John Ike
Partner
John Ike has been practicing architecture and design for more than four decades. John's design aesthetic is influenced by his traveling such as the legacy and regional inflections he sees on these trips, particularly the Italian and Scandinavian precedents. John's first job was working for Robert A.M. Stern, under whom he had studied for his Master of Architecture degree at the Graduate School of Architecture at Columbia University. He received his Bachelor of Arts in biochemistry from Colorado College. He later co-founded Ike Kligerman Barkley in 1989 and remained with the firm until its closure in 2022. During his time with Ike Kligerman Barkley, he published two books with Monacelli Press, Houses and The New Shingled House. The firm received numerous awards ranging from the AIA New York Chapter Award, the DDB Stars of Design Award, the ICAA Julia Morgan Award, and the ICAA Stanford White Award, as well as being in the AD100 and Elle Decor A-List. John will release his third book in May 2023 titled 9 Houses / 9 Stories (Vendome) which explores and celebrates the inextricable bond between the architect and those who implement his vision, a give-and-take that results in singularly designed residences. John is interested in interior design and collaborated on the glass furniture line Chroma D with photographer Irene Mamiye. In his spare time, he works on his mid-century modern residences in New Jersey and San Diego and his historic loft in the ceremonial 19th-century Oddfellows Hall in Brooklin, Maine.
Carl Baker
Partner
Carl has been practicing architecture on the West Coast for over 20 years. Prior to partnering with Ike & Velten, Carl was a Principal of Ike Kligerman Barkley and the Studio Director of the San Francisco Bay Area office. Born in Saranac Lake, NY, Carl grew up with a passion for residential design and was greatly influenced by Adirondack Great Camp architecture. He studied architectural history at Vassar College before moving west to earn his B. Arch at UC-Berkeley and his M. Arch at the University of Washington–Seattle. At UW, he was awarded the Valle Scholarship to study sustainable design in Stockholm, Sweden. Before practicing architecture, Carl apprenticed with a wooden boat builder in upstate New York where he honed his own skills as a woodworker and his collaborative nature creating finely crafted products - experience he brings to his architectural work today. A traveler and adventurer, Carl has recently been exploring Portugal with an eye toward renovating a historic ruin.
Tyler Velten
Partner
Tyler Velten is a Partner at Ike Baker Velten. Originally from Menlo Park, California, Tyler strayed slightly south to study Studio Art at Pomona College with a focus on sculptural installation. He then moved east to obtain his Master of Architecture Degree at Yale – where he was nominated for the prestigious H.I. Feldman Prize and received the Eero Saarinen Memorial Scholarship. Before, during, and for a brief period after Yale, he worked for Newman Architects on public projects ranging from houses to schools and libraries. He then worked at the Guilford Center for Children in Connecticut with the firm Gray Organschi before moving back to the Bay Area to work for Hart Howerton, focusing on mixed-use and hospitality design. Most recently, he was a Senior Associate and Co-Design Director, and Director of Quality Assurance in the Ike Kligerman Barkley’s San Francisco Bay Area Office. An artist in his own right, Tyler is passionate about working in a culture of makers. He is known for his beautiful hand-drawn renderings and, outside the office, for everything from furniture to sketches to a series of light fixtures made entirely of recycled plastic bags. In his free time, Tyler is often at the beach with his son or cataloging turn-of-the-century cabins up north in Pinecrest.
Patty Cassidy
Director of Interiors
Patricia Cassidy is an Interior Designer at Ike Baker Velten. Patty earned her degree in Interior Design at Parsons School of Design in New York. For 10+ years, Patty has specialized in high-end residential, designing homes for clients across the country. Patty's interest in decorative arts reinforces her appreciation for craftsmanship and has led to collaborations with artisans worldwide.
