QKA | Quattrocchi Kwok Architects

Master of Architecture — University of California, Berkeley
Bachelor of Arts in Architecture — University of California, Berkeley

Since establishing QKA in 1986, Mark Quattrocchi has been at the helm as a lead architect, innovator and renowned industry authority. With K-12 design expertise spanning more than 30 years, he is an authority on designing environments for 21st century teaching and learning. Quattrocchi’s passion for creating sustainable learning environments is realized through QKA’s keen attention to energy-conscious design and its driving desire to prepare students for the global marketplace.

Quattrocchi frequently publishes substantive architecture-, historic renovation- and sustainability-related articles, and regularly speaks at events and workshops, including California’s Coalition for Adequate School Housing (C.A.S.H.) and the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) conferences. He has guest lectured for the Department of Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, and is past president for the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Redwood Empire Chapter. Quattrocchi currently serves on the editorial board for the trade publication School Construction News and is a sought after expert frequently quoted in media interviews. He is routinely called upon by NBC Bay Area to participate in broadcast segments about innovative school design.

Quattrocchi volunteers on numerous community boards and committees, including currently serving as the president of the board for Paws for Purple Hearts, a nationwide program dedicated to helping heal returning combat veterans by teaching those with psychological scars, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), to train service dogs for their comrades with physical disabilities. He is regularly invited to speak with students about the architecture profession.

Master of Architecture ­ — Montana State University
Bachelor of Architecture ­ — Montana State University

Steve Kwok has decades of experience leading teams in the planning, designing and construction management of large-scale public education projects. He possesses considerable knowledge of public agency approval and funding agencies, and is well known for his expertise in implementing bond programs and master plans. As the campus consulting architect for Sonoma State University (Rohnert Park, Calif.) and California Maritime Academy (Vallejo, Calif.), he regularly advises on facilities planning and project implementation for the colleges. Kwok is an authority on creating spaces for specific disciplines, such as STEM education, maker spaces and tinker labs.

Kwok offers substantive presentations to professional groups and conferences, including the County Schools Facilities Consortia (CSFC) on design and construction topics, and he frequently visits high school classrooms to offer an introduction to the art and science of architecture. Active in the community, Kwok volunteers on numerous boards and committees. He is currently on the Building & Grounds Committee for Sonoma Academy (Santa Rosa, Calif.), the Novato Unified School District (Novato, Calif.) Facilities Committee and the Ravenswood City Schools (East Palo Alto, Calif.) Facilities Stakeholders Committee. He has previously served on the San Marin High School (Novato, Calif.) STEM Steering Committee and the Board of Directors for the Pacific Coast Air Museum (Santa Rosa, Calif.).

Bachelor of Architecture — California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Jim Theiss is head partner of QKA’s Construction Administration department. He has an unwavering track record of successfully managing people, projects and resources – as well as navigating challenges – to achieve superior results for K-12 clients. Facilitating prompt and collaborative construction communication, he developed a web-based database that allows all parties to track progress and resolution of all construction issues, including document modifications. Theiss’ experience includes serving as lead architect and construction administrator for numerous comprehensive campus projects, including the new Heritage High School, an innovative campus serving 2,200 students in Brentwood, Calif.

Theiss currently serves as a board member for the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Redwood Empire Chapter and is actively involved in several community organizations, including the Windsor Kids Festival, sponsored by Redwood Gospel Mission, which provides backpacks and school supplies to financially challenged families prior to the start of school year.

Bachelor of Arts in Architecture — University of California, Berkeley

Aaron Jobson comes from a family of educators and has a passion for creating dynamic, sustainable learning environments. His philosophy includes pursuing extensive community outreach and participation, allowing for client-and community-responsive design. He is known for his innovative projects, including American Canyon High School (American Canyon, Calif.), one of the highest scoring Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) verified projects in California. He is also one of the creators of Folia, a classroom building solution that dramatically reduces design, permitting and construction time on projects to market. His work, passion and advocacy has garnered his reputation as a thought leader on how school facility design directly impacts academic success – a subject on which Aaron spoke about at SXSWedu, among other national education conferences.

A founding member of the School Energy Coalition, Jobson is a legislative advocate for energy efficiency measures affecting schools and a leading voice on sustainability. He contributed to the California Division of the State Architect’s “Handbook for Grid Neutral Schools” and serves on CHPS’ board of directors.

