Chris Pak

Title: 
Founder and Principal
Organization: 
Archeon Group
Biography: 

An award-winning architect, the founder and principal of Archeon International Group, Mr. Pak has developed Archeon into a multi-disciplined Development, Architectural, Planning, Construction Management and Project Management firm, providing comprehensive professional services to both domestic and international clients.  Strengthening its global presence, Archeon has forged strategic international alliances with many premier companies in Asia: Marubeni, Sun Wah Group, Shimizu Constructors, Hanil Cement, Asia Financial Group, Kowloon Development and more.  The firm has spearheaded notable projects in China and South-East Asia, such as the 22-story Sun Wah Tower in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam the first major construction of its kind by an American architect since the Vietnam War. 

As a developer, Mr. Pak was a General Partner/Developer and Architect in the development of Solair, one of the first mix-use transit oriented project in Los Angeles.  The Solair is a $160 Million, 22-story development comprised of 40,000 SF of retail and 186 luxury condominiums above a MTA Subway portal.  The Solair was completed on time and on budget in May of 2009.  Currently, Mr. Pak is the principal development consultant to Jamison Services providing feasibility, planning and architectural services on numerous office building conversions to residential and new mix use residential and retail construction projects.

Domestically, Archeon has developed a reputation as a diverse, creative and results-oriented design firm.  Mr. Pak has directed both public and private sector projects for such clients as the LA Unified School District, LA County MTA, City of LA Housing Department, City of LA Community Redevelopment Agency, Belmont Village Corporation, Legacy Partners, Shamrock Holdings, Jamison Services, Atlas Capital Group, Hazens USA.  Some of the significant local projects include the renovation of the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, the first hotel built in Hollywood, and the former I. Magnin Building; high-end Assisted Living Facilities throughout Southern California; designed over 2,000 units affordable housing projects for various communities; development of a 350,000 SF Wholesale Condominiums in the Fashion District, Downtown Los Angeles; and 150,000 SF Retail/Health/Sports facility in Wilshire Center, Los Angeles with the first enclosed golf driving range.

Mr. Pak actively contributes and demonstrates his leadership in various capacities with several civic, professional, and non-profit organizations.  Mr. Pak was the CEO/President of a start-up community website, Asia America Online, in 2000 and successfully launched the website in the same year.  Mr. Pak was recruited by Brainrush, an internet incubator firm in Oakland, California.  Formerly on Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, he was the first Asian-American Board Member since its inception in 1927.  Appointed by Mayor Riordan, Mr. Pak has also served the City of LA as the Chairman of the Board of Zoning Appeals, the Board of Airport Commissioners, responsible for the operations and expansion of the third busiest airport in the nation, and a Member of the Board of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, a board responsible for establishing a new system of neighborhood councils to increase government responsiveness to its citizens.  Mr. Pak served the State of California as Commissioner to the Southern California Water Quality Control Board, appointed by then Governor Gray Davis and was a Board Member of the California League of Conservation Voters, a politically influential environmental organization.  Also, Mayor James Hahn appointed Mr. Pak to the Board of Recreation and Parks Commission.  In his local community, he currently serves the Los Angeles Archdiocese as a member of the Building Commission, the Board of Governors for the Little Tokyo Service Center and has been involved as a Board Member to the Westchester YMCA, Lend-A-Hand Foundation, and Asia America Symphony.  Promoting diversity in businesses, Mr. Pak has shared his expertise as a Community Advisory Member to the National Bank of California, Southern California Edison.

Mr. Pak received his Bachelor of Architecture from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Category: 
Speaker
Conference: