Congratulations to James Sink who received Building Design+Construction’s top “40 Under 40” award, which represents the next generation of leadership in the AEC industry. The honorees were chosen by BD+C editors on the basis of three factors: career achievement, service to their professions and communities, and active participation in charitable work.
Read about all of the 40 under 40 award recipients >>
Since joining HMC in 2010, James has led the design of a number of significant higher education projects—guiding projects from conceptual design through design development. As the primary design proponent, he leads design efforts during interviews and project acquisition, and continues throughout the project as the lead designer. James is currently designing a number of significant higher education projects, among them are the Construction Technology Building for Los Angeles Trade Technical College; a master plan and design of a 4-phase student housing and dining commons for California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; and student commons and classrooms for Collins College, Cal Poly Pomona. He is dedicated to designing learning environments that inspire, support and promote the discovery and exchange of knowledge.
James has a strong commitment towards the architectural community and his neighborhood community. He is currently serving his second term as Chairman of the Architectural Commission for the City of Claremont. James and his fellow Architectural Commission members review the design of historic, institutional and large construction projects. Growing up in Claremont, James has a vested interest in the community and values having a voice in its future. He is also a member of Claremont Heritage, a local historic preservation group. He continually takes his experience on the “other side of the table” back to his project work at HMC. His role on the Architectural Commission has advanced his understanding of approval processes and honed his client presentation skills. He takes an approach of being more actively critical during the early stages of design in order to provide the best solution for the client now and in the future.
James’ creativity is not limited to his architectural design work; in fact, it is his personal artistic endeavors and craftsmanship that inspire him professionally. With deep interests in woodworking, his woodworking has infused his approach to project work with a new outlook, continually searching for imaginative ways of capturing or conveying his perspective. With woodworking, there is not an undo button, each cut matters. James now approaches the design development phase differently by appreciating that each architectural detail in a drawing matters. Each series of discoveries, each observation and architectural detail enriches the other as the locus of the project evolves. Each design decision makes the next possible, providing insights and links until you have a completed project.
James brings a fresh spirit and original creative talent to all of his professional and personal endeavors. He is the bright future of architecture and raises the level of the profession in the eyes of his colleagues, clients and the community.
