Founded by Kirk Shimazu AIA, the ShimazuStudio was established as a sustainable multifaceted company that creates designs that embrace his experiences and work of the past, integrating current journeys, technology and sustainability. The ShimazuStudio shares new journeys of investigating and searching for Ancestral/Cultural Heritage to help others create their own new Journey. Hope you will all join me on this Journey.
Our Mission: Discover and Educate Japanese Culture and its impact on self identity and design
Profile: Kirk Shimazu AIA
- Third generation (Sansei) Japanese American
- Born and raised in Southern California
- Graduated California State Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo, California with a Bachelors of Architectural Degree
- Licensed as a Professional Architect in the State of California 1978
- Member of American Institute of Architects
Over 40 years of diverse businesses encompassing architectural and design.
Design and architecture experience covers a wide variety of projects including, Libraries, Convention Centers, Education Facilities, Medical Related Facilities, Master Planning, Theme Parks, Telecommunications, High Tech Electronics Facilities, Hospitality, Government, Warehouse Facilities, Renovations and Seismic Upgrading of Historic Structures, Financial Institutions, Commercial and Retail Facilities, Commercial Interiors, Residential, Exhibit and Product Design. He is credited with many exhibit, furniture and product designs. The development of a new product line which required researching manufacturing methods of different types of materials, cost estimating, value engineering and coordinated the manufacturing and assembly of these products. Many of designs have been exhibited at museum shops such as the Japanese American National Museum, Whitney Museum of Art, Smithsonian Museum, Guggenheim Museum, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), and the Museum of Contemporary Art at Los Angeles (MOCA).
Awards and Publications
- Historic Preservation Award of Excellence, The Mayor and The Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission, Vermont Square Library 2000
- County of Los Angeles Commendation Architectural Award, “Unity Saving”
- Concrete Masonry Design Award, Special Recognition for Interior Architecture, “GOMA”
- Interior Magazine Retail Design Award, Gallery of Modern Art
- GOMA “Style 6” Picture Frame: Published as one of the top new product in Japan upon its introduction
- AIA Los Angeles Architectural Photography Awards 2020 Honor Award Winner Best Image Honor Award Winner – First Fall (Yoichi, Hokkaido, Japan)