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 • Life-cycle 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. ENSURING OPTIMAL PHYSICAL CONDITION. 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: Park Place
CLIENT
Principal Global Investors
LOCATION
Irvine, California
SERVICES
Property Condition Assessment
At approximately 2.2 million square feet of building area, Park Place is one of the largest modern office campuses in Orange County—one of the few true work-live-play communities in Southern California. Working under a compressed time frame, Marx|Okubo delivered independent reports for each campus building and merged project costs into one accessible document while also coordinating the work of multiple outside specialty consultants.
Projects: The Crimson Apartments
CLIENT
Campus Advantage
LOCATION
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
SERVICES
Repair Assessment and Design
During our Phase II investigation to assess the deterioration of the exterior brick soldier and rowlock in order to determine the cause of distress and scope for future repair, Marx|Okubo discovered extensive improper construction methods. This finding led to our team recommending critical new repair procedures and immediate safety measures, as well as assisting our client in negotiating repairs with the developer.
Projects: USA Today
CLIENT
Spear Street Capital
LOCATION
McClean, Virginia
SERVICES
Property Condition Assessment
The USA Today Towers consist of two main office towers developed in 2001. The south tower (Gannett Tower) is 12 stories, and the north tower (USA Today Tower) is nine stories, connected by a two-story base and lobby. The property totals 787,121 square feet and is sited on 17 acres of land with two acres of green roof. Marx|Okubo was engaged to assess the existing condition of the building for a potential acquisition. The exterior walls consist of aluminum and glass curtain wall systems throughout, which have an extensive glass fin architectural feature that was noted to be delaminating and leading to discoloration.
Projects: Colorado Trade Center
CLIENT
Conscience Bay Company
LOCATION
Denver, Colorado
SERVICES
Property Condition Assessment
Marx|Okubo performed a property condition assessment of the multi-warehouse project on the north side of Denver with buildings that were constructed between 1922 and 1975. Marx|Okubo is involved in the potential renovation of the 1922 power plant building, which has been abandoned for over two decades. The property includes many intricacies including a multitude of different types and ages of buildings that span five decades of construction; high-voltage electrical power owned and maintained on site; and complicated and antiquated electrical and mechanical systems. Marx|Okubo determined the most critical capital improvements and accurate pricing through contractors.
Projects: Yard Mixed Use
CLIENT
Skylab Architecture
LOCATION
Portland, Oregon
SERVICES
Disabled Accessibility Review
This 21-story, mixed-use building will include residential, retail, commercial and office space as well as parking with extensive podium and site improvements. The award-winning design firm turned to Marx|Okubo for its expertise and guidance regarding accessibility.
Projects: Marina Palms
CLIENT
HSBC
LOCATION
North Miami Beach, Florida
SERVICES
Construction Loan Services
Located in North Miami Beach, Marina Palms consists of two 25-story residential towers adjacent to a fullservice, 110-slip private marina. The complete 14.66acre property includes full frontage along Maule Lake, the Intercoastal Waterway and Biscayne Boulevard. Other features include two- and three-bedroom residential units with balcony areas; common areas, including a clubhouse, business center, mailroom, children’s center and fitness studio; a third-floor pedestrian bridge; and a five-level, 431-space concrete parking structure. Acting as the bank’s representative to review construction status and applications for payment, Marx|Okubo has seen Marina Palms through challenges related to the economic downturn. After purchasing the property from the lender, the current developer has made minimal modifications while reusing the existing foundations prepared for the north tower and its adjacent parking structure, as well as repurchasing and using the precast concrete parkingstructure components.
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.
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: Willis Tower
CLIENT
The Blackstone Group
LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois
SERVICES
Property Condition Assessment
Marx|Okubo performed a property condition assessment of the Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, the second tallest building in the United States and 13th tallest building in the world. The vastness of the building is almost a city unto itself with complex structural, mechanical, electrical and vertical transportation systems. In a project of this magnitude, the operations and maintenance budgets can look similar to large capital improvement budgets. Marx|Okubo was able to interpret the real issues of the building and provide our client with what is really important in maintaining and improving this landmark structure.
Projects: Desmond Tower
CLIENT
Brookfield Properties
LOCATION
Los Angeles, California
SERVICES
Property Condition Assessment
Built in the late 1920s, the historic Desmond Tower, located along the Miracle Mile, consists of an 11-story tower and a two-story base building. The property is most noted for its Art Deco landmark tower, which was designed by famous architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood. Although the historic structure was constructed in a time when building systems were simple, this actually makes future renovations more complicated. For example, this office building is built of cast-in-place concrete and concrete masonry units (CMU) in-filled with concrete and rebar. Exterior-wall finishes mix everything from painted plaster to bas-relief in the facade, while interior finishes range from gypsum board walls to polished concrete, terrazzo and vinyl flooring. Marx|Okubo assessed this unique property for redevelopment, which was a challenge due to the historic nature of the building and the unique configuration of the small floor plate within the tower.
