Annual JKR Phillies Outing

Some new Threads for everyone! a new tradition.

A motley crew

The Rooches, Diana and Greg.

Sean keeping his fivehead free from sunburn.

It's not all work and no play around here, although it may seem like that.  We really do work hard.  We just need some recuperation days to reconnect with our colleagues and have some fun. It's been 8 or 9 years now that we've closed down the office for the afternoon and have gone to the Phillies game for a business persons special.  Then, as always, we head down to our favorite dive bar Bob and Barbara's and get the other kind of special... A beer and a shot. This year we had another beautiful day and actually saw the Phils win a game for a change! Check out all the photos on our Facebook page.

Passing Tests!

Friday was a huge success for JKR's aspiring architects. We were four for four in ARE exams taken and passed!  Blake and Greg passed Schematic Design. Tim passed Construction Documents, and Zach passed Programming & Practice. These tests aren't easy, but we've got a smart young staff, and we're knockin' tests down left and right. 

Regal Moorestown Grand Opening

Last night was the grand opening of the brand new Regal Cinema in Moorestown, NJ.  Paul, Rick and Greg were on hand to receive their much deserved VIP treatment.  Judging from the crowd, the theaters were getting rave reviews.  After some cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, the audience was treated to a sneak preview of The Hunger Games-Catching Fire on the huge 55' screen in the RPX theater.

The design masters

A new addition to the revamped Moorestown Mall

A packed crowd

Annual Phillies Outing

You need a drink before you see the Phils these days.

After a minor rain delay, the Phils got back to beatin on the Cubbies.

Butch hooking up the specials.

Serious Sergi and a photobombing Jose.

the Boss getting his birthday on.

If it seems like our office is a lot of fun, that's because it is.  In keeping with our yearly tradition, which started way back when the Phillies were actually good; last Thursday we had our annual JKR day at the Phillies.  This year was special in that it was also the Boss Man's 65th birthday.  He took full advantage of his newly granted senior citizen status and wisely got his subway ride to the ballpark for free. With age comes wisdom I guess. And like we always do, we all went back to our second favorite watering hole where we got our celebratory drinks.  The drinks taste much sweeter when the Phils win big. 

Ogontz Avenue Revitalization Corp gets new offices

the Before (the former Club Jag)

The after.

OARCs new Office

The welcoming entrance

OARC, the organization responsible for a lot of great revitalization projects along Ogontz Avenue in West Oak Lane, including the West Oak Lane Charter School that we recently completed, called on us to design their new headquarters and administrative offices.  JKRP designed a complete facelift for the former Club Jaguar at the intersection of Ogontz Ave. and Cheltenham Ave.  While the old photo makes Club Jag look really good, we thought it could still use some help. Whereas the nightclub operated mainly after dark, numerous window openings helped to transform the building and provide abundant daylight to the new office areas.  Greg and Glenn did a great job transforming the place and giving it some new life. 

MLK Day of Service

G-dubs hard at work on his corner

Rooch and Izzo, supervising

measure 7 times, cut twice

Laura and Tiff show off their schmutzin' abilities

Yeah, we're a week late on this one, but it's still blogable. A good majority of the office dedicated a day of work to help out the Philadelphia chapter of Habitat for Humanity while a select few held down the fort at Walnut Street.  We've started to make this a little JKR tradition.  Usually we'll lend our architectural services to Habitat, but this time around we put in some physical labor for some families in need.  We split into three small groups and worked on a few houses within the city.  It was a good time, and we felt good doing it. 

Crease Street project coming together in Fishtown

Crease Street Elevation

Interior Court

A while back we blogged about a bunch of our townhome projects going up in various neighborhoods in the city.  This one in particular is the Crease Street project Jose and Rooch are working on in Fishtown which was just a hole in the ground a few weeks ago.  It looks like it's still on schedule to be completed in a couple of months.  If you remember there are 5 units along the Crease street side, one being a carriage unit over the drive aisle, and two more nestled in the back creating a nice little private landscaped courtyard. Looking pretty good.

Building is Back!

Lawrence Street.  4 units.  Sam and Jose worked on this one. It's all done.

North 5th Street.  22 units. Should be done in a few months.

1247 Crease Street. Greg and Jose worked on this bad boy.  7 houses. Should be done in 6 months.

Manayunk Hills.  12 units, Jason and Steve slam dunked this one. Maybe 3 months out.

Manayunk Hills.  Getting there. 

we've done a lot right? This one is at 8th and Christian. All done. 18 units.

Queens Walk.  16 units. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that it's pretty nice inside.

More Queens Walk in Queens Village.

This one is the latest.  412 N. Front Street.  32 units.  Should be done in a few months.

 Building is Back.  Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.  We've been cranking out townhouses this past year like it's our job.  Mostly because it IS our job. Jose and his crew have been hard at work developing a ton of new housing stock in the Northern Liberties and Fishtown areas of the city.  We've got a few in the pipeline and a few in various stages of construction.  Check'em out

Pumpkin Carving!

Jen and Kathleen hate keeping their eyes open

Greg hates people sneaking up on him

Dee Dee making a Keurig pumpkin

Rick and Jason...Jason likes the Yankees

Farinella and Laura making a ninja pumpkin

Steve and Laurens JKR ghost

Jon and Bobs macabre pumpkin

Natalya and Marissa's winner!

It wouldn't officially be Halloween without a JKR Partners pumpkin carving contest; and with Halloween being a moving target this year, we felt we could post our pictures from last Friday today!

New Theater Going up in Williamsburg NYC

By now you've probably heard stories about the cool new place to live in New York City.  You always hear about Williamsburg and probably think first of colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, that boring town with wigs and old rifles.  But then you come to your senses and recall Williamsburg, NYC,  that place in Brooklyn with all the cool stuff and plaid shirts. Well, we are part of that cool.  Greg, Jose and Bob have been working on this seven screen theater for the better part of the last year.    It should be finishing up any day now and give the residents of Brooklyn an equally cool place to catch a flick.

JKRP Scavenger hunt day!

Nichole here! This week was our first annual JKRP scavenger hunt! We were split up into teams led by our partners, and embarked on a three hour intense search through Center City.  Jon, Kim, Greg, and I were on a team and although we didn't win, we had a great time.  Also, a great workout.  We walked/jogged most of our hunt, only stopping to take pictures.  (This trolley ride was only for photos.)  
By the end of our hunt (at exactly 2:59p.m.), I was totally exhausted, but excited for next years hunt. :-)

La Vita e Bella

Fresh off the boat from Italy, Glenn Werner brought back some delicious ice cold limoncello for us all to enjoy...well, at least the few lucky ones that happened to be enjoying lunch on the deck with him.  I can't wait to see what Dave brings us when he comes back from his European vacation in a few weeks.  The standard has been set.

Rooch becomes a Man...in fact he becomes THE MAN.

Izzo Here: Rooch might look like he just graduated elementary school, but he is in fact a full grown adult.  Last week the kid finally got married to his longtime love Diana.  We snapped this picture of Greg at the reception with the other great men of JKR... Me, Dave and Jose.   It was a great wedding, the bride was beautiful, the groom sorta good looking...the booze was flowing, the music bumpin'... Now Rooch and his bride are sitting on some beautiful beach somewhere in Hawaii daydreaming about us back here at JKR headquarters. Lucky.

Happy Birthday Dear PauJaSaGreggg!!!!

Tram Fun here:  Last week, the office got together for a little pizza party on the deck to celebrate our June birthdays.  Don’t worry I won’t reveal identities or ages of our two milestone birthdays!  Despite all of this celebrating, our “singing” was just as pitiful as ever.  Everyone quickly came alive again when reaching for a delicious piece of chocolate glazed chocolate pound cake from Cake and the Beanstalk.  yummy!  Happy Birthday Paul, Jason, Sam, and Greg!!!

Lunch on the deck

Izzo Here: Sometimes when the weather is nice, we are lucky enough to be able to enjoy lunch on the deck. I mean the deck could use, well, new everything, but the umbrella is a good addition.  But sometimes I get pretty bored eating on the deck because Greg and Schmitty aren't all that interesting, but it's still better than eating at my desk.  I'm just kidding... They're alright.

"Everybody in the Club (Jaguar) gettin' tipsy..."

Greg here: On Monday,  a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new office/retail renovation of the illustrious and infamous Club Jaguar. Many city officials and community members were present at this OARC (our client) event and were very excited to breathe new life into this portion of Ogontz Ave. JKRP was also at the scene, with its representatives wishing they had the time to partake in the baby back ribs that were made available across the street at the neighborhood Chili's establishment. Sigh. We filed for permits and construction (hopefully) will begin soon!