John Simones’ passion has always centered on the creation of “Authentic Experience” within the Space In-Between. He believes people around the world share common desires of family, community, and happiness, and connecting people with each other and their environments are the basic ingredients that create the memorable places he has designed within cities globally.  This true essence of “Place” is what John Simones Architect strives to achieve.

For John, each project is unique to itself, developing from the client’s needs and desires, and the host place in which it exists.  The project emerges, individually handcrafted and molded, becoming timeless in nature, within a co-creative environment of like-minded people. This collaboration creates a visceral sense of place, unfolding the storyline of what “each project wants to be.”  These guiding principles provide the focus, which leads the design toward achieving the clients’ goals.

John joined the Jerde Partnership in 1983 to work under his soon-to-be mentor, Jon Jerde, on the design of the Los Angeles Olympics.  Since that time, John became one of Jerde’s lead Architects and Urban Designers, working on the firm’s most complex and innovative projects, always evolving Jerde’s philosophy of placemaking design around the world.

After thirty-seven years at Jerde and wearing many hats, including Director of Design, CEO, and Chairman, he founded John Simones Architect, a boutique Architectural and Urban Design Group, enabling him to fully concentrate the time and effort needed on his designs and aspirations, committing to ensure the best product and service for his clientele.

John Simones Architect is located in Redondo Beach, California in the South Bay area of Los Angeles, and retains a strategic alliance in Shanghai, China. John received a Bachelor of Science in Architecture magna cum laude from the University of Detroit and a Master of Architecture from the University of Southern California.  He is a member of the American Institute of Architects; Urban Land Institute; and International Council of Shopping Centers, of which he is a jury member for the prestigious VIVA Awards. John has also lectured and participated at conferences and universities globally, and has won numerous international competitions and awards throughout his career.

The work presented is just a sample of John Simones’ many designs and projects while he was working at Jerde.