Washington State; a registered civil engineer in California, Oregon and Washington State; a member of the ASTM E06-25 Committee responsible for developing the ASTM E2026 and E2557 seismic risk assessment and probable maximum loss (PML) standards; and a founding member representative and technical advisory board member of, and actively serving on, the Certification Committee of the U.S. Resiliency Council. jason_coray@marxokubo.com
Team Members
NAME
Ronald W. Brown, PE, CEM
LOCATION
San Francisco, California
POSITION
Senior Associate
Ronald Brown, Senior Associate in the San Francisco office, brings to Marx|Okubo more than 30 years of experience in mechanical design, facility engineering and energy engineering for industrial, commercial and institutional clients. He has led the firm’s mechanical and electrical efforts on a number of projects, including property condition assessments and pre-construction project reviews for commercial and multifamily properties throughout Northern California. Prior to joining Marx|Okubo, Ronald performed mechanical and plumbing design, construction administration, and construction management. He has been involved in a large number of energy conservation and renewable energy projects, and has performed energy audits, detailed life cycle analysis and system design. Ronald holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan. He is a licensed mechanical engineer in California, Indiana and Michigan, as well as Certified Energy Manager. Ronald is also a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers, from which he received the Distinguished Service Award in 2002. ron_brown@marxokubo.com
Team Members
NAME
Alan Corkhill, MRICS
LOCATION
San Francisco, California
POSITION
Senior Associate, Director of Systems Integration
Alan Corkhill, Senior Associate and Director of Systems Integration in the San Francisco office, brings over 30 years of experience to his work in owner’s representation, project management, construction dispute resolution and forensic analysis. He has international experience in both the UK and France on projects ranging from rehabilitation of social housing to stockbroker dealing floors, as well as teaching construction administration and dispute avoidance in London. In the U.S., Alan worked for a construction consulting firm, providing defect litigation support, analysis of contract claims and schedule delay evaluation. He was also responsible for the invention and implementation of new methods for mobile capture and automated processing of field inspection data. He holds a bachelor’s degree in building surveying from the College of Estate Management and a master’s degree in design studies from the Central St. Martin’s College of Art and Design, as well as a post-graduate certification in higher education from Westminster University. He is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. alan_corkhill@marxokubo.com
Team Members
NAME
Marlon Just-Vargas, LEED AP, PMP
LOCATION
San Francisco, California
POSITION
Senior Associate, Senior Project Manager
Marlon Just-Vargas, Senior Associate and Senior Project Manager in the San Francisco office, performs a variety of project management services. Representative projects at Marx|Okubo have included the seismic retrofit of a Menlo Park commercial building that was occupied during construction; the ground-up construction of an AAA baseball stadium; and restorative repairs of apartment complexes in Santa Rosa and Emeryville. Previously, Marlon worked for a residential real estate developer in the San Francisco Bay Area, where his responsibilities included planning, scheduling, budgeting, and coordinating the design and construction phases related to the site development of single-family and multifamily residential projects ranging from $45 million to $130 million. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez and a master’s degree in construction and civil engineering management from Stanford University. Marlon is also a LEED Accredited Professional and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). marlon_just-vargas@marxokubo.com
Team Members
NAME
Rebecca A. Melton, PE, LEED AP
LOCATION
San Francisco, California
POSITION
Senior Associate
Rebecca Melton, Senior Associate, is an engineer in the San Francisco office, where she performs pre-construction design and constructability reviews, property condition assessments, owner’s representation, review of monthly construction applications for payment and work in place, as well as prepares construction documents for building-envelope repairs. She has been engaged in the fields of structural engineering and waterproofing consulting for nearly 15 years and brings to the firm experience in building-envelope investigation, design and repair, and structural investigation and rehabilitation. Collaborating with architects, owners and contractors, she is known for finding creative solutions to demanding projects that balance performance, reliability and cost. Rebecca has a proven track record for effectively managing the design and construction administration phases on large, multi-million-dollar projects, including the World Trade Center Memorial Museum retaining wall; church façade repair campaigns; multiple façade re-cladding projects; the belowgrade waterproofing for an MTA subway station; the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York City; and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. She holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in structural engineering, mechanics and materials, both from the University of California - Berkeley. Rebecca is a licensed professional engineer in New York and California and a LEED Accredited Professional. She is also a member of the Structural Engineers Association of New York, Association for Preservation Technology International and RCI. rebecca_melton@marxokubo.com
