Our Company

“We grind everything down into reality without sacrificing the dream. We refine everything until a final goal is achieved that fulfills our clients dreams and the reality of the project in terms of budget and government regulations. That is our vision.” - Jim Heimler, President, JHAI.

James Heimler, Architect, Inc. (JHAI), the result of a lifetime marriage to architecture, is an extremely energetic and quality-oriented general practice architecture firm. Our architects are detail-oriented experts. We are committed to exceeding your expectations, saving you money, and giving you educated, quality architectural services.  Our architects will assess your needs and design wishes honestly, providing you with the best design options.

Jim Heimler, JHAI's President, has been in architecture since 1974. His architectural expertise is coupled with his care for the environment and his clients. He has been involved in over 2000 projects and has worked with over 900 clients dating back to 1982. His projects are located throughout Southern California and involve new, modernizations, green projects, additions, remodels, rehabilitations, code upgrades, insurance issues, and consultations. He received the 2003 Merit Award for Design Excellence from the American Institute of Architects San Fernando Valley Chapter, for the “ACF Property Management Building” in Sherman Oaks, CA (see photo top left). In 1998 he earned the Citation Award for Design Excellence from American Institute of Architects San Fernando Valley Chapter, for the “Scotty Building” in Sherman Oaks, CA. He also attained the National Design Award accredited to California State University Northridge in 1986. He is a member of the AIA and USGBC and is LEED-AP certified. Jim was a chair and board member for LINC (non-profit housing developer) for over 15 years. He has architecture licensing in the states of California, Nevada, and Washington. He spends time meeting with clients and calls them regularly to ensure their project is moving in the right direction. He educates his community about the importance of sustainability, and incorporates sustainability seamlessly into his architectural designs. He is dedicated to innovative, sustainable design. He strives to incorporate sustainable design whenever possible and his personal life is also intricately linked to providing holistic views of sustainable life on this planet. He is a leader in sustainable and green design. He personally applies green principles in his own home and life and encourages it for all JHAI employees.

Arnie LeVine has been a Project Architect at JHAI since 1994. Arnie has 35 years of experience in the management and preparations of design and construction documents, specifications for institutional, commercial, governmental, industrial, and residential buildings. He is a licensed architect in the state of California. He has managed projects from the schematic phase through construction administration. He has worked on design and construction of a modular/portable classroom for the Ventura County School District and has provided expediting and site planning services for clients of Sprung Instant Structures which are pre-fabricated membrane structures.  His work with Trader Joe's Company, among others, almost always involves complete construction documents, including site plans - whether new, remodeled or modified. His projects have included new construction, additions, remodels, modernizations, rehabilitation’s and tenant improvements. He received the 2003 Merit Award for Design Excellence from the American Institute of Architects San Fernando Valley Chapter, for the “ACF Property Management Building” in Sherman Oaks, CA. In 1998 he earned the Citation Award for Design Excellence from American Institute of Architects San Fernando Valley Chapter, for the “Scotty Building” in Sherman Oaks, CA.

Mark Richards has been a Project Architect with JHAI since 1996. He is a licensed architect in the state of California. He is also a Certified Access Specialist (CASp) and Division of the State Architect (DSA) certified. He has 16 years of experience in the management and preparations of design and construction documents for various types of projects. These projects have included new construction, additions, remodel and tenant improvements. He has worked on many projects for LAUSD including remodel work, modernization and barrier removal projects, certification of modular classroom buildings, shade structure and lunch shelter projects, and construction administration services at various schools. The work on these projects involved site visits to verify the existing field conditions, complete construction documents and specifications, construction cost estimating, submittal and coordinating with DSA for plan approval and construction administration.

Since our founding in 1985 by our Principal, Jim Heimler, JHAI has gained a myriad of project experience. JHAI works on commercial, single family, multifamily, industrial, and institutional projects.  As a general practice firm, we take pride in being able to suit our practice to your diverse – or specific – needs. We draw on our wide knowledge of all types of architecture when working on our projects. Our award-winning designs are aesthetic and functional. A thorough understanding of our clients’ wants and needs has enabled us to design efficient and enjoyable spaces, conforming to architectural integrity and program requirements. Our clients have praised us for our expeditious, quality work, saving them money, and our friendly and honest staff. We have been rehired by numerous satisfied clients for additional projects.

JHAI is the result of a lifetime marriage to architecture. We are an extremely energetic and quality-oriented general practice architecture firm. Our architects are detail-oriented experts and our staff are skilled. We are committed to exceeding your expectations, saving you money, and giving you educated, quality architectural services.  Our architects will assess your needs and design wishes honestly, providing you with the best design options.

We can help make your dreams a reality and put into action the ideas you have for your home, business or office. We can come up with a design to suit your wishes and budget and assist you with city and government paperwork and legal processes. We save you money at every opportunity in the present and in the future by designing buildings that are energy efficient. We approach each project with honesty, so if a design idea won’t work, we tell you and suggest an alternative. In some instances, new construction isn’t needed at all – one client came to us wanting to redesign their entire living room. We went to their home to assess the work that needed to be done, and found that they could get the effect that they wanted simply by rearranging their furniture. This saved them from the cost and busyness of renovating their home. We strive to find the best solution for each individual project we get.

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