Jon William Turkula

Jon first came to Utah as a youth to compete as a freestyle skier. The size and access to the Wasatch was irresistible to Jon, a young man from the plains of Minnesota. There was something hypnotic about real mountains. After graduating from Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota, Jon gave into the temptation and enrolled at the University of Utah. At the University of Utah Jon was able to ski professionally, making appearances in numerous ski film, and competitions, including the X-games. Later Jon's fascination with building and art drew him to the architecture program at the University of Utah. It was there that Jon realized he had a real passion for design.

At the University of Utah Jon had the opportunity to study Architecture in Japan, consisting of a summer semester in Japan comparing traditional Japanese architecture traditions and culture to the seemingly very different contemporary architecture and culture of current Japan. Jon and his group worked to compare Tokyo, a very modern and very Japanese city, with Kyoto, a very traditional and also very Japanese city. The project involved a design project in each city, attempting to create a program as well as a structure that could capture the nature of each place. This project impacted Jon's ideas of design, urbanity, aesthetic, and nature immensely.

The following Autumn Jon moved to New York to attend the Graduate School of Architecture Planning and Preservation at Columbia University. There Jon worked with digital media, construction/ fabrication techniques, as well as research and experimentation with ideas of urbanity. While at Columbia Jon worked on projects around the world, including a semester project in Rio De Janero, working with the city to come up with ideas for developing its waterfront all while preserving the history of the original favellas. Jon's stint in New York gave him opportunities to work on many digital fabrication projects as well as remodeling historic houses. After Columbia Jon went on to work with Alejandro Zera-Polo, the current dean of Princeton, at Foreign Office Architects.

Jon has recently returned to the Wasatch. Unable to resist the constant call of the mountains he fell so in love with as a youth. Jon is now working with Jaffa Group, bringing his experience to the beautiful world of Park City. Marrying all of Jon's passions in one place.

Current Position: Designer

Years with Jaffa Group Design Build: 1 year

Certifications: None