Jobson led QKA’s conversion to an all-BIM (building information modeling) practice and continues to be a leader in incorporating technological advancements throughout the design and construction process. In 2015, he was certified as an Accredited Learning Environments Planner (ALEP) by the Association for Learning Environments (formerly the Council for Educational Facilities Planners International – CEFPI).

Bachelor of Architecture — California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

With more than 30 years of experience, Debra McGuire has served as Associate/Project Manager for modernization and new construction projects for several school districts. Currently McGuire has a leading role in a variety of projects: modernization projects for the Mountain View Whisman (Mountain View, Calif.), master planning for the Mountain View Los Altos (Mountain View, Calif.), new construction for multiple campuses for Napa Valley (Napa, Calif.), and modernization projects for Dixie (San Rafael, Calif.) school districts. She manages seismic mitigation projects for the Vallejo City Schools (Vallejo, Calif.) and Johns Swett (Rodeo, Calif.) school districts. Additionally, she oversees master planning projects for the Napa Valley Unified (Napa, Calif.) and Piedmont Unified (Piedmont, Calif.) school districts.

McGuire’s proficiency in project coordination and construction documents is complemented by her ability to listen to clients and translate their aspirations into built form. She also serves as an in-house resource for building and accessibility code compliance, and is an integral part of developing office standards, including new quality control review procedures.

Bachelor of Architecture — California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

With 20 years of school design experience, John Dybczak brings strong project management capabilities to educational projects, achieving success by incorporating a client’s project goals into a responsive and cost-effective design solution. He has managed the successful completion of numerous modernization and new construction projects for public schools and community colleges throughout Northern California.

Dybczak understands that the design process demands a team that is able to listen first and then lead. He regularly spearheads projects that improve the student educational experience. Dybczak is valued by clients and colleagues for being a clear communicator who is dedicated and approachable, and possesses the related ability to readily adapt to changing and challenging circumstances. He encourages a collaborative work environment at QKA and believes teamwork provides the best avenue to explore options and develop solutions that respond to client needs and desires. Dybczak is currently a member of the Cardinal Newman High School (Santa Rosa, Calif.) Board of Directors.

Bachelor of Science, Environmental Design — University of California, Davis

A Sonoma County native, Nick Stephenson has been with QKA for nearly 20 years, and has been a licensed architect since 2002. He has extensive experience with all phases of architectural services including master planning, programming, schematic design, design development and construction documentation. Well-versed in consultant coordination, green building practices and construction administration, Stephenson’s experience includes residential, hospital and commercial projects.

Serving as an Associate for more than a decade, Stephenson’s projects include the Mendocino High School Performing Arts facility (Mendocino, Calif.) and significant modernization work for Fort Bragg Middle School (Fort Bragg, Calif.) – both of which garnered design awards. His recent experience includes leading the facilities master planning for the Alameda Unified School District (Alameda, Calif.), as well as the design and master planning efforts for the Fremont Union High School District (Sunnyvale, Calif.). In 2016, he was certified as an Accredited Learning Environments Planner by the Association for Learning Environments (formerly the Council for Educational Facilities Planners International – CEFPI).

A parent of three boys, Stephenson volunteers at his son’s elementary school and coaches youth soccer, basketball and flag football. During his years at the University of California, Davis, he was a member of the Aggie’s championship football team. A certified triathlon coach, Stephenson is a volunteer with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team-in-Training program.

Bachelor of Architecture, California Polytechnic State University

With more than 25 years of education design experience and a licensed architect for 20 years, David Hansen has an impassioned focus on sustainable design practices. He has extensive experience with complex projects, such as modernizations and site design, and with a variety of building types and project delivery methods. Hansen is recognized as a thought leader and demonstrated innovator in the areas of natural lighting, energy conservation, zero net energy (ZNE) and 21st century school design, and is known for delivering high-quality service to his clients.

Hansen is currently QKA’s lead designer and project manager on the development of a ZNE campus for Fremont High School in Oakland Unified School District (Oakland, Calif.), as well as the lead designer on a new 28,500 square foot three-story district office building for San Mateo Union High School District (San Mateo, Calif.).

Hansen holds architectural licenses in California and Utah and is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED).