KAZUMA WATANABE, LEED AP BD+C

Elkridge, MD 21075 C 626-399-2421 kazumawatanabe@yahoo.com

HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS
Project Manager in Architecture and Construction with more than 20 years of expertise in residential, educational, entertainment, civic and government facilities. Deadline-oriented leader with strong communication and problem-solving skills. Qualifications include:

Management of multiple projects and staff simultaneously
ADA and building code analysis
Construction documentation
Value engineering

Construction administration
Trouble-shooting construction issues
Bidding and Estimating
Feasibility studies
Mentoring of staff

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Architecture and Design Manager, MD and VA Divisions 2014 – present

Richmond American Homes: Responsible for the architecture and design in over 30 communities in 2 states. Duties include reviewing grading plans and site layouts, evaluate new product designs, meet with city officials, value engineer plans, process permits, design custom changes for buyers, coordinate with Home Gallery, troubleshoot details, support construction field staff and sales staff and direct framing walks for product prototypes.

Consultant, Pasadena, CA / Elkridge, MD 2011 – 2014

Consultant: Providing services ranging from design, building code analysis, peer review of construction documents and ADA Code consulting. Clients and projects include:

General Services Administration projects – Peer review of construction documents and ADA review for USGS laboratory project in Redlands, CA, and US Army office project in Irvine, CA. Projects budgets from $2.5 to $3M.
Raney Architecture, PLLC – Construction drawings for Annie Wright School classroom and lounge remodels in Tacoma, Washington.
Newhall Commercial Façade – Redesigned facade of existing building along main corridor as part of Newhall Ranch Commercial District Renovation Master Plan.

Project Manager 2009 – 2011

Horizon Pacific LLC, Walnut, CA: Led in-house Architectural Department at Horizon Pacific, a developer and general contractor. Oversaw projects from design stage through CDs, estimating, bidding, value engineering, awarding of contracts and construction administration. Instituted AutoCAD standards for Construction Documentation.
US Marshals Service project – Design lead for tenant improvement for $3.5M GSA project, which included offices and conference rooms as well as a “Shoot House” training building, state-of-the-art video simulation room, and weapons storage and maintenance vault.
Custom homes – “The Country” in Diamond Bar, CA. Responsibilities included peer review of construction documents and subcontractor bids, placed product orders and assisted Superintendent on-site. Homes ranged from 10,000 to 14,000 SF.

Project Manager 2004 – 2009

LCRA Architecture & Planning, Pasadena, CA: Specialized in multi-family and custom home projects. Helped build LCRA’s reputation for mixed-use complexes. Developed CAD standards for Construction Documentation. Projects included:

416 E. Broadway, Glendale, CA. Contemporary style building was first four-story Type V mixed-use building approved in Glendale. Consisted of 115 condo units and retail over three levels of subterranean parking. Managed communications for design review boards, city officials, owners, contractors and consultants. Oversaw all aspects of permitting and construction administration. $40M project budget.
Trellis and Avenue I Townhomes, Riverpark Development, Oxnard, CA. Spanish-style development for Standard Pacific Ventura. Performed construction administration.
Custom home: Construction administration for $4M contemporary-style custom home in Beverly Hills, CA.

Project Manager 1999 – 2004

JBZ Architecture & Planning, Newport Beach, CA : Helped develop JBZ’s educational and public facility departments. In-depth knowledge of California Building Code and guidelines for the Americans with Disabilities Act. Led office conversion from DataCad to AutoCad and set up standards and templates for drawings. Projects included:

Segerstrom High School, Santa Ana, CA. Prepared bid documents and submittals to the Division of State Architect, reviewed shop drawings, created field observation reports and punch lists.
Multi-family projects, Playa Vista, CA. Worked with city officials, inspectors, contractor and consultants to expedite flow of information for construction.
City Hall in Tracy, CA. Prepared construction documents for new building and City Council Chambers.

Job Captain/Acting Project Manager 1996 – 1999

Walt Disney Imagineering , Glendale, CA: Mermaid Lagoon / Lost River Cantina, Tokyo Disney Seas Theme Park – Construction Documents and Construction Administration phases. CAD “Super-user” status, specializing in trouble-shooting for WDI CAD staff.

Acting Project Manager (March to May 1999) in Tokyo, Japan. Reviewed shop drawings, field verified code compliance, checked shop production of “front of house” elements for architectural design integrity and led weekly, on-site, project meetings.
Performed code analysis and prepared construction documents for all facilities including the Park Hotel, each of the 23 ride attractions, every restaurant and shop in the park as well as the Tokyo Disneyland expansion. Project budget over $4.1 Billion.
With my command of Japanese language and culture, served as liaison with Japanese counterparts.
EDUCATION / TECHNICAL
BA, Architecture, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.

Study Abroad Program, International Division, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan.

Proficient: AutoCad 2018, Microsoft Word, Excel and Photoshop.

Familiar with Revit, Powerpoint, Illustrator and Form Z.