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Boutique Size, Big Ideas

Our Unique Approach

Jacoby Architects is an award winning architecture firm that focuses on creating one-of-a-kind projects. Our passion, our custom approach, and our relentless care generate highly innovative designs and unparalleled client service; a service that has been described by clients as feeling like a part of our family. Every project that we tackle gets the attention of our entire firm as we look for opportunity in every square inch to make it the next, most special project we have completed.

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Our Philosophy

Our philosophy is built upon listening.  Clients like us because we are friendly, attentive, and put simply – we just care more! When we leave our egos at the door, it allows us to create designs that are entirely appropriate for the client, for the building, and for the site. We never try to force a style or a look; because if you’re not excited, then we’re not excited.

More Care than at Grandma's

We care more. This isn’t just a job for us; it’s something we live for and even dream about. And your project isn’t just a project--it becomes our passion. We are personally invested in the outcome and will work tirelessly to achieve a fantastic result. The fact that we are extremely selective with the projects that we take on allows us to make something that not only you will be proud of, but we will be proud of as well.

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Family Owned & Operated

From one generation to the next, our firm has experience that spans over 4 decades. And having our name on the business means that we take an extra amount of pride in the work that we and our staff create. We treat our employees like family and rely on core values of communication, commitment, and care to interact with each other and with our clients. When you work with us, you will receive the same personalized client service, exceptional designs, and customized buildings the Jacoby name has become known for.

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Measure Thrice, Cut Once

We check our documents obsessively. We pride ourselves on the quality of our documents and are constantly praised by contractors, facilities managers, and even code officials for the accuracy and care that goes into the sheets. Our drawing sets are beautiful, packed with information, and most importantly they hold up during construction, further minimizing change orders and confusion to save you valuable time and money.

A Meaningful Process

Wide Open Studio

We maintain an open studio environment where the principal and staff are at any given moment aware of a project’s status. We are big on collaboration within our firm, realizing that open communication within our team translates to better communication with our consultants and a higher quality end product for our clients. We encourage our staff to ask questions and utilize as many perspectives as possible to help inspire our designs and resolve whatever challenges come up during the life of a project. In our firm, we are constantly learning from each other, from our consultants, and from our clients. Our flat hierarchy allows for everyone in the office to understand the global vision of a project and be able to make the decisions necessary to keep that global vision intact.

The All-Important Idea Phase

Our custom building designs develop in the all-important idea phase where meaning is introduced into the design, where reality is suspended for a moment, where concepts grow without restriction, and where imagination becomes empathetic as we close our eyes and experience how visitors will react as they enter our buildings. Our early sketches allow us to freely explore, discover, and break boundaries before the building takes on the physics of construction, regulatory codes, and dimensionality. Without this sketching phase, our buildings would have no conceptual framework, no meaning behind their shape, and no reason for anyone to notice a difference between them and a big-box store.

Crazy Big Tool Box

We love the process of creation. Balancing the freedom of working with our hands, with the technical rigor of state-of-the-art software keeps our imaginations sharp and ready to overcome whatever design challenges might arise. We optimize all resources at our disposal to work more efficiently, communicate more effectively, and produce the highest quality deliverables and services. We are always looking for the best way to do something, whether that means utilizing a new system or software or perfecting a tried and true practice. Our design process always results in customization; we will build you something special and unique that satisfies your needs and inspires everyone who steps foot in the space.

First Discovery

Great architecture (and by great we mean architecture that inspires people to do and be more) exists first in the conceptual development stage with nothing but an open mind to evolve it. Here, we test the impossible, the possible, flush out bad ideas, harness good ideas, and eventually, through enough studies and with project realities in place, the building begins to create itself. The process of discovery in turn leads to solutions that are custom and entirely specific to each particular building design.

