PEOPLE

Steve Buchholz

Principal, COO
LEED AP

Stephen has a strong background in both architectural design and project management. He has been with the firm for more than 37 years, and in his role as COO and Director of Project Management has led the overall management and coordination of design projects as well as construction documents. He has demonstrated problem-solving skills, client communication, and extensive project development experience making him a top choice for complex projects. His experience spans diverse building types, including residential, commercial, data centers, performing arts venues, and religious centers.

Licensed Architect, California

Bachelor of Architecture, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Professional Organizations:
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

Richard Kozono

Principal, President

Richard brings a rigorous design sensibility and decades of architectural leadership to the firm’s most complex and ambitious projects. With a career spanning a wide range of building types, including office, residential, hotel and retail projects, he is known for shaping clear architectural ideas that balance conceptual strength, technical precision, and real-world performance. As a principal, he leads design from vision through execution, guiding multidisciplinary teams while maintaining a hands-on approach to form, materiality, and spatial experience. A trusted partner to clients and collaborators, he excels at translating strategic goals into architecture that is both expressive and enduring. Throughout his career, Richard’s work has been recognized for design excellence and thoughtful integration within its urban and environmental context.

Licensed Architect, California

Bachelor of Architecture, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Eric Lundquist

Principal, CFO / President
LEED AP

Eric is the CFO of Heller Manus and during his 47-year career, over 37 of which has been with Heller Manus, he has led as a design director, master planner and project leader for extensive key USA and international projects. He is responsible for design, coordination, and management in theory and practice, and has demonstrated problem-solving, critical thinking and team leadership in eco-city planning, sustainable building design, tall building design, building construction, and technical solutions. With perseverance and patience, he has implemented professional knowledge to solve various problems in urban construction, using new techniques to analyze the processes of complex projects and respond quickly and accurately in key steps. He has proven to be skilled at communicating with all members of the team to develop a shared vision and foster a high-quality project. He consistently delivers enhancements and solutions that drive customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Licensed Architect, California

Master of Arts, Architecture, University of Virginia
Bachelor of Science, Architecture, University of Virginia

Qian (Kevin) Yi

Principal, CEO

Qian Yi focuses on sustainable building technology, urban neighborhood development, housing design, commercial building design, and transportation facility design. With more than 25 years of experience at Heller Manus Architects, Qian has leveraged his strong interpersonal skills to liaise with clients and consultants on projects in the United States. He also serves as a project architect and planner for many of the firm’s projects worldwide. Qian excels at analyzing client needs and developing project programs with design solutions that meet both client expectations and budget requirements. His responsibilities include conducting code compliance research, managing permitting issues, and participating in the entire construction process.

Licensed Architect, California

Master of Science, Architecture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Master of Science, City Planning, Tsinghua University, Beijing
Bachelor of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing

Clark Manus

FAIA | Founding Principal
HFKIA, HRAIC, HAIA, HJIA

Clark Manus, FAIA, is the Founding Principal of Heller Manus Architects, the 87th President of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and former Oakland Planning Commissioner. The convergence of these leadership roles demonstrates Clark’s stature in design, practice, civic engagement, and architecture. Over Clark’s more than 40-year career, he has had a profound influence on the character of San Francisco and Oakland's built environment. His experience encompasses a wide range of new and reconstruction projects including resi­dential, commercial, hospitality, civic, rehabilitation/adaptive re-use, performance facilities, retail, and urban design plans in the San Francisco Bay Area and China. Clark is recognized for his expertise in complex urban, mixed-use buildings and master planning projects, especially in difficult approval environments. The collaboration with Ron Klemencic of MKA, they pioneered the performance-based structural design for high-rise residential towers in a high seismic zone. Both Clark and HM have received numerous honors and awards.

As the AIA’s 87th President, Clark was the voice of the AIA. He led initiatives on healthy, sustainable and resilient communities, including disaster planning and energy efficiency. Experiencing increased globalization, Clark led the inaugural AIA foreign trade mission to India with the U.S. Department of Commerce, to promote opportunities abroad for AIA members, as well as expanding collaboration with foreign professional organizations. Clark’s AIA leadership strengthened alliances with the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and Clinton Global Initiative (CGI).

