Company

Team Leads

iljoong kim, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP

 

Mr. Kim is a principal architect and founder of the firm.  He is a creative thinker and technical expert in the design and construction fields with 20 years of hands on experience in a wide range of building types and scales ranging from small interior renovations, rehabilitation/ conversions, to new high rise ground up buildings.

 

For his credentials, Mr. Kim is a licensed architect registered in New York, New Jersey, and Maryland with a National Council of Architectural Registration Board (NCARB) and LEED AP Certificates. He is also a registered NYC Special Inspection Agent.  For his education, Mr. Kim graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and McGill University with Masters in architecture and urban design.

 

Prior to starting his own practice,  Mr. Kim had worked as a design lead, senior architect, project manager, and master planner for large architectural firms in the U.S. and Canada such as Stantec, S.O.M, and Gensler.  He also served as a construction managing officier (first lieutenant) for the Korean Army. 

Mr. Kim also inspected over 300 hundred NYC school buildings as a Senior Architect consultant for NYC SCA BCAS projects with WSP (formerly Parsons Brinkerhoff).

Kwan Chi, PE

 

Mr. Chi is an engineering partner in Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) engineering.  With over 25 years of experience in the field, Mr. Chi helps ijkim with developing sustainable engineering solutions tailored to each project needs and site context.

© Copyright ijKim architect pllc

Master Planning

Engineering

:

Firm

 

ijKim architect pllc is an award winning architectural firm based in New York and New Jersey.  The firm consists of interdisciplinary thinkers and experts in the field who are dedicated to create design and engineering solutions that are economical, timeless, and engaging while aligning with client’s goals, aspirations, and financial objectives.

 

For each and every project through our creativity and technical expertise, ijkim strives to transform function and utility into fresh and practical ingenuity, ecologically sensitive and positive to surrounding communities.

 

Having designed over 100 million square feet of commercial and residential spaces, our team have the skills and discipline to deliver utmost quality within budget and time constraints.  Let us improve the quality of your life by enhancing the spaces you choose to live, work, manage, and invest in.

MBE

ijKim architect is a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) in New York, Port Authority of New York New Jersey (PANYNJ), and NYC School Construction Authority (SCA). 

 

ijkim architect is also a small business enterprise (SBE) registered at PANYNJ and a pre-qualified professional service firm for NYC SCA projects.  ijkim welcomes an opportunity to be engaged as a minority business partner for prime consultants and contractors.

(646) 770—2034

 

Houzz

 

saviv76

Relationship: Client

Project Date: March 2014

Project Price Range: more than $100,000

Efficient & Creative... two characteristics that rarely exist together, but he has it. I have never worked with someone who had great ideas and vision who could also communicate and executed them in an efficient manner. Equally important... the contractors were impressed with his thorough drawings and problem solving during construction.

My project was a full gut renovation of a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment with peculiar utility placement. He was able to translate my wants/needs into a beautiful design and was a pleasure to work with.

 

J. T.

Relationship: Client

Project Date: September 2015

Project Price: more than $100,000

Creative, responsive, incredible attention to detail!

Iljoong helped us with a gut renovation of a 2.5 bedroom, 2 bath loft. His design was beautiful and efficient, and we are very happy with the outcome. He focused on aesthetics as well as maximizing square footage (added a study with sleeping loft and amazing storage areas) and helped us navigate and expedite the permitting process. Our building is old, and when we found inevitable surprises in construction, Iljoong was thoughtful and creative in finding solutions.

He also helped us put out a bid package to several contractors and project-managed the ultimate process and team. He kept them accountable and was relentless about checking the quality of the work. We went with a more affordable and newer contractor to save money on the project but would not have been able to get the same quality of execution without Iljoong's oversight.

 

 

beatrizchung

Relationship: Colleague

Project Date: April 2014

Project Price Range: $1,000 - $9,999

I had to sell this house and found out that it had violations in the basement and attic.
I called several architects and we chose IJ Kim. The first architect came in and couldn't give us any straight answers. He sent an estimate 10 days later, with all numbers subject to change.

When IJ Kim came to see the house gave an estimate right away. Once accepted he did the drawings on that same day and the next day they were submitted. His contracting crew came in to do the work which was finished in 4 days. Inspectors came in within a month and we were good to sell the house.

I worked with many architects in the past, but no one comes close to him in high performance, responsiveness, and great advice that can save you a lot money.

I highly recommend him to my friends, clients and family.

 

 

Angie’s List

 

05/13/2014 – Magali Carmenaty

He made sure we got good results from department of building, handled any questions quickly, and prepared us for any issues. All of the work went smoothly and according to his plan. We were looking at other, local architects and for the same price he did everything they did except he was willing to do the work almost immediately. Everything we asked of him, he was a step ahead. He got things for us before we even knew we needed them. Our realtor is even working with him now almost exclusively.

 

Description of work:

He surveyed the house, drew up plans (we were legalizing a few rooms due to original construction issues), made recommendations and got plans approved. He also obtained work permits, made sure all of the work was certified, and done properly.

 

06/02/2014 – Douglas Souza

He advised me in my option to create more space in my bedroom.

Description of work:

I called him for a service and received more than consultation. It sounded a crash course.....
He focused to understand my objectives and guide me to the best solution and to what was feasible to be done if not why.
Very honest and highly professional in his feedback.
This is a clear example of placing customer first and guarantee of returning customers..

 

05/05/2017 – jeremy yoo

The work was thorough and comprehensive

 

Description of work:

IJ Kim came on time and did a diagnostic analyst of a practice I am going to purchase. I wanted to know if there were any building code violations or any other headaches that I might want to know about. This type of job required a person that had experience and knowledge of building architecture and the rules/regulations. He did a thorough evaluation and provided me with a thorough diagnoses. I felt better knowing that I got this done.

 

08/10/2017 – Sankar Sury

Went well, iljoong kim had a lot of insights and recommendations on my inquires, pointed out a lot of stuff I would have never considered...

Description of work:

Consultation

 

Google

 

  Madang NJ

A talented problem solver with great ideas and technical expertise. IJ helped us transform an old standalone building vacant for over 10 years into a beautiful restaurant. During the process, I found IJ to be creative, efficient and attentive to details.

In detail, his work involved a zoning permit with variance through public hearing and architectural design and construction drawings. The work also included interior and engineering components such as structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, civil, landscape, traffic as well as necessary work permits. IJ took a surgical approach finding design solutions that can maximize the use of space (both interior and exterior) and retrofit the old building in compliance with current codes and place all the heavy cooking and mechanical equipment necessary for operating a restaurant. He came up with a bold design solution that is beautiful, dramatic, engaging, and yet cost effective. Also he was there throughout the construction trouble shooting issues and providing alternative design solutions as necessary in response to change in site conditions.

At my new restaurant, “Madang” (a modern Korean restaurant and cafe in Englewood Cliffs, NJ), customers have complemented on the beautiful dining space.

Overall, IJ is highly knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with.

 

 Carson Wong

As a small business planning for a complete overhaul of our office space, we had no idea where to begin. Thankfully, IJKim Architect (and Iljoong himself) came to the rescue. From designing the space for a medical practice to selecting the materials for tiles and trims, Iljoong was instrumental in bringing our vision to life. Furthermore, he also personally checked in with the contractors to make sure issues were dealt with in a timely manner.

IJKim Architect has been a godsend for office renovation. Thank you!

Reviews