Darlene Dhillon
Director of Operations
A Northern California native and a graduate of San Francisco State University, Darlene brings over two decades of diverse experience across industries including corporate, tech startups, non-profits, and architecture. She excels in a variety of roles, from accounting and onboarding to project management, event planning, and team empowerment, all aimed at advancing our mission. Passionate about design thinking, Darlene thrives in collaboration with the talented team at IBV. Outside of work, she coaches Indian classical dance and enjoys leisurely strolls at Lake Merritt with her Maltipoo, Pearl.
Kenneth Avery
Associate
Kenneth has worked at several award-winning firms including Ike Kligerman Barkley, Mark Cavagnero Associates, Hacker Architects, TLCD Architects and Rowell Brokaw Architects. Kenneth has managed large scale projects, most notably a large custom home in Martis Camp Truckee, the Moscone Center Expansion in San Francisco, the College of Marin Academic Center and the University of Washington’s Tioga Library. For Kenneth architecture is a carefully coordinated craft – always striving to be captivating and purposeful.
Ben Handy
Associate
Ben has extensive architectural experience working on projects throughout the west coast. A graduate of California Polytechnic State University, his expertise lies in high end residential, commercial, and hospitality projects. In his spare time, you can find him playing music around the bay area and spending time with his wife, daughter, and French bulldog.
Whitney Chicoine
Associate
Whitney has over 10 years of experience working on high end residential projects in the Bay Area and New England. She grew up in a coastal town in the Northeast, surrounded by early colonial and shingle-style architecture. She was heavily influenced by the intersection of the old and new, and the skill it requires to marry the two harmoniously. Moving west over a decade ago, Whitney found a new appreciation and love for the vernacular of the Northern California coast. She holds a Master of Architecture degree from Northeastern University, where she was awarded the AIA Henry Adams Medal. Whitney and her husband have been fixing up their own tiny bungalow in Oakland, where she lives with their daughter, dog, and cat.
Katherine Schwertner
Senior Project Manager
A native Southern Californian, Katherine has worked at award winning firms in the SF Bay Area including BAR Architects and Richard Beard Architects managing high end residential projects for more than 20 years. While the projects ranged from large family compounds to smaller renovations, she’s always been interested in the intersection between the design and technical requirements. Early on in her career, Katherine developed a keen eye for interiors and architectural details. Building on her skills, she advanced to Technical Director at Richard Beard Architects providing technical guidance to staff. Growing up in California, she was always drawn to the opportunities for views and vistas of the land as well as the forms of the local vernacular and regional materials. She graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from the California College of the Arts and spent a year studying abroad in Stockholm, Sweden. She’s an avid traveler and when she’s not making plans for the next trip, you’ll find her working on her house or in her garden.
Luis Jasso
Senior Designer
Born and raised in the border town of Matamoros, Mexico, Luis was exposed to a wide range of domestic and vernacular architectures from an early age sparking his passion for residential design. As a designer, Luis honors both historical precedent and the spirit of innovation, creating spaces that are conversant with the past yet responsive to the future. Luis’s career with Ike Kligerman Barkley and subsequently Ike Baker Velten has afforded him years of experience designing high-end residential projects ranging in style, size and location. Luis Jasso holds a Master’s of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor’s of Science in Architecture from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
David Rege
Designer
David Rege is an interdisciplinary Architectural designer based out of San Francisco. He graduated from California College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Architecture. He appreciates how design can be used to better express the human condition.
Dutra Brown
Designer
Dutra Brown holds a Master in Architecture from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc). Prior to IBV, Dutra’s design experience was primarily in retail design and gallery installation for work in both the commercial and academic sectors. Dutra is based in Los Angeles, CA.
Ami Mehta
Designer
Ami Mehta (they/them/theirs) is a versatile designer with a strong background in construction administration. They pride themselves on their attention to detail and ability to find creative design solutions. Ami is passionate about inclusive design and has been an advocate for universal design within the industry. They are a graduate of California Polytechnic State University, holding a Bachelor of Architecture degree with minors in Construction Management and Italian Studies.
Momo
Lumbar Support
Likes to snort.
Pearl
Office Greeter
I am so happy to see you, all of you!