Following the 1989 earthquake, Clark became a key advisor to Mayor Agnos, subsequently, chairing successive Mayoral Citizen Advisory Committees (CAC) over two decades, and emerging as a civic leader that began with orchestrating the catalytic Embarcadero Design Assessment Team (DAT). The DAT precipitated the removal of the damaged Embarcadero Freeway in 1992, thereby enabling the reclamation and transformation of the Central Embarcadero, and setting the stage for the visionary Transbay area plan that enabled the rebirth of Downtown, the Rincon Hill neighborhood, and the adjacent Transbay residential and transit district. As a vocal activist for resilient communities, public interest design and urban advocacy issues affecting policies and planning, he has served on many boards that benefited the urban fabric in the San Francisco Bay Area. He continues to share his knowl­edge and vision as a leader, a keynote speaker, and as an urban design critic.

Licensed Architect, California

Master of Architecture, University of Pennsylvania
B.A., Environmental Design & Psychology, UB, University of Buffalo

Professional Organizations:
Former Oakland Planning Commissioner
American Institute of Architects (AIA), 87th President Architecture for Humanity, Board of Directors SF Friends of City Planning, Treasurer San Francisco Transbay CAC, Chair AIA Haiti Regional Plan Advisory, Chair Mayor’s Ocean Beach Vision Council, Director

Jeffrey Heller

FAIA | Founding Principal

Jeffrey Heller FAIA founded the firm in 1984 with Jim Leake. In 1994, the firm became Heller Manus when Clark Manus, who was with Jeffrey from the beginning, became his partner. The firm has established a reputation for influencing architecture and urban design in the Bay Area, nationally and internationally.

Jeffrey’s experience covers a broad range of professional endeavors. He is a leader in the profession and green movement with some of the first sustainable architecture and large scale urban planning projects in the US, Russia, and China, including:

• First LEED Gold office tower in the sister cities of San Francisco and Shanghai
• First LEED Platinum neighborhood development master plan
• LEED Platinum 181 Fremont, #1 Project of the Decade by the San Francisco Chronicle
• Sustainable/livable master plan for many cities in China

Jeffrey is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. He has been a recipient of several awards and honors, including numerous AIA design awards, MITArchA Alumni Achievement Award, and various professional organizations’ awards. He is particularly proud of receiving the National AIA Honor Award, ‘Citation for Excellence in Urban Design’. He has been a guest lecturer and speaker at various academic and professional venues for more than 20 years.

Licensed Architect, California

Master of Science, Architecture and Urban Design, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science, Architecture and Urban Design, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Professional Organizations:
American Institute of Architects
Bay Area Council

Matt Babcock

Associate

Matt has a background working for contractors, developers, and architects, and brings a thorough understanding of the individual goals of each profession. He started his career in construction rehabilitating Frank Lloyd Wright’s E. Robert Davenport House in River Forest, IL, and appreciates building structures and working with contractors in the field.

Architecturally his background is in multi-family residential, commercial, hospitality, retail, and landscape projects. Prior to joining Heller Manus in 2018 he worked on large hotel remodels along the west coast. He also has experience with developing master plans and entitlement packages for developers and big-box companies.

Licensed Architect, California

Bachelor of Science, Architectural Studies, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Priya Balasubramanian

Senior Associate
LEED AP

Priya has over 7 years of design experience and has a dual degree in architecture and interior design. She has played a wide range of roles in a variety of project types including multi-family residential, mixed-use, hotel, senior living facilities, and public libraries. Priya has also done code research, concept and design development, project renderings, construction documents, and construction administration tasks including shop drawing reviews and punch lists. She is adept at using various software including Revit and AutoCAD. She is NCIDQ certified interior designer currently working towards her architectural license.

Master of Fine Arts, Interior Design, College of Design, Iowa State University
Bachelor of Architecture, School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University, Chennai, India

Professional Organizations:
U.S. Green Building Council

Sharon Howard

Accountant

Sharon has been responsible for the accounting operations of Heller Manus Architects for more than 30 years and has developed a deep understanding of the financial processes that support architectural projects from early design phases through completion. She brings a consistent, detail-oriented approach to managing billing across multiple project stages. Sharon values the collaborative culture of Heller Manus and the diversity of projects that make the work both challenging and rewarding. Outside of work, she enjoys Pilates, gardening, and spending time with her two sons.

