San Diego Zoo – Panda Gift Shop
Miramar Youth and Teen Center
Navy Postgraduate School
Jacobs Center for Community Arts
Monterey Meteorology Center
Behavioral Health Science Building
Jason Ritter-Lopatowski
LEED Green Associate
jason@jrlstudio.com
I was born in 1982 and grew up in Bloomfield Hills and West Bloomfield, Michigan. At the age of 10, I moved to San Diego with my mother and stepfather. After attending school in Poway, I moved back to Michigan in 2000 to begin my studies in architecture. I went to Lawrence Technological University, in Southfield, MI, where I studied and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture. After completing my undergraduate degree, I moved back to California to study at the University of Southern California. While attending school in Los Angeles, I worked at Perkins + Will. I graduated with a Masters of Architecture, a Masters of Building Science, and a Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation. In 2007 my wife, Gretchen, and I moved to San Diego where we currently reside.
For fun, I like to rock climb with close friends and backpack with my wife and dog. When the temperature drops you will find me in the mountains skiing. When not outside enjoying the backcountry, you can find me doing woodwork in my garage or cooking up a storm in my kitchen.
Jason Ritter-Lopatowski
LEED Green Associate
Work Experience
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RKTEQU – San Diego, CA (November 2008 – Present)
- Responsible for all project phases from initial client meeting through permitting and construction administration.
- Coordinating consultants on all aspects of a project.
- Work includes Commercial, Hospitality, Infrastructure, Education, and Military including NAVFAC, Veterans Affairs, and Army Corps.
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Tucker Sadler Architects – San Diego, CA (April 2007 – November 2008)
- Responsible for pre-design through construction documents on various types of projects.
- Direct contact with clients and consultants for coordination on projects.
- Extensive model making with wood and paper medium.
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Perkins + Will – Los Angeles, CA (October 2004 – December 2006)
- Participated on projects from pre-design through construction administration.
- Extensive model making with wood and paper medium.
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L and S Group – Detroit, MI (2001 – 2003)
- Light commercial work including steel frame construction and exterior finishes and details
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Taylor Jones, AIA – San Diego, CA (May 1999 – August 2001)
- Field measuring for as-built conditions on homes for renovations.
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Paul Bishop, AIA – San Diego, CA (May 1999 – August 2001)
- Field measuring for as-built conditions on homes for renovations.
Education
University of Southern California (2004-2007)
- Masters in Architecture
- Masters in Building Science
- Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation
Lawrence Technological University (2000-2004)
- Bachelor of Science in Architecture
Software Skills
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AutoCAD 2009 and above
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ArchiCAD
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Adobe Creative Suite CS and Above
- Photoshop
- Illustrator
- InDesign
- Acrobat Professional
- Dreamweaver
- Flash
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SketchUp Professional 8
- Photo Rendering Capabilities
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Microsoft Office
- Word
- Excel
- Powerpoint
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WordPress
- Backend interface and website updating
Mad Skills
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Photography
- Architectural photography
- Photo retouching
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Wood and Metal Working
- Furniture design and construction
- Crafts
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Construction
- Residential home building and additions
- Interior improvements
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Model Building
- All types of media including wood, paper and plastics
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PC and MAC Capable
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Behavioral Health Science Building
Behavioral Health Science Building