A Dedicated Team

Joe Jacoby

President | Director of Design

Kraig Wilkes

Project Architect | Sustainability Coordinator

Sanae Adams

Project Architect

Eric Jacoby

Principal | Project Architect

Khue Ho

Architectural Designer | Interior Designer

Koki Nagawa

Architectural Designer

Alina Kowalczyk

Project Manager

Amy Jacoby

Accounting

Kat Nix

Business Development

Robert Jacoby

Project Architect | Founder

 

Joe Jacoby

Optimist, visionary, leader—these are just a few of our favorite things about Joe. Owner of Jacoby Architects, he earned his Bachelor and Master of Architecture from UC Berkeley. Well-traveled, Joe spent a few years practicing architecture in San Francisco and London. Always sketching and creating in the office, Joe looks for every opportunity to make spaces interesting. Driving the conceptual foundation of our projects, from imagination to construction, he seeks to find the wow factor in each of our clients’ unique lists of spaces and programs. Inspired by the mountains and deserts of Utah, his designs complement the site while providing for the needs of the building’s occupants. One to dislike “can’t”, Joe can provide you with the stunning and functional building you’re looking for.

 

Kraig Wilkes

As a northern Utah native growing up in a small town, Kraig attained an early appreciation for the beauty of nature and the importance of sustainability. With a family of close-knit DIYers, he became well-versed in the creative process and in the critical role that teamwork can play in accomplishing a common goal. Kraig discovered Jacoby Architects while earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture from the University of Utah. Now as a Project Architect, Kraig is often the right-hand man and go-to guy of the office. His patience, good-natured attitude, care, and expertise translate to complete quality in the buildings he skillfully designs.

 

Khue Ho

Khue joins our team all the way from Vietnam. With an M.A. degree in Interior Design from Sheffield Hallam University, Khue’s breadth of knowledge, based on her experiences working in the interior design world of Vietnam, has become a valuable resource for our entire firm. Her design work is characterized by empathy and awareness, the same traits she displays in her interpersonal communications. Khue not only works incredibly hard but plays hard too. She enjoys traveling, and while Europe has been her favorite destination to date, she’s looking forward next to exploring the various regions of Peru.

 

Koki Nagawa

Growing up half of his life in South Carolina and the other half in Japan, Koki has a unique perspective on how different people interact with spaces. After graduating high school in Japan, Koki made the decision to move alone to Salt Lake City and start his college education at the University of Utah. After going through the architecture program in the midst of the COVID pandemic, Koki graduated with an MS in architectural studies. After coming across Jacoby Architects online, he fell in love with their concept and approach to a project, and with great love and passion for all outdoor activities, Koki wants to stay in Utah while he learns about the professional world of architecture from his exceptional teammates.

 

Eric Jacoby

Ever the kinetic learner, Eric loves figuring out how things work and how they’re built. He is also inspired by visuals, explaining the wanderlust which has driven him to sketch old buildings across the globe. However, sketching hasn’t been his only international pursuit. After earning his bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Utah and his Master of Architecture from UC Berkeley, Eric spent two years working as an architect in San Francisco followed by three years in the busy hubs of Amsterdam, London, and Edinburgh, and the next 10+ years working here at Jacoby Architects. Pursuing his hands-on design roots, Eric also recently launched a separate product design company offering elegant and exciting pieces.

 

Robert Jacoby

After earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Idaho, Masters of Architecture from the University of Utah, and obtaining a professional license, Robert founded the firm back in 1976. Robert continues to offer hands-on guidance and wisdom cultivated from an illustrious 55+ year career in the field of architecture. While Robert now has more time to devote to his other passions including jewelry making, silversmithing, cabinetmaking, welding, painting, sketching, and landscaping (just to name a paltry few), he still maintains a strong passion for both the field of architecture and the company he originally founded.

 

Sanae Adams

Sanae joins our team from Japan, merging thoughtful modern design with a keen sense of organization. Her passion is carefully orchestrating the experience of place and proportion to create a positive impact. She first studied Law in Japan, for which she received a bachelors degree.  Then making the journey to Utah to study architecture, receiving a Masters in Architecture at the University of Utah, she is now a permanent resident of Utah.

 

Amy Jacoby

Amy’s colorful work adventures have taken her across the world; spending a year in China to teach English to children, to a temp agency in New Zealand, to a psych tech at a local farm teaching Equine Therapy, to a psych tech at the UofU psych ward, to an active real estate agent, and now keeping our accounts on track here at Jacoby Architects.  Amy’ personal motto is “Be Nice,” a simple statement that anyone in her presence senses immediately. As a member of the next generation of Jacoby’s here, we aren’t kidding when we say we are a family business.