Projects: Avalon
CLIENT
PGIM Real Estate
LOCATION
Alpharetta, Georgia
SERVICES
Owner’s Representation; Pre-construction Review
Avalon is a mixed-use development containing residential, commercial, hospitality and office buildings on approximately 86 acres. The development is being constructed in three phases, each with different equity investors. Marx|Okubo provided owner’s representation services for the completed Phase I and has been selected to conduct owner’s representation services for Phases II and III, currently underway. Phase I included four multi-family residential buildings over retail, two office buildings over retail, Regal Cinemas, Whole Foods Market, two small retail buildings along the mall walk, two retail support buildings, two parking garages, a branch bank and four standalone outparcel retail and restaurant buildings. Phase II will include a five-story, multifamily residential building with an enclosed parking garage and street-level retail, the Container Store, a standalone parking garage, and an office and retail building with dedicated parking garage. Phase III includes the 43,000-square-foot, 330-guestroom Alpharetta Hotel & Conference Center. The entire Phase III facility, including all hotel amenity areas and public spaces, will encompass 270,298 square feet. The most significant challenge faced by Marx|Okubo during this project has AWARDS
been coordinating the multitude of contractors, tenant representatives,
• Urban Land Institute’s 2015 Project of
architects and designers working on this intricate, multifaceted project –
the Year • Real Estate Forum’s 2015 Pioneering Project • Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2015 Retail Deal of the Year
yet we have successfully integrated project protocols to ensure the owners that the project is well-organized, on schedule, on budget and completed according to the original construction and contract documents.
Projects: Nassau Bay
CLIENT
US Bank Commercial Real Estate
LOCATION
Orlando, Florida
SERVICES
Water Intrusion Investigation; Destructive Testing; Repair Recommendations
Our Phase II investigation assessed water intrusion to identify the extent of deterioration at exterior stucco and vinyl walls. Ultimately, Marx|Okubo removed all materials to reveal structure, photographed issues and fully tested for moisture. Destructive testing revealed extensive unforeseen wood deterioration on the exterior walls and wood balconies, which provided our client with scientific knowledge for future mitigation.
Projects: Fairmont Hotel
CLIENT
Colony Capital
LOCATION
Austin, Texas
SERVICES
Owner’s Representation
Located in downtown Austin, Texas, this hotel complex, on a 1.74-acre site, will become the only hotel with direct access to the Austin Convention Center through a sky bridge. The proposed project includes a 38-story hotel and a seven-story amenity building, both over four below-grade levels of parking. The property also houses 1,068 guest rooms, nine restaurants, multiple guest lounges, a rooftop pool, spa, fitness center, business center and gift shop. Acting as an owner’s representative, Marx|Okubo faces several challenges with the Fairmont Hotel, including handling an infill CBD site with active watershed along the northern border; working with the City of Austin and the Convention and Visitors Council; and staying within the original time frame given recent weather events and labor shortages.
Projects: Jade Signature
CLIENT
HSBC
LOCATION
Sunny Isle Beach, Florida
SERVICES
Construction Loan Monitoring
Located in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, Jade Signature, upon completion in March 2018, will consist of a 58-story residential condominium tower totaling over 907,000 square feet, including a three-level parking garage. The development, on more than 2.4 acres, features full frontage to the Atlantic Ocean on the east. Units will range from one-bedrooms to penthouses, and planned on-site amenities are vast, including rooms for poker, entertainment, lounging, kids and business to a restaurant, fitness center, juice bar, nail salon, pool, cabanas and sun deck. Marx|Okubo is acting as the bank’s representative to review the status of construction and applications for payment. With one of the most complex foundation systems in the Southeast, challenges on this infill site have included extensive demolition, which included a yearlong foundation excavation. This work required placing soldier pilings around the perimeter of the site; soil conditioning with a sand/cement mixture to allow for the placement of 1,500+ auger-cast pilings; and interior excavation for below-grade parking.
Projects: SkyHouse
CLIENT
US Bank Commercial Real Estate
LOCATION
Dallas, Texas
SERVICES
Construction Loan Monitoring
Adjacent to the Perot Museum, this 24-story high-rise apartment tower, with ground-floor retail and a seven-story parking garage, required numerous complicated structural repairs. Under the client’s requirement to have the garage opened quickly while remaining fully operational, Marx|Okubo’s local team worked diligently to observe and track crews while they poured a new concrete frame for each floor every three days; fixed damage from a water main break that spanned 13 levels; and completed structural repairs to a new pre-cast parking garage requiring epoxy injections of the double tees.
Projects: Los Angeles Retail Center
CLIENT
Withheld
LOCATION
Los Angeles County, California
SERVICES
Disabled Accessibility Review
This large multi-tenant retail center houses approximately 620,000 square feet of retail space on an approximately 70-acre site. The Marx|Okubo team performed site inspections over multiple days to provide a comprehensive list of non-compliance issues, projected time frames for addressing these issues as well as an estimate of costs. Marx|Okubo also served to provide a third-party review of a previous CASp inspection report for a portion of the property, identifying and clarifying issues that did not need to be addressed based on the applicable standards.
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: 787 Seventh Avenue
CLIENT
Commonwealth Partners, LLC
LOCATION
New York, New York
SERVICES
Property Condition Assessment
787 Seventh Avenue is a 54-story office tower containing approximately 1.8 million square feet and built in 1985 in the postmodern style by architect Edward Larrabee Barnes. The property is connected underground to 1285 Avenue of the Americas and Rockefeller Center. It houses the corporate headquarters for BNP Paribas, Willkie Farr & Gallagher, Sidley Austin and UBS. Marx|Okubo was engaged to assess the existing condition of the building for a potential acquisition.
Projects: 1101 Westlake Avenue
CLIENT
Invesco Real Estate
LOCATION
Seattle, Washington
SERVICES
Property Condition Assessment; Seismic Risk Assessment; Owner’s Representation
Marx|Okubo assisted our client with the purchase and completion of the core and shell for this new 186,116-square-foot, six-story office building in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood. Construction was approximately 70 percent complete with MEPF rough-in and curtain wall installation in progress. Marx|Okubo’s services included an initial property condition assessment, seismic risk analysis and construction document review to identify any immediate concerns and evaluate project status. We also engaged an exterior envelope consultant to review the drawings and as-built conditions; field test; and peer review the seller’s exterior consultants reports. While confirming the completion of the contractor’s punch list, our team identified and tracked toward resolution some additional punch list and code items. We also reviewed construction close-out documents, including O&Ms, warranties and as-built drawings.
Projects: Hollywood 959
CLIENT
Bentall Kennedy
LOCATION
Los Angeles, California
SERVICES
Pre-closing Documents and Lender’s Review Services; Seismic Risk Assessment (SRA); Construction Loan Monitoring
Marx|Okubo teamed up with a leading design-build-own entity to reinvent this high-profile property. Hollywood 959 is designed with a colorful curtain-wall facade and barrel vault roof inspired by the site’s storied past. The project had a challenging schedule and location positioned between Hollywood production facilities and a residential neighborhood. Marx|Okubo’s services included a detailed pre-construction review of the budget, schedule and other construction documents coupled with periodic project observation for the construction lender.
Projects: Westgate Parking Structure
CLIENT
UBS Realty Investors, LLC
LOCATION
Corona, California
SERVICES
Owner’s Representation
This multi-stakeholder project required a complicated parking structure design due to various easements and other constrictions. Marx|Okubo completed the project in four phases: pre-design (initial documents review, city agency research, parking feasibility study, engagement of geotech and surveyor; design (select architect and coordinate drawings for plancheck submission); bidding (select bidding contractors, distribute bid documents, select bidder, negotiate construction contract); and construction administration (site visits, RFI review, change order review, tenant coordination during construction, project punchlist and close-out). Marx|Okubo completed the project smoothly, minimizing disruption to the tenants in the occupied office building and without significant conflicts with the adjacent freeway construction crews.
Projects: Charter Square
CLIENT
Prudential Real Estate Investors
LOCATION
Raleigh, North Carolina
SERVICES
Property Condition Assessment; Pre-construction Project Review; Owner’s Representation
This 11-story office tower was constructed over an existing below-grade parking garage originally designed for phased vertical expansion based on a residential tower. In conjunction with the original architect and a new structural engineer, Marx|Okubo performed enhanced due diligence, including forensic investigation of a sub-grade drainage system, to ensure risk-control measures during a condition assessment of the existing parking garage. We are also currently monitoring Charter Square’s bid for LEED Platinum certification on its core/shell.
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: 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: 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: Industrial Warehouse Center
CLIENT
Withheld
LOCATION
San Bernardino County, California
SERVICES
Disabled Accessibility Review; Owner’s Representation
This industrial warehouse portfolio includes approximately 4.5-million square feet in nine buildings on over 100 acres. Marx|Okubo provided a detailed accessibility inspection and report identifying issues of non-compliance, as well as site verification of items after corrective work was completed. We are currently working as the designer and owner’s representative for a paving restoration project during all three phases and providing design and bid drawings for multiple phases of prioritized corrective accessibility work.
Projects: Hall Arts
CLIENT
Texas Capital Bank
LOCATION
Dallas, Texas
SERVICES
Construction Loan Monitoring
An aging, multi-story parking garage serviced this 18-story office building, complete with retail spaces and an arts plaza, in the downtown Dallas Arts District. While meeting the challenge of keeping the garage fully operational, Marx|Okubo brought exiting fire alarm and sprinklers up to code and installed concrete columns, beams and footings through seven levels to align the parking structure with the office tower.
Projects: St. Michael’s Abbey
CLIENT
St. Michael’s Abbey
LOCATION
Silverado, California
SERVICES
Project Design Review; Owner’s Representation
This unique project site, located in a sparsely populated area with limited utilities, required the building to be designed with a 500-year lifespan. Taking on the challenge, Marx|Okubo started with a review of design development and construction documents, and moved into owner’s representation by facilitating monthly OAC design coordination meetings; tracking the master budget and schedule; coordinating commissioning work with the design team; and proposing strategies for exceeding seismic code requirements and natural disaster preparation, as well as reducing operating expenses.
Projects: Saguaro Affordable Housing
CLIENT
Families Forward
LOCATION
Lake Forest, California
SERVICES
Sustainability Repair Design; Project Management
Families Forward, a non-profit organization serving homeless families in Orange County, needed to rehabilitate a recently purchased affordable housing development to provide a safe, healthy environment for families. Marx|Okubo provided pro-bono services to assess the building and develop a rehabilitation scheme, which included a budget-friendly sustainability program. Focusing on water conservation and thermal performance, we added modern water-conserving plumbing fixtures, drought-tolerant landscaping and an efficient drip-irrigation system, which will position the property to exceed federal water conservation requirements. Additionally, Marx|Okubo improved building envelope thermal performance by replacing all glazing with efficient dual-pane windows and sliding doors as well as significantly upgrading wall and roof insulation.
Projects: Solis Downwood Apartments
CLIENT
Prudential Real Estate Investors
LOCATION
Atlanta, Georgia
SERVICES
Pre-construction Project Review; Owner’s Representation
Due to our client’s scheduling demands, Marx|Okubo was asked to review preliminary plans at 60 percent for a pre-construction project review, then a re-review at 85 percent just prior to issuance of a report. Our thorough review of early design documents allowed closing to occur as scheduled. Our team generated a thorough deviations and outstanding issues table, as well as identified “holes” in the drawings for future updates by Marx|Okubo.
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: Winstar Casino Hotel Towers
CLIENT
Och Ziff Real Estate
LOCATION
Thackerville, Oklahoma
SERVICES
Owner’s Representation
These 18- and 15-story hotel towers, located on private land adjacent to the Chickasaw nation trust line, added 1,004 guestrooms to the original hotel, which is tied to a casino, a new lobby, restaurant and resortstyle outdoor swimming pool. Several localized sections of the EIFS facade at Tower II were inadequately installed and required replacement at the subcontractor’s cost. After the subcontractor was discharged, a new subcontractor installed the EIFS at Tower III with no issues under the observation of Marx|Okubo.
Projects: Canary Hotel
CLIENT
Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants
LOCATION
Santa Barbara, California
SERVICES
Energy Audit
The Canary Hotel, a five-story boutique property in the heart of Santa Barbara, needed to reduce its energy costs. Owner Kimpton Hotels retained Marx|Okubo to perform a Level 2 ASHRAE energy audit. Customized to meet specific client requirements, our audit identified items that could be completed with a short payback period allowing for reasonable cash outlays. The Marx|Okubo team successfully completed the sustainability review on a tight deadline, while the hotel remained occupied at high summer levels.
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: 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: 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.
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
Rand Silverman, AIA, NCARB
LOCATION
Houston, Texas
POSITION
Senior Vice President
Rand Silverman, Senior Vice President, is responsible for the management and operation of Marx|Okubo’s Houston and Dallas offices, which serve Texas and portions of the southeastern U.S. Combining both fundamental and technical skills tailored to meet the specific needs of each client, he provides quality due diligence and project management services to clients. Rand has thorough knowledge of building design and construction techniques. With 45 years of experience in the construction and architecture fields, serving as both the design architect and general contractor/builder, he has successfully completed projects ranging from single-family housing to hotels and medical facilities. Prior to joining Marx|Okubo, Rand worked with several multi-national architectural firms, ultimately forming his own company. He holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Texas A&M University and is a licensed architect in Texas, Colorado, Florida and Virginia. Rand is certified with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and is a member of the American Institute of Architects and Texas Society of Architects. rand_silverman@marxokubo.com
Leadership
NAME
Edward A. Bernard, AIA
LOCATION
Atlanta, Georgia
POSITION
Vice President
Edward Bernard, Vice President, directs operations at the Atlanta office and Marx|Okubo’s work in the Southeast region. With over 25 years of architectural design, development and forensic evaluation experience, he provides complete analysis of projects and existing buildings, including due diligence, feasibility studies, construction document review, and project performance and cost reviews across multiple project types. Ed’s specialty in forensics and analytical architecture includes cause and origin evaluation, cost analysis, remedial repair for structural damage due to construction defects and improper design as well as damage assessments due to storm events. Additional areas of expertise include program management, project management and real estate strategies. He earned a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering from Southern Polytechnic State University. Ed is a registered architect in Georgia and North Carolina, as well as a member of the American Institute of Architects, Urban Land Institute and Southern Polytechnic State University’s College of Architecture Professional Advisory Board. In addition, he has served as AIA Atlanta President and AIA Georgia President, has received “Service to the Profession” awards from AIA and is the recipient of the AIA Georgia Bronze Medal. edward_bernard@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
Chris Geier, PE
LOCATION
Orange County, California
POSITION
Vice President
Chris Geier, Vice President and Regional Manager for Southern California, is responsible for a broad range of services, including design and constructability reviews, property condition assessments, owner’s representation, detailed cost analysis, periodic construction observation services and seismic risk assessments. Chris draws upon engineering experience, as well as extensive diligence evaluation work on commercial, retail and multi-family residential properties, to identify potential building deficiencies to commercial real estate clients, in turn allowing them to make informed decisions about real estate transactions. His projects with Marx|Okubo have included property condition assessments on a 2.1-million-square-foot shopping center in Torrance, California; a 74-story, 1.4-million-square-foot office building with a six-story off-site parking structure in Los Angeles; and a mixeduse facility in San Francisco, which consisted of a 320-unit high-rise apartment complex, five-story and six-story office buildings and two-level subterranean parking garage. Chris holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of California - Los Angeles and is a licensed civil engineer in California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington State. chris_geier@marxokubo.com
Leadership
NAME
Stephen R. D’Arcy, PE
LOCATION
New York, New York
POSITION
Vice President
Stephen D’Arcy, Vice President and Regional Manager of Marx|Okubo’s Northeast region, oversees regional and national clients while allocating human resources, managing schedules and collaborating with other regions. Bringing over 20 years of experience in risk management and construction consulting services, he has worked on residential, office, retail, hospitality and industrial asset types on projects ranging from small, multifamily residential complexes to high-rise concrete and steel structures. Stephen has also been responsible for: in-house engineering and construction services for international banks and real estate investment firms, and developing due diligence and risk management procedures and protocols for existing properties and new developments. In a previous vice president position, Stephen managed all servicing functions on a commercial real estate loan portfolio exceeding $14 billion; provided expertise in real estate construction on some of the largest and most dynamic privately funded projects in the country; and established and instituted the completion and exit strategies on distressed construction loans throughout the U.S. Stephen holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Delaware and an MBA in finance from New York University Stern School of Business. He is a professional engineer in Connecticut. stephen_darcy@marxokubo.com
Leadership
NAME
Jana Hanford, AIA, LEED AP
LOCATION
Seattle, Washington
POSITION
Vice President
Jana Hanford, Vice President in the Seattle office and member of the corporate Best Practices Group, has been an integral part of the senior professional team while also fulfilling a corporate role heading the company-wide safety training program and the disabled-accessibility group. Her understanding of the business, as well as the technical components of a transaction, allow her to quickly quantify areas of risk and importance for clients. Jana has successfully managed all types of commercial properties and has been engaged in the construction and lending aspects of the commercial real estate industry for nearly four decades. Prior to joining Marx|Okubo, she was a manager of construction loan administration for a privately owned mortgage company in the Northwest, encompassing a loan portfolio covering a nine-state region. Jana obtained bachelor’s degrees in environmental design and building construction and a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Washington. She is a licensed architect in Washington State, a LEED Accredited Professional, an ICC Certified Accessibility Inspector/Plans Examiner, and is a member of the American Institute of Architects, International Code Council, ASTM and King County Disaster Response Team. jana_hanford@marxokubo.com
Leadership
NAME
R. Allan Thunder, AIA
LOCATION
Seattle, Washington
POSITION
Vice President
R. Allan Thunder, Vice President and Regional Manager of the Seattle office, is responsible for operations in the Northwest Region. He has served as architect, construction manager and contractor of a wide variety of projects, and since 1979 has specialized in project and construction management, constructability reviews, value engineering and cost estimating. Allan has worked on commercial offices, medical laboratories, educational facilities, low- and high-rise multifamily residential units and retail centers. Representative projects include the construction management of the $110 million King County Regional Justice Center, a 1,400-bed detention facility with regional courthouse and parking garage; design and construction management of three high-rise hotel complexes in New Jersey, Wisconsin and Oregon with construction performed while the facilities were operational; and construction management of elementary, middle and high school facilities for several school districts. In addition, he has served as an expert witness in matters relating to construction management practices and building envelope performance for public and private institutions. Allan received a bachelor’s degree in building construction from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in finance from Seattle University. He is a licensed architect in Washington State, a member of the American Institute of Architects and a lecturer specializing in construction materials and methods at the University of Washington School of Architecture. allan_thunder@marxokubo.com
Leadership
NAME
Charles Killebrew, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP
LOCATION
Atlanta, Georgia
POSITION
Vice President
