San Francisco’s

Jonathan started his practice, McKim-Gresh, Architects (now MAA) on November 1, 2010, to focus exclusively on the representation of building owners rather than serving the interests of general contractors.  He is passionate about design and advocates for a return to the process of rigger that true architecture requires and to this end, often argues for the concept that design, in its infancy, is a delightfully messy process, feeling that a true design firm still has drafting boards, tracing paper (yellow, of course), and glue-soaked study models lying about.  Otherwise, the design process is not achievable without intense and messy rigger.      

Prior to MAA, Jonathan was a Project Manager at Orcutt Window, a K-12 and healthcare architecture firm, where his primary role was construction administration of public-school buildings. Prelicensure, Jonathan worked for Leo A. Daly, L. Robert Kimball & Associates, Barton Associates, and Spearman Associates.

Jonathan began his career in 1998 as a drafter in his university’s Facilities Design & Management department while still in architecture school.  He graduated from Temple University and holds a Five-Year Professional bachelor’s degrees in architecture, an NCARB certificate, and is registered to practice in Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Pennsylvania. 

He was born and raised in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and now lives and works in San Francisco and Mountain View. As an advocate and activist for environmentally responsible/low carbon footprint affordable housing, Jonathan puts his actions before his words by first living in a 240 SF 1906 earthquake cottage from 2018-22 and having downsized his carbon footprint to a mere 80 SF SRO in Chinatown/North Beach. In an effort to further reduce his carbon footprint, Jonathan does not own or operate a private vehicle despite his being a lover of classic cars, especially 1970s AMC muscle cars.