 

Kat Nix

With a degree in Urban Ecology, and a background in managing public art, Kat has worked “architecture adjacent” almost her entire career. Her passion lies in supporting empathetic, responsive, and community-based solutions where she feels Jacoby Architects does just that.

 

Alina Kowalczyk

Native to Poland, Alina discovered her love for art and architecture. In her free time, she spends time traveling to new places, observing new trends in architecture, sketching and painting.  After moving to Utah, Alina acquired a position in an architectural firm in her first year of college, and has been actively practicing architecture since. Over the last 14 years, Alina has been involved in designing a variety of projects that include educational, public, hospitality and multi-family developments. She is adept at working with the client on design solutions that align with aesthetic and practical expectations.

Green Initiative

We are on a constant quest for more eco-friendly designs. We are experienced with achieving all levels of LEED certification, the State of Utah High Performance Building Standard, and the integration of cost-effective, energy-saving strategies into our projects. For example, the Marriott Honors Residential Scholars Community on the University of Utah Campus is LEED Gold and performs 30% better than required by code. This translates to a savings of over $20,000 per year in utilities alone.

Even our projects that do not require a LEED certification or compliance with energy standards, as best practice, include proper building orientation; natural daylighting and ventilation; well-insulated envelopes; building materials that are recycled, low embodied, and low emitting; and high-efficiency fixtures and equipment.

Awards | Honors

2021 Honor Award, Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind Elizabeth Delong School, AIA Western Mountain Region

2020 Project of the year K-12, Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind Elizabeth Delong School, Association of General Contractors of Utah

2020 Most Outstanding: Community Impact, Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind Elizabeth Delong School, Utah Construction & Design

2020 Merit Award, Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind Elizabeth Delong School, AIA Utah

2019 Excellence in Construction, Higher Education Over $5 Million, USU Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence, ABC Utah 

2019 Merit Award, Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind Openshaw Education Center, Utah Masonry Council

2018 LEED Gold Certification, Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence, U.S. Green Building Council

2018 Most Outstanding: Publisher’s Pick, Utah State University Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence, Utah Construction & Design

2018 Higher Education / Research Merit Award, Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence, ENR Regional Best Projects

2018 Interior Division Winner, Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, Vanceva World of Color Awards

2017 Honor Award, Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind Openshaw Education Center, AIA Utah

2016 Project of the year.k-12, C. Mark Openshaw School for the Deaf & Blind, Salt Lake Center Association of General Contractors of Utah

2016 Most Outstanding Higher Education Award., Utah State University Brigham City Regional Campus, Utah Construction and Design

2016 Most Outstanding K-12 project.C. Mark Openshaw School for the Deaf & Blind. Utah Construction and Design

2016 LEED Gold Certification.Utah State University, Brigham City Regional Campus .U.S. Green Building Council

2015 Outstanding Architect of The Year. Associated General Contractors of Utah

2015 Merit Design Award, University of Utah Guest House Utah Masonry Council

2015 Merit Design Award, University Of Utah Honors HouseUtah Masonry Council

2015 Best of Show ,Utah State University Brigham City Regional Campus, Utah Masonry Council

2015 Winner, USU Brigham City Campus, ABC Excellence in Construction, Commercial over $10million

2014 Merit Design Award, BYU Monte L Bean Museum, Utah Masonry council

2014 Outstanding Architect of the Year, Association of General Contractors of Utah

2013 Best of State – Public Preschool, Utah State University, Emma Eccles Jones Early Childhood Education and Research Center

2013 LEED Gold certification. University of Utah Honors BuildingU.S. Green Building Council

2012 Honorable Mention, University of Utah Guesthouse, ABC Excellence in Construction Award, (Commercial over $5 million)

2010 Best of show, Utah State University, Emma Eccles Jones Early Childhood Education and Research CenterThe Utah Masonry Council

2010 Partnership Award.Utah State University

2007 Best Mid-Mountain Lodge.Watson Shelter, Alta Ski Resort.Utah State University

General

Best Ski Hotel in Utah, Rustler Lodge, Usa Today

The Most Luxurious in Alta, Rustler Lodge, Washington Post

#1 Ski Lodge in Alta, Rustler Lodge, Trip Advisor, 2010-2015 Hall of Fame

Jacoby Architects is an award winning, full service architecture firm based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. We focus on high-quality architectural design and attentive client service.

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