Charles Killebrew, Vice President, oversees construction project management, property condition assessments, pre-construction project reviews and owner’s representation in the Atlanta office, where he also brings a comprehensive understanding of pre-construction project management, design liability risk management and construction contract administration. Charles has over 20 years of experience in the architecture profession. He has successfully coordinated design and construction-phase services on complex projects for leading corporate and institutional clients worldwide, including high-rise office and residential projects as well as regional destination retail, hospitality and international mixed-use developments. Prior to joining Marx|Okubo, he worked as a project manager for such notable firms as Pickard Chilton, John Portman & Associates, NBBJ, and Perkins & Will. He holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Texas at Austin, and is a licensed architect in Connecticut, Georgia and Illinois. Charles is a LEED Accredited Professional, Building Enclosure Commissioning Process Provider (BECxP), Commissioning Authority + Building Enclosure Knowledge Requirements (CxA+BE) and is certified with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. He is also a member of the American Institute of Architects and a past member of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitats. charles_killebrew@marxokubo.com
Leadership
NAME
Kathleen Spurck, AIA
LOCATION
Denver, Colorado
POSITION
Vice President
As Vice President, Kathleen Spurck is responsible for quality control and training in the Denver office. She brings to the firm over 20 years of experience in design and construction consulting services, including fullservice architectural scope-of-work contracts, from programming through project close-out, with an emphasis on construction administration services and property condition assessments. Prior to joining Marx|Okubo, Kathy was managing principal and president of her own Denver-based architectural firm whose work on historic restoration and preservation projects won design awards from both the Colorado Historical Society and Colorado Preservation, Inc. Before starting her own practice, Kathy excelled in contract administration, construction monitoring, quality assurance, space needs analysis and historic structure assessments for both large- and small-scale commercial and public-sector projects. She also directed projects with budgets totaling over $90 million during a five-year appointment as chairperson for the Archdiocese of Denver Parish Project and Finance Review Council. Kathy holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Colorado and is a licensed architect in Colorado. kathleen_spurck@marxokubo.com
Leadership
NAME
Christian Stover, AIA, NCARB
LOCATION
Denver, Colorado
POSITION
Vice President
Christian Stover, Vice President and Co-Regional Manager, performs construction loan monitoring, owner’s representation, construction project management, property condition assessments, building envelope forensics, expert witness investigations, and design and constructability reviews out of Marx|Okubo’s Denver office. Her experience at the firm includes work in water damage restoration, sustainability reviews, construction quality inspections and budget reviews. Christian has also been actively involved in exterior envelope forensic investigations and expert witness testimonies, specializing in technical and construction analysis and code review. Prior to joining Marx|Okubo, she worked with a Philadelphia architecture firm, focusing on design and program of educational facilities. Christian holds a bachelor’s degree in arts and sciences from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Colorado - Denver. She is a licensed architect in Colorado and Texas, a Certified Level One Thermographer and Building Enclosure Commissioning Process Provider (BECxP), and has completed the Installation Masters and Window Testing course. christian_stover@marxokubo.com
Leadership
NAME
Peter S. Chang, AIA, PMP, LEED AP
LOCATION
Orange County, California
POSITION
Vice President
Peter Chang, Vice President and Regional Manager in the Orange County office, is responsible for a broad range of services, including project management, property condition assessment, lender reviews on new development projects, owner’s representation and periodic construction observation. He has nearly 20 years of experience in design, construction and project management of institutional, retail, commercial office, multifamily residential and tenant improvement projects. Peter’s focus is adaptive re-use projects in urban environments with complex entitlements issues, and he draws on a diverse background of project types in order to propose creative solutions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree in architecture from Harvard University. He is also a licensed architect in California, a LEED Accredited Processional, a Certified Project Management Professional and a member of the U.S. Green Building Association. peter_chang@marxokubo.com
Leadership
NAME
John D. Wilder II
LOCATION
Dallas, Texas
POSITION
Vice President
John Wilder, Vice President in the Dallas office of Marx|Okubo, is responsible for a broad range of services, including management and operation of the Houston and Dallas offices, design and constructability reviews, property condition assessments, owner’s representation, detailed cost analysis and periodic construction observation services. With over two decades of experience, John specializes in working with project managers to manage their clients and design teams more effectively, collaborating with leadership teams to rethink conventional business models, and helping to create more effective methods of operations and production. John values communication, building strong working relationships with clients, and is fueled by both personal growth and seeing growth in others. John holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Texas at Arlington and has completed the Master Negotiation I course from Southern Methodist University, Cox School of Business. He is also a licensed architect in Texas and is certified with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. john_wilder@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
Leadership
NAME
Corey D. Petersen, AIA
LOCATION
Seattle, Washington
POSITION
Assistant Vice President
