Our Team
Jonathan Barnes
Principal
Jonathan Barnes was born in Columbus, Ohio, and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Design from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He received the degree of Master in Architecture from Harvard University Graduate School of Design in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He began work in Chicago, Illinois, in 1986 as an architect with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, one of the world’s largest and best-known international architecture firms. There Jonathan’s technical and design talents were applied to both new construction and renovation projects in New York, Washington, San Francisco and London, England, as well as to the development of the NBC Tower, one of Chicago’s premiere high rise buildings and the cornerstone of the Cityfront Center Master Plan.
In 1990, Jonathan relocated to Milan, Italy, to work with the famous Italian architect and designer, Michele De Lucchi, on numerous projects throughout Europe. These works included architecture and interior design as well as product, exhibit and graphic design. In the most notable project, these various design disciplines were combined to create Deutsche Bank’s new branch bank system for its 1,200 retail locations throughout Germany.
In 1993, Jonathan returned to Columbus and formed Jonathan Barnes Architecture and Design. JBAD is a small, highly acclaimed architectural firm that has been involved in a variety of project types in the Midwest for nearly 25 years. The practice integrates technical expertise and creative design solutions in a multi-disciplinary approach. The work includes residential, commercial and institutional architecture, historic preservation, interior design, furniture design and retail design.
In 2018, Jonathan was inducted into the College of Fellows of the AIA, an honor bestowed on only 1% of AIA Architects.
Eric Thompson
Senior Associate Architect
Eric Thompson is a licensed architect with 25 years of experience in a wide variety of building types and scales, and he has served in leadership roles in both the design and delivery of projects. His work has been recognized nationally through multiple AIA awards as well as national and regional publication. Eric also has a passion for the integration of sustainability and design, and is a LEED Accredited Professional with a proven track record in the execution of numerous sustainably-oriented and LEED certified projects. Eric served as the chair of the AIA Columbus Committee on the Environment from 2009 through 2013, and as the co-chair of the Built Environment Working Group for the Columbus Mayor’s Green Team from 2015-2017.
Eric grew up in the town of Princeton, New Jersey and has lived in Seattle, WA, and Washington, DC and Palo Alto, CA before moving to Columbus in 2006 with his family. Prior to joining JBAD in 2017, Eric worked for NBBJ Design in Columbus and HPS Architects in California. When not designing buildings at JBAD, Eric enjoys spending time with his family and playing music.
Doug Miller
Senior Associate Architect
Doug graduated from the University of Montana in 1993 with degrees in Political Science and History and intended to work as a carpenter for one summer before going to law school. The summer turned to fall, but his career avoiding law school had just begun. He spent the next three years working as a carpenter, then two years as an assistant superintendent before a co-worker convinced him to apply to graduate school for architecture. Intrigued with the potential of delaying law school for the next three and a half years, he devoted himself to the study of architecture at The Ohio State University.
After earning his master’s degree in 2001, he had worked for small and medium size architecture firms doing a variety of project types including residential, restaurant, retail, senior living and medical facilities. He has a passion for design and has designed the prototype building for a regional restaurant chain and contributed to the design of an international fast food restaurant’s flagship store in Moscow. Although he hasn’t been paid to swing a hammer for two decades, he relies heavily on his construction experience to develop details and resolve the challenges associated with transforming design concepts into the built environment. Because of the numerous challenges afforded by the practice of architecture, he continues to enjoy avoiding law school.
Tali Friedman
Associate
Tali Friedman earned her Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from the University of Toronto with a minor in Yiddish language. Upon graduation, she moved to New York City to work with Spivak Architects, where she focused on high-end multifamily residential renovations and boutique hotels. Tali left New York for Columbus in 2011 to earn her Masters of Architecture at the Ohio State University. While at OSU, she was a graduate teaching assistant, teaching Systems and Architectural Theory. Tali also worked for Behal Sampson Dietz throughout graduate school.
In 2014, Tali joined Office US, the United States’ exhibit in the 2014 Venice Bienale in Venice, Italy. She participated in the research, compilation and laying out of 1000 office manuals that lined the walls of the pavilion, as well as content for a book that was published by Office US for the exhibit. In the spring of 2014, alongside a small group of students from OSU and MIT, Tali spent a month in Venice completing the content and constructing the exhibit.
After graduating from OSU, Tali worked at the architecture firm Trinity Health Group before joining the team at JBAD in early 2016. She is currently working towards licensure in Ohio.
Ben Pacheco Robles
Associate
Originally from Guanajuato, Mexico, Ben studied at the Knowlton School of Architecture. During his undergraduate studies, he did a study abroad in Rome, Italy. While in Rome, he produced various drawings studying light and shadow, color, proportions, texture and context. Those studies served to help produce his first house commission, which he designed during his third year of undergrad. At the end of his fourth year at KSA, he traveled to Europe once again to tour various architecture projects. After working for a year, Ben returned to KSA for his master’s degree. During his graduate studies, he was a Graduate Assistant for Architectural Representation and Sustainability & the Built Environment.
Ben has gained retail, hospital, and design-build experience working for Dorsky Yue International, ms consultants, and Trinity Health Group. He also enjoys working on competitions and recently placed honorable mention in an international competition ran by arch out loud. His interests lie in the power of the architectural project that deals with light, shadow, material exploration, color, and form. Drawing is also one of Ben’s passions. His passion in sketching, watercolor, and charcoal are his means to explore the development of projects. Ben is working towards licensure in Ohio and is an Associate AIA member.
Alexander Argyris
Associate
Alexander Argyris graduated with a degree in International Studies and Economics from Capital University in 2013. His lifelong interest in architecture and design led him to The Knowlton School’s MARCH program. At the Knowlton School he had the opportunity to study architecture while traveling extensively through Europe as well as work as a graduate teaching assistant for the Freshman Design Studio. Alexander completed his degree in 2016, winning the G3 competition award for best Exit Review.
After graduating, Alexander worked for BHDP in their Workplace and Higher Education markets for two years. Alexander joined JBAD in the spring of 2018, where he currently works on projects of a variety of scales, formats, and typologies. Additionally, he serves on the AIA Columbus Committee on Design as well as volunteering regularly at the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio.
Clark Sabula
Associate
Clark Sabula brings to the JBAD team a breadth of exposure to architectural practice. Originally from just outside Columbus, Clark received his Master of Architecture from The Ohio State University Knowlton School of Architecture after completing his Bachelor of Science in Architecture at the University of Cincinnati’s prestigious College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP). During his time at DAAP, he participated in the College’s esteemed Co-Op Program with DLR Group in Colorado, Marks Thomas Architects in Baltimore, and BHDP in Cincinnati. In the summer of 2017, between his two years of graduate school, Clark interned with JBAD. Clark joined JBAD as an Associate in the summer of 2018, where he has been an integral part of multiple project teams across the entire design process.
Amy Barnhart
Business Manager
Amy joined JBAD in 2007 and has over twenty years of experience in accounting, human resources and office management for growing companies.She believes in building long-term, lasting relationships with clients and helps JBAD to partner with them by identifying and recommending cost appropriate solutions for their projects. To that end, her goal is to help develop realistic and attainable project budgets for clients and to monitor them throughout a project’s development.
Her in-depth project financial analysis and detailed budgeting efforts ensure that a project is competitively priced for the client while being profitable for the firm. She has a systematic approach to solving issues that creates real value for clients. Through research, strategy, negotiation and implementation she is able to find the most effective solution to many problems.
Amy received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1994. She lives in Reynoldsburg with her husband and two teenage boys and is active in the community.