Located on the Veterans Hospital Campus in Loma Linda, CA, this Behavioral Health Science Building houses many different offices, counseling rooms, exam rooms, and administration support rooms. This ground-up building is designed to accommodate a future 2 additional stories. The structure, circulation, elevator and support spaces have all been designed to allow easy expansion. The exterior materials were selected to complement the adjacent Cancer Center building. -
Turbine Skyscraper
Turbine Skyscraper
This tower is designed to channel and accelerate the air to provide maximum power generation through the integrated wind turbines. Wind direction and velocity measurements were taken at the site and interpolated for the heights of the tower to estimate possible generation. The mixed use design integrated office on the lower levels and condos on the upper towers with observation decks between each turbine. -
Metro Lofts
Metro Lofts
A mixed use development located in downtown Los Angeles. The project integrated an underground metro station, offices, condos and a pedestrian bridge to link the development to the adjacent park across the street. -
Downtown Lofts
Downtown Lofts
A loft tower designed to utilize the prevailing winds. The unique shape of the tower's exterior skin creates a negative pressure on one side of the building, similar to an airplane wing, allowing natural air circulation through all units. The mixed use development integrates an office/retail complex in the 2-story section and condos above. 5 Wind Gardens are dotted throughout the levels to provide a retreat for all residents. -
Children’s Museum
Children’s Museum
This structure is located in the historic El Pueblo district of Los Angeles. One of the driving forces behind this design was the integration of site to building. I wanted to blur the lines of where structure started and landscape began. The building allows visitors to interact with the structure from all levels, inside and out. -
School Models
School Models
Various wood models of schools in the Eastside and Foothill School Districts and a Student Center Competition at the University of Southern California. -
Ka Makana Ali’i
Ka Makana Ali’i
Proposal for a mixed use development in Hawaii. Project consisted of 2 stories of retail shops, big box retail, hotels and parking garages. -
Del Ray Village
Del Ray Village
Proposal for a mixed use development in Phoenix AZ. The development contains office buildings, hotels, condos and ground level retail. -
Batallion Squadron Headquarters
Batallion Squadron Headquarters
A three-building complex on the Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, CA. One new 2-story administration building, an addition to an existing storage building and a tenant improvement to an existing third building. -
Watertank Pump House
Watertank Pump House
A pump house to control (2) 4-million gallon water tanks for Vandenberg Air Force Base. Santa Barbara, CA -
Parking Garage
Parking Garage
A parking garage proposal for the Los Angeles Air Force Base. This structure was designed to be built in three phases to ultimately accommodate 1,000 parking spaces. Horizontal and vertical metal elements with punched openings screened the parking structure and provided aesthetic interest. -
Generators – Long Beach
Generators – Long Beach
This structure was built for the VA Medical Center in Long Beach, California. The generator building containing 2 diesel powered backup generators with provisions to install a third generator. -
Generators – Loma Linda
Generators – Loma Linda
Electrical enclosure and support pad for 4 backup generators at the VA Hospital in Loma Linda, California. -
Human Resource Building
Human Resource Building
Proposal for the new Human Resource Building for Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, California. The design of the building resembles the intersecting runways from the adjacent military airport. -
RV Resort
RV Resort
A proposal for an RV Resort in China Lake, California. This structure houses restrooms, a laundry room and a community room for the residents. There are 160 spaces and hook-ups for RV's and trailers. -
Wegeforth Bowl
Wegeforth Bowl
New animal cages behind the Wegeforth Bowl at the San Diego Zoo. -
Treehouse Art Studio
Treehouse Art Studio
Tenant improvement to convert an existing storage space to an Art Studio at the San Diego Zoo. The conversion adds a small kitchen, teleconference room and HVAC upgrades. -
Treehouse Classroom
Treehouse Classroom
Tenant improvement of the existing San Diego Zoo's Treehouse Gift Shop. This project converts the existing gift shop to a classroom for children and adults. -
San Diego Sandwich Co.
San Diego Sandwich Co.
