We’re excited to announce seven associate promotions at PYATOK for 2022. Senior Associates Gary Struthers, Janey Madamba, Kai Yonezawa, and Daniel Mason and new Associates Mikki Asada, Kellen Shipley, and Ray Tam have each demonstrated excellence in collaboration and leadership at PYATOK. Their contributions have not only been integral to the successful development and completion of context-sensitive, community-strengthening housing projects, but also to the richness of our office culture to the benefit and inspiration of our colleagues, particularly throughout these unusual and trying pandemic years.

New Senior Associates

• Gary Struthers, AIA, balances his extensive affordable housing experience with leadership of PYATOK’s pro bono services, including the planning and support for Oakland’s Community Cabin sites. At the office, Gary is a sought-after mentor, and plays a large role in developing our operational systems, including our newest QA/QC program and the revision of our production standards and details library. Gary recently led Gallup & Mesa Family and Transitional Age Youth Housing in San Jose into construction and is currently overseeing design of the McKay Convalescent Center in Alameda.
• Janey Madamba expertly manages affordable and senior multifamily housing projects, working closely with project owners, city agencies, and consultant teams while bringing a warm energy to her collaborations. Janey is leading design of The Village SF indigenous community services center, and will see Ancora Place break ground later this year. She is an active member of the National Organization of Minority Architects and, for the NOMA 2020 virtual conference, was selected to moderate a panel on cultural districts. In her community, Janey serves on the Board of Directors for a San Francisco cultural center and an Oakland dance theater.
• Kai Yonezawa, AIA, has applied his passion for impactful urban housing to complete award-winning projects including Jones Berkeley mixed-use TOD and the all-electricSt. Paul’s Commons supportive housing and day center. Kai is currently guiding construction of Nesbit Family Housing in Seattle and design of Balboa Reservoir Phase 1 Blocks C and D, and Mahonia Glen in Santa Rosa, where his schematic refinements secured significant cost savings. Kai co-leads the firm’s interior architecture practice as well as our advocacy for building electrification and resilient design strategies.
• Daniel Mason, AIA, LEED AP, is an adept project manager who consistently applies his commitment to high-quality design. Daniel helps lead PYATOK’s housing delivery innovations team – advancing prefabrication, mass timber, and other outside-the-box construction methods – and the modernization of office workspaces, infrastructure, and PM platforms. His current projects include The Laureate student housing in Berkeley, Blue Bird Village mixed-income residential and farm community in Brentwood, and several multifamily housing projects on the Peninsula.

New Associates

• Mikki Asada, AIA, engages her strong technical skillset and diverse project experience to enrich Bay Area communities through thoughtful, inclusive growth. A versatile and attentive architect, Mikki can refine a project at any stage while inspiring the design team. She is equally talented leading projects through entitlements – including for 2700 International and Lake Merritt BART TOD – as through construction documents and project delivery coordination.
• Kellen Shipley, AIA, pursues creative solutions to California’s housing crisis while promoting architecture and interior design excellence. Kellen contributes to PYATOK’s mission through project work, in-office events, and in service to the community. He recently coordinated to completion the award-winning, two-acre Alta Madrone affordable family development in Sonoma, and oversaw the design documents for Caritas Homes Phase 1  in downtown Santa Rosa, finding innovative ways to keep the projects within budget while preserving superior design quality. Kellen is currently at work on the five-story West Grand & Brush, housing at an important gateway between Downtown and West Oakland.
• Ray Tam, LEED GA, has leveraged his passion for entrepreneurial and technological innovation into new directions in how we think and approach our work. Ray’s contributions can be seen on the volumetric modular, mixed-income Coliseum Connections, the senior housing projects at Cranes Landing and Tabora Gardens, and the market-rate AERO Apartments at Alameda Point. Ray is currently overseeing construction administration for Gallup & Mesa, our first new-construction project in San Jose.

Our heartfelt congratulations to these illustrious individuals, and to the paths they continue to forge at PYATOK!