Corey Petersen, Assistant Vice President, co-manages the Seattle office, where he performs property condition assessments, damage evaluations, pre-construction project reviews, owner’s representation, and construction loan monitoring on both commercial and multifamily residential projects. He also spearheads the firm’s involvement in exterior envelope design and rehabilitation services in the Northwest. Corey has over 20 years of experience, including 15 years with a Seattle architectural firm. His roles have included work in programming, planning, document preparation, code review, jurisdictional coordination and construction administration services for commercial, retail, industrial and multifamily projects. One standout project included the design and management of a $30 million renovation on a high-end, 292-unit apartment complex. He received his associate’s degree in architectural and computer-aided drafting and design from the Phoenix Institute of Technology. Corey is a licensed architect in Washington State, a Registered Roof Observer and a member of the American Institute of Architects and Seattle Building Envelope Council. corey_petersen@marxokubo.com
Leadership
NAME
Michael Z. Silverman, PE, LEED AP, CEM
LOCATION
Denver, Colorado
POSITION
Assistant Vice President
Mechanical engineer Michael Silverman is Assistant Vice President and Co-Regional Manager of the Denver office. As a member of the firm’s mechanical engineering group, he helps conduct upfront document and cost reviews on new and existing renovation construction projects, construction monitoring services for rehabilitation and new construction projects, and coordination and writing of property condition reports for the purchase, sale and refinancing of commercial real estate. Prior to joining Marx|Okubo, Michael worked at Denver companies as an associate mechanical engineer and mechanical engineer. In these positions, he collaborated with architects, owners and other engineers to develop construction drawings for new and renovation construction projects; created layout/design and selected the HVAC and plumbing systems for construction projects; and built and modified the specifications for mechanical equipment and systems for specific construction projects. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Tulane University and is a licensed professional engineer in Colorado. He is also a LEED Accredited Professional and a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) through the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE). Michael is a member of AEE, the U.S. Green Building Council and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning. michael_silverman@marxokubo.com
Leadership
NAME
James M. LaTerza, PE, LEED AP BD+C, O+M
LOCATION
New York, New York
POSITION
Assistant Vice President
James La Terza, Assistant Vice President in Marx|Okubo’s New York office, serves as the office’s structural engineer responsible for pre-construction project reviews, construction administration, construction monitoring and property condition assessments. Most recently, he served as the Structural Engineering Team Leader and Technical Director of Special Inspections for an 80-person A-E firm that specializes in renovation, restoration and retrofit programs for building structures in New York City. Prior experience includes design of structural framing for new buildings and remediation of failures in structural systems. James also served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prior to entering the private sector. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a master’s degree in structural engineering from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. James is a licensed engineer in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York, as well as a LEED Accredited Professional and Certified ICC Special Inspector. james_laterza@marxokubo.com
Leadership
NAME
Carlos M. Torres, AIA, RRO, LEED AP BD+C
LOCATION
Dallas, Texas
POSITION
Assistant Vice President
Carlos Torres, Assistant Vice President in the Dallas office, brings a comprehensive understanding of pre-construction project management, design liability risk management and administration of construction contracts. He oversees services including owner’s representation, property condition assessments and pre-construction project reviews within the U.S., Puerto Rico and Latin America. Carlos has over 20 years of domestic and international experience in the architectural design, construction administration and project management of a wide variety of building types. His areas of concentration include project development and construction contract administration of retail, office, multifamily, hospitality, entertainment and healthcare projects. He holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, master’s degree in architecture from the University of Houston and an MBA from the Instituto Techologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey. Carlos is a registered architect in Texas and Mexico as well as a LEED Accredited Professional with the BD+C specialty. He also holds a Registered Roof Observer certificate by RCI and is a member of the American Institute of Architects and Texas Society of Architects. carlos_torres@marxokubo.com
Leadership
NAME
Ronald L. Burgess, PE
LOCATION
Houston, Texas
POSITION
Assistant Vice President
Ronald L. Burgess is Assistant Vice President in the Houston office, which serves Texas and portions of the southeastern U.S. Serving many decades in the structural engineering design and construction fields, he has designed and managed a variety of project types, including educational, medical, religious, commercial, entertainment and industrial, with experience in the design and construction of low- and high-rise office buildings, multi-purpose sports arenas and industrial complexes. Prior to joining Marx|Okubo, Ron was a shareholder in a structural engineering firm. While in private practice, he designed and administered projects including a 1.4-million-square-foot, $35 million phased industrial warehouse project; a $3.4 million office building; and an 80,000-squarefoot, $9.2 million elementary school. Ron holds a bachelor’s degree in architectural studies and a master’s degree in architecture (structures), both from the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign. He is a licensed engineer in Texas, as well as a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Institute of Steel Construction and Construction Specifications Institute. ronald_burgess@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
Mark J. Hulme, AIA, CASp, LEED AP BD+C
