Our mission at Fukui Architects is to create architectural environments that reflect the aspirations of our clients. 

Felix established Fukui Architects in 1992 several years after receiving his Master of Architecture degree from Carnegie Mellon University. He is a registered architect in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia, and is IIDA and NCARB Certified. His design projects range from a two-million-plus square foot business park to a demonstration kitchen at Phipps Conservatory and the PPG Paints Arena People’s Gate Eternal Flame Monument.  

Kento has been with Fukui Architects for over 27 years and is now a partner. He is a registered architect in multiple US States and NCARB-certified. He took over as project manager for the firm's small projects within a year of graduating and has been taking on larger roles ever since. Now, all atypical projects in the office land on Kento’s desk! He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a Bachelor of Architecture degree and received a bilingual (Japanese/English) diploma from the St. Mary’s International School in Tokyo. In addition to being a LEED AP, he holds multiple Building Code certifications through the International Code Council. He serves on the Uniform Construction Code Board of Appeals, the Zoning Hearing Board, and is a Volunteer Firefighter in his local municipality. His latest endeavor is to become a FEMA-certified Structures Specialist on the regional Urban Search and Rescue team.

Emma is a licensed architect in Pennsylvania and Illinois and is Self-certified in the city of Chicago. With 10 years of experience in the field of construction and design, she has designed and managed a variety of project scales and typologies including K-12 schools, restaurants, large multi-unit and single family homes, commercial build outs, and large resort retail spaces. Emma graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and a minor in Environmental Science, and from the Illinois Institute of Technology with a Master of Architecture. Emma has overseen all aspects of the design process including strategic planning at a large scale all the smallest construction details. She enjoys teaching others and learning from others: By communicating complex ideas to clients and collaborators in an easily digestible way and through projects step by step and the cross-functional learning from others it requires along the way.

Xili Li is a licensed architect in Pennsylvania and an MBA candidate at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business. Her professional experience focuses on commercial projects, including office buildings, large-scale distribution facilities, and retail developments. Her expertise includes project management, coordination of multidisciplinary consultants, building code compliance, client relations, and construction administration.

Jay is a licensed architect in the state of Pennsylvania. He received his B.S. Arch. from the University of Michigan's Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, and his M.Arch from Carnegie Mellon University where he was part of the Urban Design Build Studio from 2017-19. His interests in the field stretch from the historical, social, and political scale, down to the smallest of waterproofing details. Renovations to old buildings are the most engaging projects in Jay's typical work day; teasing apart existing conditions, working within unique practical constraints, and being a part of a building's ongoing story are just a few of the things that excite him. Unable to sit still, Jay spends his free time tinkering with various vehicular projects, exploring the city and its surroundings, getting lost in Wikipedia, and walking his cat. 

Isabella graduated from Lehigh University with a B.A. Arch. Born and raised in El Salvador, she has a passion for architecture as a medium for cultural expression and social engagement. During her time at Lehigh, she researched autochthonous architectural responses to global climate change and possible application to Salvadoran public school infrastructure. 

Working at Fukui Architects, she enjoys the comradery between senior and junior architects, especially with guidance in licensure and the passing down of their expertise. In Pittsburgh, Isabella finds herself painting or urban sketching in her free time, but when she is back in El Salvador, all her time is spent at the beach eating pupusas with family.

Lucas received his B.S. Arch. from the University of Pittsburgh in December of 2024. Now, he is actively pursuing licensure.

With his past experience working for local nonprofit organizations, Lucas is deeply invested in the betterment of the city of Pittsburgh and the social implications of architecture. He credits his favorite hobby, biking, for giving him a greater perspective on the interplay between nature and the forces of the built environment. When he is not biking, you can find him reading about historical events, enjoying the great outdoors, or watching his beloved Buffalo Bills.

Laura received her B.S. in Architecture from Bowling Green State University and her Master of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University.

As a Northeast Ohio native turned Pittsburgh resident you might find Laura almost anywhere!  She enjoys lots of activities like attending Banjo Club, walking dogs at the local shelter, jogging through Frick Park, or going birding with the Three Rivers Birding Club. Laura finds that by engaging with many different hobbies and many different people, it becomes increasingly more apparent how deeply architecture impacts everyday life. Laura is excited to continue looking for architectural solutions to everyday problems while pursuing her architectural licensure with Fukui Architects.

Bailey graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in December 2024 with a B.A. Arch, and will be pursuing licensure. She began her architecture career in Tokyo, Japan, where she was immersed in a design culture that blends tradition with innovative urbanism. In addition to her design experience, she has participated in physical construction work, giving her a grounded understanding of how materials, labor, and on-site coordination bring architectural concepts to life.

Outside of work, Bailey enjoys being on the beaches of western Puerto Rico, listening to Reggaetón, or being home with her three cats.

Vanessa received her B.F.A. in Architectural Design from James Madison University in 2021, her Master of Architecture from The University of Texas at Austin in 2024, and is currently working toward licensure. Her curiosity toward architecture began in childhood, where growing up between El Salvador and various places in the US exposed her to how local culture and societal values shape the surrounding built environment. Today, that perspective fuels her dedication to creating architecture that is inclusive and socially responsive to everyone.

In her free time, Vanessa is driven by her love for hands-on creativity and is often looking for her next project before finishing her current one. Additionally, she enjoys exploring local spaces with her sketchbook and camera in hand as a way to capture the unique spirit of each new place she finds herself in.

Sally graduated from Parsons School of Design with a B.A. Arch Honors in May 2025 and is currently pursuing the path toward architectural licensure. She began her architectural career in New York, contributing to design drawings for a diverse range of projects, from mixed-use luxury hotels to small-scale renovations for educational institutions. She is passionate about projects that uplift communities, improve quality of life for end users, and contribute positively to the local natural environment.

In her free time, Sally enjoys visiting parks and exploring nature, often observing and learning about the organisms native to the Pittsburgh area. She also designs and creates naturalistic terrariums and aquariums. She is sometimes spotted walking through local parks with her parrot in a bird backpack.