Team Members
NAME
Linda V. Kade, AIA
LOCATION
San Francisco, California
POSITION
Senior Associate
Linda Kade, Senior Associate, is an architect in Marx|Okubo’s San Francisco office where she is engaged in property condition assessments for office, resort, retail, research & development, multifamily and educational properties. Linda has also performed pre-construction project reviews, destructive testing and historic architecture consulting. For more than two decades, she has worked on construction and design defect-related forensic investigations and analyses, and has written related reports for litigation and developed corrective designs. Additionally, Linda has been invited to review architectural construction documents for Certificate of Merit cases. Prior to forensic and property condition work, she owned and managed a full-service architectural firm, where she was responsible for design, preparation of construction documents, permitting and construction administration. Honors include American Institute of Architects, City of Santa Rosa, City of Petaluma and Heritage Homes of Petaluma design awards, and her work has been featured in Sonoma Business Magazine, Fine Homebuilding, Better Homes & Gardens, Wet and Home magazines. Linda is also writing a textbook—”Introduction to Property Condition Assessments and Forensic Investigation”—to be published by Kirschner Publishing. A licensed architect in California, she holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of California – Berkeley. Linda is also a member of the American Institute of Architects, the Construction Specifications Institute, the American Architectural Manufacturers Association and the California Preservation Foundation. linda_kade@marxokubo.com
Team Members
NAME
David B. Noma, AIA
LOCATION
San Francisco, California
POSITION
Senior Associate
David Noma, Senior Associate, is an architect in the San Francisco office where he provides building envelope condition assessments, remediation assessments and design construction review services. He brings to the firm technical expertise in design, building envelope waterproofing and construction for commercial, institutional, educational, entertainment and residential facilities. Prior to joining Marx|Okubo, David worked in architecture and waterproofing consulting. Additional experience includes working for nationally noted architecture and consulting engineering firms in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Phoenix, Arizona and San Francisco, California, during which time he facilitated large multi-million dollar projects in Shanghai, China, Honolulu, Hawaii and the Bahamas. David holds bachelor’s degrees in architecture and environmental design from the University of Minnesota - Minneapolis. He is a licensed architect in Minnesota and Arizona, as well as a member of the American Institute of Architects and San Francisco Planning Urban Research Association. david_noma@marxokubo.com
Team Members
NAME
Bradley S. Wolf, PE
LOCATION
San Francisco, California
POSITION
Senior Associate
Brad Wolf is a Senior Associate in the San Francisco office, where he contributes 25 years of experience in facilities engineering, mechanical engineering, and energy efficiency consulting for commercial, institutional and industrial clients. At Marx|Okubo he has led mechanical, electrical, plumbing and firelife safety efforts on multiple projects, including property condition assessments and pre-construction reviews for commercial, institutional, industrial and multifamily properties throughout Northern California. Prior to joining the firm, Brad was a senior facilities engineer at a major semiconductor fabrication factory for 10 years, where he provided mechanical engineering services for building infrastructure systems and production equipment. His previous experience also includes energy management at U.S. Naval facilities in California, mechanical engineering design, and energy efficiency consulting for commercial, institutional and industrial clients. A registered mechanical engineer in California, Brad holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois. He is also a member of the National Fire Protection Association and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers. brad_wolf@marxokubo.com
Team Members
NAME
Soojin Hur, AIA, CASp, LEED AP BD+C, ICC Certified Accessibility Inspector/Plans Examiner
LOCATION
San Francisco, California
POSITION
