Team

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Jeff Zbikowski

Principal,AIA

Bachelor of Science in Architecture, Washington University in St. Louis

Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Washington University in St. Louis

Master of Architecture, University of Southern California

Jeff Zbikowski is the founder and Principal of JZA Architecture, a Los Angeles-based architecture and design firm specializing in the residential sector. With over 10 years in the industry, Jeff leads the firm with a high design and business-focused approach. A Seattle native, Jeff attended college at Washington University in St. Louis where he majored in Architecture and Economics. Upon moving to Los Angeles in 2010, he attended graduate school at the University of Southern California where he studied Architecture and Urban Development. Jeff’s previous experience includes five years at Killefer Flammang Architects in Santa Monica, where he specialized in market rate and affordable housing. In 2017, he founded Jeff Zbikowski Architecture to expand his expertise further into the affordable housing market. Leveraging his multifaceted education, work experience and in-depth knowledge of real estate and development regulations and policies, Jeff provides high-level, developer-driven service to each client.

Meet Our Team

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Pedro Melis

Architect

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Carolina Murcia

Designer

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Kevin Raley

Architect

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Azusa Kotsu

Designer

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Lucas Rebouças

Designer

Pedro Melis

Architect

Bachelor of Architecture, Universidad Central de Venezuela

Master of Architecture, The University of Michigan

Pedro is a native of Caracas, Venezuela, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Architecture. He moved to the US to pursue a Master’s degree from the University of Michigan and soon after graduation, he relocated to Chicago where he spent more than a decade practicing Architecture. While there, he worked with the offices of Perkins + Will on large scale mixed use projects, both domestic and international. Destiny (and weather) brought him to Los Angeles where he worked with KFA Architecture and Gensler on high profile developments before joining JZA Architecture. He is a Licensed Architect in California and Illinois.

Carolina Murcia

Designer

Bachelor of Architecture, Southern California Institute of Architecture

Master of Architecture, University of Illinois

Originally from Miami, Florida Carolina made the move to Los Angeles in 2012 to study architecture at Southern California Institute of Architecture, where she continued to explore her creative work by combining photographic effects into projects that intersected both geometry and color. She finished a Master’s of Science from the University of Illinois soon afterwards to only come back to a warmer climate to gain professional experience. Her projects focus on creating a holistic design for residential projects in Los Angeles. If she is not at her desk, she is walking her Australian Shepherd named Panda.

Kevin Raley

Architect

Bachelor of Architecture, University of Michigan

Master of Architecture, University of Michigan

Kevin Raley joined the JZA team after years of work on the East Coast and in the Midwest, bringing a diverse portfolio–With experience in education, entertainment, retail, office, industrial, mixed-use, places of worship, and luxury residential, Kevin approaches each unique project with an eye for opportunity and innovation. Upon moving to Los Angeles in 2019, he took an interest in housing and has since managed a number of projects with Jeff Zbikowski Architecture. His academic work, which includes architectural design, virtual reality design, and documentary filmmaking, has been featured in various exhibits and publications. Outside of the office, Kevin can be found idly plucking a guitar, or with his nose buried deep in a good book.

Azusa Kotsu

Designer

Azusa attended graduate school at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona where she received a Masters of Architecture and graduated with a design award. Prior to joining JZA, Azusa worked for several distinguished architects including Frank Gehry.

Lucas Rebouças

Designer

Brazilian architect Lucas Rebouças holds a Bachelor of Architecture and Urbanism degree from the University of Fortaleza. He also completed part of his architectural education at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, when he was awarded a study abroad scholarship.

He has been a part of the design team for multiple residential, commercial and competition projects since the early years of his education. He believes that architecture plays a crucial role in shaping the way we live, and that it can potentially lead how we evolve both individually and as a society. In 2021, Lucas joined the JZA team and he is now on the path to become a licensed architect in the state of California.