Founded by Architect Valerie C. Simpson in 1994.

Valerie has worked in the field of architecture since 1982. A lifelong interest in travel led her to study and work abroad, leaving California for Italy for her final year of her Architecture studies and interning in several internationally known architectural offices in Florence, Italy and Vienna, Austria before returning to start her own practices in California and Hawaii. Valerie enjoys working closely with her clients to realize their dreams, while constantly honing her skills as an architect.

Valerie C. Simpson Architect

REGISTRATION
1995: Architect: State of Hawaii #AR-8836
1994: Architect: State of California #C25159

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Institute of Architects
American Bamboo Society
Hawaii Chapter of the American Bamboo Society (HCABS). 1995-1996: Chairperson, Architecture and Engineering Committee: Organized local workshops and seminars on bamboo construction, featuring visiting experts from around the world.

EDUCATION
1986: Bachelor of Architecture, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Cum Laude.
1985-1986: California State University, Florence, Italy.

ARCHITECTURAL EXPERIENCE
While earning her BArch degree at Cal Poly in the early eighties, Ms. Simpson started work as an assistant for a local architect, learning the fundamental skills of running a small architectural practice. Finishing her education in Florence, Italy, she had the opportunity to work in various internationally known architectural firms in Italy and Austria, performing mostly presentation work on a wide range of projects and competitions. Returning to California in 1989, Ms. Simpson opened private practices in Venice, California and in the Northern California coastal area of Sonoma County before moving to Hawaii in 1992.

In addition to providing conventional architectural services, her years in Hawaii have been devoted to community involvement, lecturing at the local community college and the research and development of local alternative building materials, focusing primarily on bamboo and the native rainforest tree ohia. As the green building industry began to pick up momentum, access to a broader selection of green materials and collaborations with consultants specializing in these areas allowed Ms. Simpson to apply state of the art technology to nearly all of her projects. Ms. Simpson is currently expanding her services to include new California clients, collaborations and associations.

1994 to present
VALERIE C. SIMPSON ARCHITECTS AND ASSOCIATES. Hilo, Hawaii.
Principal Architect. Residential and commercial design. Specializing in custom residential and community-oriented commercial projects, with an emphasis on environmentally sustainable building practices.

1998 to 2011
McKEAGUE & SIMPSON ARCHITECTS AND ASSOCIATES. Hilo, Hawaii.
Principal Architect. Residential, educational and commercial design.

1995 to 2000
ECO TERRESTRIAL CONCEPTS. Kurtistown, Hawaii.
Partner: With partner, Leimana Pelton (www.bamboovillagehawaii.org), design of bamboo and ferrocement structures and coordination of bamboo construction workshops. With a grant provided by the County of Hawaii, Research and Development, co-produced the report “Building with Bamboo in Hawaii” with Mr. Pelton. Office management.

1993-1994
THE CJS GROUP ARCHITECTS, LTD. Honolulu, Hawaii.
Project Architect: High-end custom residential design. Design development of various commercial and medical projects in Honolulu.

1989 to 1993
VALERIE SIMPSON DESIGN + DRAFTING
Consulted for various architects. Design, model-making, and production drawings for various custom residences, hotels, and winery facilities, and small retail projects.

1989-1990
ROLAND MILLER ASSOCIATES
Production drawings and models on winery facilities and multi-family residential.

1987-1989
COOP HIMMELBLAU. Vienna, Austria.
Architectural model building and presentation graphics for residential, commercial, and urban design competitions. Projects include: Melun-Senart (French urban design competition won by Coop Himmelblau in 1987); Ronacher Theater, Vienna (another competition won in 1987); Falkestrasse, Vienna (lawyer’s office on a rooftop); Open House, Malibu, California.

1986-1987
STUDIO CRISTIANO TORALDO DI FRANCIA. Florence, Italy.
Architectural presentation and drafting of commercial projects and urban design competitions, including entrance for the Triennale di Milano, 1987.

1982-1985
PACIFIC ARCHITECTURE. Pasadena, California.
Production drawings, model making, and design on various commercial and residential projects. Office management.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AND BOARD POSITIONS
Friends of the Palace Theater, Hilo, Hawaii. Secretary, 2008-present.
Seaview Performance Arts Center for Education, Pahoa, Hawaii. member.
Hawaii Sustainable Community Alliance, advisor.