John founded the office in 1994. The firm has worked on over 700 projects, ranging from the design of new homes, to renovations large and small, and the rehabilitation of historic properties in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut.

Prior to opening the office, John worked with several New York City firms such as James D’Auria Associates, Paul Segal Associates, Rubin & Smith-Miller, and Charles Boxenbaum.

John holds a Master of Architecture from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s of Architecture from the University of Virginia, where he received a graduation award for Excellence in Design, and studied abroad at the Central London Polytechnic. At Columbia University, he completed a summer program in Rome, and was honored with a Post Graduate Fellowship in Europe for a study of the design of French and English Gardens.

John is a licensed architect in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut and has NCARB accreditation to work throughout the country. He is both LEED approved and a certified green professional by the NAHB. His work has been featured in publications such as This Old House Magazine, Home Magazine, and has been repeatedly listed as one of the Gold 100 firms in Luxe Magazine.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, John served as President of the Maplewood Village Alliance for more than 25 years, as Treasurer of the Fraentzel Foundation, and has been a member of the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce. His volunteer work with the village has been recognized with the Maplewood Distinguished Service Award and the Maple Leaf Award.

Zach's career has spanned a mix of disciplines including architecture, real estate development, and furniture making.

Before joining JJA, Zach led the development of some of the Northeast's most prominent residences. Notable projects include 250 West 81st Street by Robert A.M. Stern Associates, 378 West End Avenue by Cookfox Associates, and Pratt Landing, a masterplan development on the shores of the Long Island Sound in Westchester, also by Robert A.M. Stern.

Prior to his work in development, Zach served as an architect at Kohn Pedersen Fox in New York City. Among his accomplishments was the design and execution of 500 West 21st Street, a luxury condo building along the High Line in New York City. Before that, he was a designer at Selldorf Architects, where he designed luxury residences.

Zach earned his bachelor of architecture degree from Syracuse University. He is a licensed architect in the New Jersey, New York, Minnesota and Tennessee. He also has accreditation from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards to work throughout the country.

In addition to his professional pursuits, Zach enjoys crafting bespoke furniture, playing golf and preparing for his next triathlon. He actively competes in a variety of Olympic, Half-Ironman, and Ironman distance triathlons around the world.

Zach lives in Tribeca with his wife Lauren and their son Whit.

Director of Design

With over 32 years of experience as a practicing architect, including 28 years with JJA, Tom has designed and managed over 110 projects with JJA, ranging from new custom homes and large scale renovations to small additions. Tom enjoys exploring the architecture design opportunities in all projects and creating beautifully detailed spaces for clients and their families.

Prior to joining JJA, Tom worked a number of years in NYC for a diverse collection of firms, including Junk Architects and Moger Woodson Architects, specializing in both commercial and high end residential projects. His prior experience spans from health care planning and design, to commercial interior fit-outs, to luxury apartment renovations. His wide range of experience in all aspects of the design and construction process makes him extremely knowledgeable, open-minded, and motivated to cultivate projects from idea to reality.

A graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (B Arch), Tom is a registered architect in New Jersey.

Senior Architectural Designer

Amy has worked at JJA for 30 years. During this time she has worked on dozens of projects, including new houses, house additions and renovations, and medical offices. She has taken particular pleasure in working on Historic home additions and restorations in the area.

Prior to joining JJA, Amy worked for Buttrick White and Burtis, Henry Myerberg Architect and the School Construction Authority in New York City. She worked on a range of institutional projects, including additions for schools, galleries, museums and buildings for Central Park.

Amy received her Master’s degree in Architecture from Columbia University. She studied at both Swarthmore & Barnard Colleges as an undergraduate. Amy holds architectural licenses in New Jersey and New York.

Amy has been married for 35 years, and has two grown sons. A long time resident of Maplewood & South Orange, she also enjoys spending time in coastal Maine. In her spare time, she loves taking walks with her family, friends, and especially her beagle/corgi Nikki.

Senior Architectural Designer

Derek has had the privilege of designing and managing a wide range of projects, including new custom homes, renovations, and additions, for over 17 years. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with architects, engineers, contractors, and design professionals to translate thoughtful design into detailed drawings and plans.

A proactive and talented architect, Derek has led the firm’s adoption of the latest in architectural software. Notably, he has led the firm in the domain of three-dimensional design, harnessing the power of computer-generated models and renderings to enhance design visualization.

Derek earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree from New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). In addition to his architectural qualifications, he holds a degree in Computer Science, further bolstering his technological expertise.

Outside of work, Derek actively embraces a rich and fulfilling personal life. He, along with his wife, have traveled extensively, sourcing design inspiration from around the globe. More recently, Derek has been blessed with a growing family of 4!

Architectural Designer

Hugo is an accomplished designer with over 15 years of experience in residential and commercial projects. He began his career in his hometown of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where he worked on several notable architecture offices and was part of the design team that developed projects such as Cap Cana Heritage School in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. After moving to the United States, Hugo specialized in Interior architecture, Kitchen and Bath design at several companies throughout New York, New Jersey and worked in iconic New York City buildings such as 30 Cooper Square, 247 Central Park West and the San Remo.

Hugo is an Architectural Designer with extensive expertise in 2D and 3D drafting, rendering, and project management. His educational background includes a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña and an Interior Design degree from Monroe Community College, where he graduated with distinction. He is bilingual in Spanish and English.

Hugo lives in Jersey City with his wife and three children: Daphne, Hugo, and Piper.

Ilana has over 20 years of experience in administrative operations, product development, and project management across the consumer goods and architecture industries. In her current role as Office Administrator at John James Architecture, LLC, Ilana plays a key part in keeping projects running efficiently and effectively. Ilana manages Historic Preservation Commission applications, zoning variance applications, and client communications with exceptional attention to detail and professionalism.

Previously, Ilana held a leadership role in Product Management where she directed product development and operations for high-end consumer merchandise. Her work spanned the full product lifecycle—from concept and design through manufacturing, compliance, and international logistics, driving multimillion-dollar growth and managing complex global supply chains.

Ilana has a strong understanding of municipal processes and client service. She is a certified Notary Public and holds a B.A. in Psychology from Montclair State University.

Outside of work, Ilana is dedicated to her family and community. She has been married for 18 years and is a proud mother to her teenage son. She also enjoys volunteering for organizations close to her heart and cherishes time with her beloved special-needs dog, Fred.