LOCATION
Pasadena, California
POSITION
Assistant Vice President
Mark Hulme, Assistant Vice President in the Pasadena office, performs architectural consulting, sustainability reviews, property condition assessments, owner’s representation-related services and disabled accessibility reviews across California. Since 1995, he has been involved in diverse construction and architectural projects, including retail, office and interiors, as well as community college and K-12 educational facilities. As a Certified Access Specialist (CASp), Mark has conducted CASp and other disabled accessibility reviews of office, shopping center, hotel and multifamily properties. Prior to joining Marx|Okubo, he served as a project architect for a Los Angeles-based architectural firm, where he worked on construction document preparation, project management, specifications writing, governmental plan processing and construction administration. A licensed architect in California, Mark holds bachelor’s degrees in architecture and communications and a master’s degree in building sciences, with a focus on environmental controls systems, both from the University of Southern California. He also completed an executive education program on accessibility and universal design at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Mark is a Certified Access Specialist in California, LEED Accredited Professional with the BD+C specialty and a member of the American Institute of Architects and Certified Access Specialist Institute. mark_hulme@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
Joseph Milam, PE, CIAQP, LEED AP, CEM
LOCATION
Atlanta, Georgia
POSITION
Director of Mechanical Engineering, Assistant Vice President
Joseph Milam, Director of Mechanical Engineering and Assistant Vice President, oversees the technical areas of Marx|Okubo’s mechanical, electrical and fire protection services. He has over 34 years of experience in consulting engineering, including surveys, evaluations and design of building systems. Joe’s areas of expertise include facility and property condition assessments; building diagnostics and forensic investigations; energy assessments and consulting; ENERGY STAR benchmarking; LEED consulting; LEED GAP analysis; APPA maintenance and custodial evaluations; IAQ proactive monitoring, complaint response and mitigation; commissioning of new and existing buildings; systems training; operations and maintenance reviews; and design peer reviews. Joe holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a multidisciplinary certificate in energy engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is a registered engineer in Georgia, Colorado and Ohio. Joe is also a Certified Indoor Air Quality Professional, LEED Accredited Professional, as well a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Association of Energy Engineers, U.S. Green Building Council and National Fire Protection Association. joseph_milam@marxokubo.com
Leadership
NAME
Kirk H. Mulbach, AIA, NCARB
LOCATION
Denver, Colorado
POSITION
Senior Resource Advisor, Best Practice Group
Kirk Mulbach served as a Senior Associate and AVP for the first few years of his tenure with Marx|Okubo and as the Regional Manager in the Denver office for the last several years. In his current role as Senior Resource Advisor with the Best Practices Group, he defines and disseminates intellectual resources and interfaces with other regions with regard to in-field training, technical oversight and operational procedures. Kirk also continues to manage select regional and national client contacts out of the Denver office. Since 1978, he has designed and managed projects ranging from singlefamily and multifamily residential to industrial and commercial projects, including office buildings, manufacturing facilities and regional shopping malls. Kirk’s current projects include design and constructability reviews, owner’s representation, construction project management, forensic investigations, expert witness and litigation support, property condition assessments, detailed cost analyses and construction observation services throughout the company’s nine offices. Prior to joining Marx|Okubo, he worked for various architectural, consulting and design-build firms where he broadened and enhanced his skills in architectural design, project management, consultant coordination, schedule and budget analysis, and contract review. Kirk holds bachelor’s degrees in architecture and fine arts from Syracuse University. He is a licensed architect in Colorado; is certified with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards; and is a member of the American Institute of Architects and Sealant, Waterproofing and Restoration Institute. kirk_mulbach@marxokubo.com
Leadership
NAME
Phillip Helms, NCARB
LOCATION
Seattle, Washington; San Francisco, California; Orange County, California
POSITION
Senior Resource Advisor, Best Practice Group
Phillip Helms, Senior Resource Advisor, Best Practice Group, oversees design, owner’s representation, construction review and project management for renovation and seismic retrofit of projects throughout the western U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii. With nearly two decades at Marx|Okubo, he has engaged in architecture, land use planning, real estate development and property condition assessments for approximately 30 years. Projects have included the design and construction documentation for over $20 million in commercial facilities and related projects in 20 states; the design and development of over 40 buildings, including commercial and medical offices; as well as land development projects. In previous positions, Phillip was a project architect for three architectural firms; senior vice president of design and planning for a real estate development corporation; and lecturer and adjunct faculty member at the University of Colorado and the University of Washington. He is a frequent guest speaker in at a variety of industry events and has been published by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture. Phillip attended universities of Oregon, Colorado and Washington State and holds graduate degrees in architecture, urban and regional planning, and urban design. He is a licensed architect in Colorado and California, and is certified with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. phillip_helms@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