OCA was formed in 2006 by Marc Ojanen and Shen I Chiou, licensed architects with over 30 years of collective experience in residential, commercial, civic, cultural, and educational projects in the United States, Europe and Asia.
We are a full-service architectural firm offering feasibility studies, programming and planning, ground up construction, tenant improvements, additions/renovations, interior architecture, as well as furniture, and graphic design.
Our focus is on developing ecologically intelligent design solutions that synthesize functional, aesthetic, economic and sustainable criteria into earth-friendly environments that elevate the spirit and enhance the lives of those who experience them. Our approach is interdisciplinary and collaborative by nature. We work closely with clients, consultants, contractors, fabricators, suppliers, etc. to ensure the highest level of design quality and project delivery. We are a member of USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council), registered with NCARB (National Council or Architectural Registration Boards) and licensed in California, Arizona, and New York.
Shen received a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania (M.Arch. ’95) and a Bachelor of Architecture from Tunghai University Taiwan (B.Arch. ’91). Prior to co-founding Ojanen_Chiou architects LLP in 2006, Shen worked with EDS (Taipei, Taiwan), MGA Partners (Philadelphia, PA), Levy Design Partners (San Francisco, CA), and C. David Robinson Architects (San Francisco, CA). Shen enjoys the non-linear working process of learning, designing and making. Shen’s design inspiration comes from the contemporary arts, landscape, and innovative uses of materials and technology.
Marc received his training at the Harvard University, Graduate School of Design (M.Arch. ’94) and the University of Florida (B.Des.Arch. cum laude ’90). Prior to co-founding Ojanen_Chiou architects LLP in 2006 Marc worked in a number of architectural offices in the U.S. and abroad, including MK THINK (San Francisco, CA), C. David Robinson Architects (San Francisco, CA), Sauerbruch Hutton Architects (Berlin, Germany), Zvi Hecker Architect (Berlin, Germany), Pei Cobb Freed and Partners (New York, NY), The Office of Peter Rose (Cambridge, MA), Konoike Construction Co., Ltd. (Osaka, Japan).