The San Diego Sandwich Company is located inside the entrance gates of the San Diego Zoo. The San Diego Zoo desired a new theme for an existing restaurant space resulting in a complete interior renovation of the dining room, serving line, Point of Sale, and food preparation area. -
Panda Shop
Panda Shop
The Panda Shop is a 1,465 square foot retail shop located in the Panda Canyon of the San Diego Zoo. The shop is designed to mimic a rustic Chinese outdoor marketplace that had been pieced together over time. The central breezeway, adorned by hanging Chinese lanterns and dragon kites, is flanked by two retail wings which give the sensation of walking through a village market. Eclectic materials such as corrugated metal siding, rusted roof panels and wooden shake shingles further exemplify the piecemealed look. -
Koala Care Building
Koala Care Building
A new koala care, classroom and exhibit space at the San Diego Zoo. -
Avenue C
Avenue C
Employee lounge tenant improvement at the San Diego Zoo. -
Desert Research Center
Desert Research Center
The University of California, Irvine purchased the historic Borrego Springs Desert Club in order to convert it to an interdisciplinary research center for biologists, astronomers, anthropologists, and others. The conversion required seismic upgrades and a new roof diaphragm in order to meet the required structural needs. A new HVAC system and all new electrical was run to meet current building and electrical codes. A new kitchen, locker room, bedroom, bathrooms and showers were also added to fill the needs of the live-in professors and students. -
Classroom Building
Classroom Building
The Project consisted of the design and construction of a new two-story Classroom Building for the School of Business and Public Policy. The fully cast-in-place concrete building was designed to be compatible with the existing campus architecture, primarily constructed in the International Style. -
Youth and Teen Center
Youth and Teen Center
This LEED GOLD project consisted of the design and construction of a new Youth and Teen Center. The Center is a social and recreational facility for children aged 6 months to 18 years supporting opportunities for youth to develop their physical, social, emotional, and cognitive abilities as well as to experience achievement, leadership, enjoyment, friendship and recognition. -
Monterey Meteorology Center
Monterey Meteorology Center
The Project consists of the design and construction of a two-story Marine Meteorology Center with outdoor courtyard, located at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) Annex, Monterey, California. The building will be occupied by the Naval Research Laboratory and used in administrative, research, and ancillary functions to support their mission. -
Jacobs Center
Jacobs Center
The Project consisted of the Tenant Improvement design in unfinished shell space for the Center of Community Arts at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation, San Diego, CA. The Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation is a Non-Profit agency which partners with resident teams in the underinvested community of Southeastern San Diego with a mission of “Resident Ownership of Neighborhood Change.”
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New Years Resolution in Action29Jan
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Happy 4th of July05Jul
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Well…I’m 3002Jul
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ITS MY PARTY…29Jun
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Website Progress25Jun
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Making a Prototype23Jun
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Website Underway23Jun
New Years Resolution in Action
29 Jan 2013
Its a tradition that everyone does, but few follow through…New Years Resolutions. We make unrealistic goals that remain just that…goals. They never turn into action. This year I am determined to stick with it. A couple of good friends and I joined the CrossFit East Village gym. These guy will whip us into shape in no time!
Happy 4th of July
05 Jul 2012
I had a wonderful 4th of July with my lovely Wife, Mother, Step Father, Nephew and his friend. We had the great opportunity to spend all day at the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park. We started out the day hanging from a cable flying through the air at 40 miles per hour over tons of animals on the “Flightline Safari.” After a brief crash course we were taken to one of the high points around the park, clipped into our special harness and cable trolley and were let go for our 2/3 of a mile trip over the wild animals. Following the Flightline Safari we adorned helmets and were given another crash course on how to handle an off-road Segway. The “Rolling Safari” segway tour took us behind the scenes and gave us a change to see the wild animals up close and personal. The final event for the day was another up close and personal interaction with a cheetah as we watched it run the 100 meter track in just over 5 seconds. Top speed reached was about 65 miles per hour! As the sun set we watched the many firework shows visible from the back yard…quite a day indeed!
Well…I’m 30
02 Jul 2012I had a wonderful weekend with my friends and family for my birthday. Had the opportunity to be a kid again at Belmont Park riding roller coasters, bumper cars and laser tag. A fun filled day followed by great beer and more friends at the Regal Beagle, in Little Italy (one word). Then to top it off I had a home cooked dinner with steaks and corn with my mom, Hans, Gigi, Gretchen and of course TJ. Thanks to everyone who helped me celebrate this milestone in my life!
ITS MY PARTY…
29 Jun 2012
I have just about crossed into old-agedom. Tomorrow marks the point where I officially turn 30! Ill be living it up at Belmont Park, here in San Diego, riding roller coasters, playing laser tag, driving bumper cars and hanging out with lots of good friends. Trying to force my old ass to be a kid again!
Website Progress
25 Jun 2012Have been working diligently to get this website up and running. I have added some projects to my portfolio page. Just need to work out a few bugs for now.
Making a Prototype
23 Jun 2012
A very good friend of mine and myself are making our first silicone mold for our invention this morning. Its been a long time coming from the first proof of concept model. All the renditions and computer modeling have really paid off. The new prototype looks amazing.
Website Underway
23 Jun 2012
Well here I am, trying to figure out how to work in this wordpress template. I must admit that i was expecting a little nicer interface. The good news is that i have been been getting pretty efficient at some minor coding. Wish me luck on future updates.
