Approach

Successful design is more than just good looks. It takes the technical skill sets and experienced project management to get to those good looks. At JtA, we combine all three into an efficient and budget-conscious package that gets great design done.

It’s all made possible by how we collaborate. With our clients. Within our team. And with the partners we work with.

As the client, it’s your vision. Our role as the design experts is to create a space based upon your unique goals, wants and needs. The only way we can do this is by continually listening and working together through an iterative design process. We listen, we design. We listen, we refine. We listen, we refine some more. We treat every project as a constant conversation with a continual feedback loop, from start to finish.

The same goes within our own team. Our diverse set of backgrounds, specializations, and technology is one of our greatest assets. Over time, we’ve developed a proven process to ensure we maximize each for every project we work on.

Pair that with the incredibly close relationships we have with the contractors, engineers, and craftspeople we work with, and you’ve got the makings for genuinely great design. And through our years of experience, we know no better way.

Team

Joe

Joe Stromer is owner and principal at JtA. Joe has over 15 years of experience, specializing in restaurant and residential design. Before starting JtA in 2008, he worked at DiMella Shaffer and Associates in Boston and earned his Master’s in Architecture from Boston Architectural College, as well as his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University.

Alberto

Alberto Cabre is Senior Project Manager at JtA. With over 20 years of experience, Alberto oversees all designs and code review, inside and out. In addition to working at JtA, he owns the restaurant Casa B in Somerville giving him a wealth of practical knowledge in restaurant design. He holds his Master’s in Architecture from MIT, his Bachelor’s in Environmental Design from the University of Puerto Rico, and his Professional Chef’s from Cambridge School of Culinary Arts.

Alex

Alex Siekierski is Senior Project Manager, BIM (Building Information Modeling) Manager, and Marketing Manager at JtA. Alex has been with JtA from the beginning and oversees all aspects of the design process, facilitation of the project team, project delivery, as well as all things technology. He holds his Master’s in Architecture from Boston Architectural College, plus his B.F.A. in Design from UMASS Amherst.

Meg

Meg O’Brien is the Head of the Interiors as well as Senior Project Manager at JtA. Meg is an expert in interior design, supervises all aspects of our interior design process, materials, as well as sourcing. She holds her Bachelor of Studio Arts from the University of Rhode Island, in addition to her Master’s in Interior Architecture from Suffolk University.

Geoff

Geoff Farrell is Project Manager at JtA as well as resident 3D modeling expert. Geoff manages our visual and rendering standards, real-time rendering, and VR walkthroughs, in addition to design on JtA’s projects. Geoff holds both his Master’s and Bachelor’s in Architecture from Wentworth Institute of Technology with a concentration in urban design.

Austin

Austin Drake is both Project Manager and Designer at JtA. Austin spearheads graphics at JtA as well as manages visualizations. He also holds both his Master’s and Bachelor’s in Architecture from Wentworth Institute of Technology, with a concentration in emerging technologies.

Some Kind Words

We decided to work with Joe and his team because of his knowledge and experience in the restaurant industry. We couldn’t be happier with our decision. They worked with us every step of the way, always guiding us with helpful insights and suggestions, and brought our vision for the space to life. We would absolutely recommend their services and are already working on our next project with them.

Seizi & Mindy Imura, Cafe Sushi

As a general contractor, I’ve crossed paths with a wide variety of architects. In addition to time efficiency and accuracy, the professionalism, organization, and out-of-the-box thinking JtA offers really sets them apart from the rest. When it came time to select an architect for a project at my personal residence, JtA seemed like the obvious choice and I was not disappointed. I wholly recommend their services to anyone seeking an architect.

Nick Stamos, Fresh Start Contracting

Fast Casual is the fastest growing restaurant segment in the industry. There is a mad dash to become the next Chipotle. So you end up seeing a lot of cookie cutter restaurants with no soul, trying to crank out locations. Then there is Joe. Joe has given a unique flair to each of our restaurants that we are so proud and happy of. Not only that, but he is timely, budget conscious, and works really well with the existing space. No joke, whenever anybody in the restaurant industry asks me for a recommendation for an architect, Joe is the first and last person that comes to mind.

Ian So, Chicken & Rice Guys

We were looking for a one-stop-shop to take the lead on our office renovation project — someone who could help with creativity, experience, and common sense. We’re so glad to have found JtA – they made the whole process easy. From gathering our initial requirements to coordinating the design phase, to overseeing the actual build-out, JtA was competent, professional and absolutely enjoyable to work with. We’re so excited about our new office. Thank you, Joe & Team.

Mathias Knops, Aspera

We’ve worked with Joe and his team on two projects now, one for our business and one for our home. For our business, Joe was able to turn our idea of having a non-traditional retail space for our bespoke suiting business into a reality. Joe designed this cool showroom with a lounge and a bar that is more reminiscent of a hip downtown loft than a traditional store with racks of merchandise. When it came down to renovating our home, we turned to Joe and his team again. They more than delivered. We now have a home that is much more functional than it was before, both beautiful and comfortable for our growing family.

Samantha Shih, 9Tailors