LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Jerde Partnership, Inc., an international architecture and design firm based in Los Angeles, announced today that James F. Porter, AIA, is joining the firm as a principal and strategic business development director. Since 1984, Porter has been a founding partner of Altoon + Porter Architects LLP in Los Angeles where he served as partner-in-charge of the firm’s practice in Asia. At Jerde, Porter will provide new business leadership, project management, and leverage his vast experience and track record in the region to primarily support Jerde’s busy China and Asia work. The firm currently has four major mixed-use or hospitality projects under construction in the region; and more than two dozen projects in various design stages throughout China and Asia Pacific.
“We have known Jim Porter for over 45 years and respect him tremendously as an outstanding professional and an individual of integrity and commitment,” said Janice Jerde, Chief Operating Officer of The Jerde Partnership, Inc. “The firm has experienced explosive growth throughout Asia in recent years, and Jim’s extensive experience and relationships in Asia will enable us to expand and enhance our work there even further. We are delighted to have him on our team.” Jerde pointed out that Porter’s home in Shanghai is walking distance from the Jerde office.
With more than 45 years of experience, Porter has an extensive portfolio of major mixed-use projects and signature buildings. His international expertise encircles the globe including Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Qingdao, Wuhan, Saudi Arabia and Sydney, among others.
As Altoon + Porter’s partner-in-charge in China, his most recent work included the Wuhan Shimao Carnival Center in Wuhan, China, an approximately 500,000 square meter mixed-use center that includes retail, hotel, restaurants and an indoor amusement park. Porter also oversaw design and planning of Nanjing Walsin in Nanjing, China, a monumental 1 million square-meter mixed-use development that includes hotels, office towers, an open-air promenade, retail mall and dedicated city park connected to two subway lines. He directed the master planning for a mixed-use complex over the airport express rail station in Kowloon, Hong Kong. He also led the renovation and expansion of the existing CP mall in Bangkok, Thailand, into a major 500,000 square meter mixed-use retail, hotel, office, entertainment and lifestyle center. The project garnered the “Best Retail Project of 2010” award from the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Porter has lectured on global design practice at several venues for the AIA California Council, Urban Land Institute and International Council of Shopping Centers.
“I have long admired The Jerde Partnership’s outstanding work creating vibrant mixed-use developments that transform the economic and social landscape of neighborhoods, cities and regions and that create amazing experiences for the people who work, eat, stay, shop, play, wander and live there. I look forward to sharing my knowledge of the Asian marketplace with Jerde’s thriving China and Asia Pacific practice and assisting the growth of the firm in the region,” says Porter.
Prior to founding Altoon + Porter, Porter worked at a number of architecture firms, including Frank O. Gehry and Associates, Parkin Architects, Architects Associated Long Beach, Hugh Gibbs/Donald Gibbs, FAIA, and Charles Kober Associates, where he was initially hired by Jon Jerde in 1975.
Porter began his professional life as an accomplished trumpet player. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Southern California. His wife, Faith Porter, is a celebrated and acclaimed artist in ceramics, art jewelry, and assemblage. They reside in Brentwood, CA in the award-winning house Porter designed.