Senior Associate
Soojin Hur, Senior Associate in the San Francisco office, assists in providing clients with design and constructability reviews, sustainability reviews, review of construction draws, construction observation services, property condition assessments, owner’s representation services, preparation of construction documents and disabled accessibility reviews. She brings to the firm experience in disabled accessibility design, computeraided design (CAD) and code analysis. Representative projects have included architectural and disabled accessibility design review, Certified Access Specialist (CASp) inspections, monthly construction observation, and property condition assessments of various multifamily, hospitality and other commercial developments throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Soojin has also facilitated construction documents and construction administration for restoration projects of conventional wood frame, exterior insulated finish system (EIFS) and concrete tilt-up buildings as well as disabled accessibility barrier removal. Soojin holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of California - Berkeley. In addition, she completed a certificate program on accessibility and universal design at Harvard University Graduate School of Design and continues to attend various education and discussion sessions to keep her knowledge current. Soojin is a licensed architect in California as well as (CASp) in California, LEED Accredited Professional with the BD+C specialty, ICC Certified Accessibility Inspector/Plans Examiner and a member of the American Institute of Architects. soojin_hur@marxokubo.com
Team Members
NAME
Steve Schneider, PE
LOCATION
San Francisco, California
POSITION
Senior Associate
Steve Schneider, Senior Associate, contributes his expertise as a fire protection and life safety engineer to a wide range of professional services. He is based in the San Francisco office and interfaces with all Marx|Okubo offices nationwide. Steve has extensive experience in property risk management and life safety. He began his engineering career working with the Department of Energy laboratories in South Carolina and New York where he assessed building code conformance and developed facility-specific fire protection and life safety programs. Most recently, Steve was a Highly Protected Risk (HPR) Property Underwriter for Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty where he was responsible for analyzing hazards to real property and business interruption from an insurance perspective. Steve has a bachelor’s degree in fire protection engineering from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in engineering and management systems from Union College – New York. He is a licensed fire protection engineer in New York and a principle on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Technical Committees for Building Construction (BLD-BLC), Exposure Fire Protection (EXR-AAA) and Loss Prevention Procedures and Practices (LPP-AAA). steve_schneider@marxokubo.com
Team Members
NAME
Tze-Yan Szeto, AIA, LEED AP
LOCATION
San Francisco, California
POSITION
Senior Associate
Tze-Yan Szeto, Senior Associate in Marx|Okubo’s San Francisco office, is an architect and performs pre-construction design and construction reviews, property condition assessments, owner’s representation work, reviews of monthly construction applications for payment and periodic construction observation services. Tze-Yan has worked in the architecture and construction field for over 25 years. Working with various architecture firms in the San Francisco Bay Area, she has managed multi-million-dollar projects in all phases of design and construction for affordable housing, institutional buildings and offices, and retail and hospitality new development and improvement projects. She brings to the firm experience in code analysis, accessibility design, and constructability, while maintaining focus on high-quality performance in balance with costs. Prior to working in architecture, she worked in construction as a carpenter and project manager building custom residential homes. She holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of California – Berkeley, is a licensed architect in California and is a LEED accredited professional. tze-yan_szeto@marxokubo.com
Team Members
NAME
Matthew Hoey, Associate AIA, LEED AP BD+C
LOCATION
San Francisco, California
POSITION
Associate/Business Technologist
Matt Hoey, Associate/Business Technologist in the San Francisco office, performs owner’s representation, construction loan monitoring, property condition assessments and design and constructability reviews. His projects for the firm have included construction quality inspections, work in water damage restoration, sustainability reviews and budget reviews. As the lead investigator of technology, Matt is responsible for identifying trends in software, hardware and mobile technology. Leveraging his intimate knowledge of Marx|Okubo’s core business services and systems, he is tasked with conceptualizing, proposing, implementing and guiding deployment of meaningful technologies, such as PlanGrid, a cloudbased construction drawing management application and Box, a content management application. Matt holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from the University of California - Santa Cruz and master’s degree in architecture from the University of Colorado - Denver. He is also a LEED Accredited Professional with the BD+C specialty and a member of the American Institute of Architects. matt_hoey@marxokubo.com
