John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects
| Company type | Architectural practice |
|---|---|
| Industry | Architecture |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | John Friedman, Alice Kimm |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Architectural design, adaptive reuse development, public art installations |
John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects (JFAK) is a U.S.-based architectural practice founded in 1996 and located in Los Angeles, California.
History
The firm was launched by the married duo John Friedman and Alice Kimm.
John Friedman earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), followed by a Master of Architecture degree from Harvard University. Additionally, he holds a Master of Arts in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Oxford, where he was honored as California’s Newton Tatum Scholar.
Alice Kimm, who grew up in Chicago and spent part of her high school education in Seoul, obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at Cornell University and later completed a Master of Architecture at Harvard University.
JFAK’s work has received notable accolades, such as the 2022 Responsible Disruptors Award presented by Metropolis Magazine for their Open Source Homelessness Initiative (OSHI). In 2004, both Friedman and Kimm were recognized as Emerging Voices by the Architectural League of New York. Their projects have been covered extensively by leading media including The Los Angeles Times, The Architect's Newspaper, LAist, Curbed LA, and ArchDaily.
Noteworthy projects
In 2021, JFAK unveiled the Navig8 Council District 8 Homeless Navigation Center, serving as an important resource for the community. That same year, they designed the public art installation Listen In for the United Way of Greater LA. Earlier, in 2016, they completed Roberts Pavilion at Claremont McKenna College, a 144,000-square-foot recreational facility for students. Another significant project is the La Kretz Innovation Campus (LKIC), a 3.2-acre adaptive reuse development situated in Los Angeles’ Arts District that supports innovators and policymakers focused on sustainable economic growth.
The LKIC hosts the LA Cleantech Incubator (LACI) within a 61,000-square-foot converted warehouse featuring office spaces, laboratories, prototyping facilities, and venues for events. This initiative has been highlighted in respected industry outlets such as Metropolis Magazine, Wallpaper, and Dezeen, emphasizing its contribution to sustainable innovation and urban revitalization.