DSJ Design

David Saint-Jacques has a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Environmental Design and Architecture from San Diego State University. During his senior year he won the Poly Royal trophy for best overall structure in the Design Village at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, an environmentally-conscious competition involving schools from the entire state of California. After graduation, he was fortunate t

o work with celebrated artist and architect James Hubbell on several projects including Escuela La Esperanza in Mexico. David has had direct experience with many aspects of architectural development including: professional carpentry, millwork, project management, public relations, structural engineering, and alternative construction methods among others. Before forming dsjDESIGN, he had been involved with the management and development of numerous commercial architectural projects including: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Tilton Theater of Atlantic City, Farmer’s and Mechanic’s Bank, Medford Lakes Public Library in New Jersey, SSC Steel Headquarters and Manufacturing, Municipal Court of Princeton New Jersey, Offices of SmithKline Beecham in Philadelphia, Knowledge Park at Penn State Erie, and the Tilton Mall of Atlantic County. David’s residential projects prior to forming dsjDESIGN, include golf course developments in central New Jersey including Medford Lakes, Cherry Hill, and Mount Laurel. Other residential projects prior to dsjDESIGN include: over twenty-five luxury homes in Long Beach Island New Jersey, custom homes for members of the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team, historic village developments in the towns of Medford new Jersey, Moorestown New Jersey, and Mount Holly New Jersey, and two traditional homes in Bali Indonesia. David worked as a project architect with the national firm of WTW Architects for several years after having moved to Pittsburgh in 2000. As a member of the firm, he was involved with commercial projects such as the Student Center of DePaul University in Chicago, lead designer for the Penn State McKeesport Campus Student Center, and project manager in association with HOK Architects for the Heinz Field Stadium. As project architect for the SSC Steel Headquarters, David worked closely with the city of Wheeling West Virginia and its Council to prevent any unwanted long-term consequences of unplanned and unmanaged growth for both the environment and the economy of the city. Since having formed dsjDESIGN in 2004, David has been involved in both residential and commercial projects, having received a Historic Preservation Award by the City of Pittsburgh and The Historic Review Commission for his renovation of the 1930’s, three-story Chrysler Automobile building on Baum Blvd in Shadyside. The design of this particular project involved following strict guidelines and regulations established by the City of Pittsburgh. Since 2004, dsjDESIGN has been involved in the development and ex*****on of over 25 residential projects in the Sewickley area, over 45 in the larger Pittsburgh city area, and several in other states including California. Although some of these residential projects were new construction, the majority of these projects include renovation and additions to larger historic homes. Pittsburgh House Trends magazine has featured two of the firm’s residential projects. These were the cover stories for both the July 2009 and March 2011 issues. The firm’s commercial and retail projects include: retail shops, urban development of loft spaces, commercial showrooms, architectural consulting with private country clubs, design for bars and restaurants, urban infill projects, and historic restoration. Recent commercial clients include retail, office building development, and urban mixed-use projects in the Village of Sewickley. David continues to work with local developers on feasibility studies for urban developments. Recent commercial clients include Crazy Mocha and Esmark Corporation. David has been a LEED accredited professional since 2009, and has worked with the Pittsburgh Green Building Alliance, CMU’s architectural department, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, Chris Klem of Energy and Environmental Solutions (a LEED consultant on the David L Lawrence Convention Center), Zarro and Associates Architectural Design and Research on the Southside of Pittsburgh, among others. The office of dsjDESIGN is involved in sustainable design through the use of natural and locally produced materials and the adaptation of specific site conditions whether they be cultural, economical, historical, or geographical. David Saint-Jacques was a member, and secretary, of the Sewickley Borough Planning Commission from 2006 to 2013. During that time he had worked closely with developers and Borough officials on countless projects to protect and maintain the stability of the residential, commercial, institutional, industrial, and open spaces within the Borough of Sewickley. He was instrumental in the development of the current Borough of Sewickley Zoning Ordinance, and a member of the development sub-committee. David, along with the other members of the commission, contributed to the origination and development of the Design Standards and Guidelines for the Village of Sewickley. As a member of the Planning Commission, he was: actively been involved in increasing public participation and awareness of the development review process, effectively planned for future redevelopment of core urban areas, assisted developers to facilitate the project process, promoted economic development of the Borough, helped to create a joint comprehensive plan between three adjoining boroughs, and helped to promote environmental awareness while promoting the orderly and harmonious development of the Borough and to protect its architectural heritage. References available upon request.