Team Members
NAME
Clara Wu, LEED AP, CSI CDT
LOCATION
San Francisco, California
POSITION
Associate
Clara Wu is an Associate in the San Francisco office, where she performs property condition assessments; pre-construction design and constructability reviews; construction draw reviews; owner’s representation services; quality assurance on building envelope for new construction; forensic investigation and diagnostic water testing; and preparation of construction documents of building restorative repair. Having previously worked as a waterproofing consultant in the San Francisco Bay Area for eight years, Clara brings to the firm specific technical expertise in building-envelope forensic investigation, as well as restorative repair design and construction administration. She holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of California - Berkeley. Clara is also a LEED Accredited Professional and a Construction Documents Technologist (CDT) certified by the Construction Specification Institute. clara_wu@marxokubo.com
Team Members
NAME
Christopher S. Ong, PE, SE, LEED AP
LOCATION
San Francisco, California
POSITION
Associate
Christopher Ong, Associate in the San Francisco office, performs pre-construction design and constructability reviews, seismic risk assessments and property condition assessments. With more than 13 years of experience in structural engineering and seismic evaluation, he has designed projects of up to $120 million in construction costs in the educational, commercial, healthcare, institutional, religious and military sectors. Christopher has also designed multiple structural renovation, repair and seismic rehabilitation projects around the globe and performed post-earthquake structural assessments after the 2017 Mexico City earthquake. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of California – Berkeley. Christopher is a licensed civil and structural engineer in California, a LEED Accredited Professional and is a member of the Urban Land Institute. christopher_ong@marxokubo.com
Clients
Intelligent and insightful. Private and public.
Clients Marx|Okubo meets the needs of a wide range of private and public clients with architecturaland engineering-based project management, due diligence, and owner’s and lender’s representation services. Our clients include intelligent, insightful firms all over the world.
Below is a small list of representative clients.
Affiliations
Affiliations The staff at Marx|Okubo are active members of many professional and civic organizations. This keeps us current with changes in the building industry and allows us access to a wealth of information. Below is a partial list of organizations we belong to.
AAMA American Architectural Manufacturers Association ACI American Concrete Institute AEE Association of Energy Engineers AEI Architectural Engineering Institute AIA American Institute of Architects AISC American Institute of Steel Construction ANSI American National Standards Institute ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers ASHRAE American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers ASTM International (formerly American Society of Testing and Materials) BEC Building Envelope Council BOMA Building Owners and Managers Association CAI Community Associations Institute CCIM Institute Certified Commercial Investment Member Institute CSI Construction Specifications Institute EERI Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (Energy Star Partner) FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency ICC International Code Council NCARB National Council of Architectural Registration Boards NFPA National Fire Protection Association NIBS National Institute of Building Sciences NRCA National Roofing Contractors Association SEAOC Structural Engineers Association of California SEI Structural Engineers Institute SWRI Sealant Waterproofing and Restoration Institute ULI Urban Land Institute USGBC US Green Building Council
Locations
Locations
Seattle, WA
New York, NY San Francisco, CA
Denver, CO
Pasadena, CA Orange County, CA
Atlanta, GA Dallas, TX Houston, TX
455 Sherman Street, Suite 200, Denver, CO 80203
303.861.0300
1904 Third Avenue, Suite 525, Seattle, WA 98101
206.621.9122
444 Spear Street, Suite 205, San Francisco, CA 94105
415.957.9240
225 S. Lake Avenue, Suite 1185, Pasadena, CA 91101
626.792.6842
4 Hutton Centre Drive, Suite 950, Santa Ana, CA 92707
949.660.8908
1431 Greenway Drive, Suite 410, Irving, TX 75038
972.580.0300
1160 Dairy Ashford Road, Suite 150, Houston, TX 77079
713.659.1175
41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 640, Atlanta, GA 30346
770.407.2900
445 Hamilton Avenue, Suite 404, White Plains, NY 10601
914.269.5700
www.marxokubo.com
www.marxokubo.com