James received his five-year Bachelor of Architecture degree from Syracuse University in 1994. After college, James returned to Chicago and started his career with a focus on residential and large-scale municipal projects, growing his technical knowledge behind a deep passion for art and design.

With over 25 years of experience, James brings large-scale project expertise to Yu & Associates Collaborative. He oversees and manages projects across various markets. James enjoys leading dynamic teams, mentoring staff, and solving complex problems holistically with elegantly designed solutions. At his previous firms, James led the design and construction of more than 20 multi-family high-rises in Chicago and nationwide. James is a registered architect in Illinois and Michigan.

James regularly serves as a visiting juror at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana (UIUC) through its Chicago Studio program. He is also a CRIT mentor for the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS). James taught high school math and science curricula through an urban design lens at Chicago Global Citizenship Experience Lab School. He remains an active ULI member and proponent of responsible urban growth through equitable housing policy.

James resides in the Old Town neighborhood, close to where he grew up. As an avid cyclist and parent of a differently abled daughter, his focus on safer, more equitable urban development is always at the top of his mind. James and his wife and two kids share a passion for staying active in their community and being in nature, often accompanied by their particularly smart, standard poodle, Rosie.