Jongkwan (JK) Kim

Senior Associate, Design Director
LEED AP

Jongkwan (JK) has over 22 years relevant architecture and design experience with a strong background designing multiple building typologies of varying scale both within the United States and internationally. Dedicated to transforming spaces and pushing creative boundaries as a design professional. Over the past 20 years, Jongkwan has consistently delivered front-end design excellence for projects that leave a lasting impression. Having an innate ability to combine aesthetics, functionality, and innovation, he has carved a niche in the architectural world. Specializing in the design of high-rise structures, healthcare facilities, mixed-use developments, workplace environments, master planing, and justice centers, Jongkwan thrives on tackling complex challenges head-on.

Licensed Architect, California

Master of Architecture, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Bachelor of Engineering, Architecture of Dongguk University, Korea

Hao In Kuan

Director of Marketing and Public Relations

Hao In leads marketing and communications at Heller Manus Architects, overseeing proposals, digital platforms, editorial coverage, and awards. Specializing in architecture, design, and real estate development, she works closely with principals and project teams to clearly communicate the firm’s design intent, values, and the significance of its work. Hao In brings a thoughtful, detail-oriented approach to positioning Heller Manus Architects’ work within both local and national conversations. Previously, she worked as a marketing and design consultant on luxury residential towers and world-class commercial facilities in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Jonathan Kurtzman

Associate, IT Manager

Since 1989, Jonathan has developed extensive expertise in architectural design through his work in firms across Chicago, Paris, and San Francisco. At Heller Manus Architects, where he has contributed since 2000, Jonathan has played a key role in all phases of design and documentation for diverse projects, including residential, mixed-use, commercial, and international. His overall portfolio encompasses a broad spectrum of building types and contexts, reflecting his adaptability and global perspective. Jonathan is recognized for integrating advanced computing into architectural practice, enhancing both design innovation and project delivery.

Master of Architecture, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Sheng (Sam) Li

Senior Associate, Asia Regional Manager

Sheng (Sam) Li has been with Heller Manus for over 17 years and has excellent managerial skills and strong experience in master planning and architectural design in Asia. His efforts as the Region Manager of Shanghai-based Heller Manus International have contributed to its dynamic growth and success throughout China fostered by strong professional relationships with clients, decision-makers, community organizations, and local design firms.

Bachelor of Civil Engineering, Tong Ji University, Shanghai, China

Sattaveesa (Satta) Sahu

Designer
LEED GA

Satta has over 11 years of professional experience working in San Francisco, UK, and India on a broad range of projects from multi-family residential, institutional, commercial and interiors. She has collaborated with clients, consultants, contractors, and project managers in a variety of roles from project designer to team leader. She has worked in a variety of phases including entitlement, schematic, design development and construction documents. With an educational background on advancing the materialization of architecture through the synthesis of advanced technologies, craft techniques, and an understanding of natural material, she has had experience in focusing on the principle of design-through-making.

Master of Architecture, Design & Make, AA School of Architecture
Bachelor of Architecture, University School of Architecture and Planning, New Delhi

Dan Zhou

Associate, Project Architect
LEED AP BD+C

As an architect and senior designer, Dan brings a thoughtful approach that considers a city’s historical context and geographic character. She applies international planning perspectives and advanced architectural techniques to create sustainable urban environments. Dan has worked on projects across Asia, North America, and the Middle East, including urban planning, commercial office complexes, transportation hubs, healthcare and judicial facilities, residential developments, and historic neighborhoods. Her design approach emphasizes collaboration—aligning stakeholder needs and delivering practical, innovative solutions that meet client goals and budget requirements.

Licensed Architect, California

Master of Science, Architecture, Texas Tech University
Master of Science, Architecture, Tongji University, China
Bachelor of Architecture, Shenyang Jianzhu University, China

Professional Organizations:
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)