Jose “Pepe” Perez is the president and CEO of PQH/Vargas Architects and Engineers.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I oversee all operations, including financial, human resources, marketing and the way we run the show. Occasionally, I get to design my own projects. I have my own projects that I work on, otherwise I would go crazy. I need to have my creative outlet once in a while.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT DESIGNING?
“I think every design offers a challenge and I like designing different things to stay on top. That’s one of the things that has kept our firm alive — we are not pigeon-holed in any one type of design.”
BIG PROJECTS?
“Currently, we are doing the redevelopment of the Lynch Building [11 E. Forsyth] for Vestcor Properties.” They are also designing Sebastian Harbor, a mixed-use project in St. Augustine for Vestcor.
OTHER PROJECTS YOU’VE HAD DOWNTOWN?
They designed the Tax Collector and Property Appraiser offices.
WHEN DID YOU START THE COMPANY?
In 1981, in the Baymeadows area. Two years ago they designed and built their own office in Southpoint.
AREAS THEY WORK?
He is a registered architect in 15 states; the company handles projects all over the Southeast.
WHAT DOES THE COMPANY DO?
It has a general practice of 37 employees, including registered professionals with several sub-specialities, interns, computer automated drafter and designers and administrative people. “We do a lot of commercial work, multi-family work and City work.”
WHAT DOES PQH STAND FOR?
It represents the initials of Perez and his two partners, Ricardo Quinones and Rob Hoenshel. When the firm opened it was called Perez and Associates. In 1989, he made Quinones and Hoenshel partners.
RECENTLY ADDED VARGAS?
“We’ve adopted Vargas Engineering for the civil engineering aspect of it.” Perez saw that he needed to create a one-stop shop so he expanded the company into civil engineering, master planning, interior design and construction services.
BIRTHPLACE
Havana.
WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE ARCHITECTURE?
“I thought maybe I could do engineering, but it was too regimented, I needed more of a creative outlet.”
WHEN DID HE MOVE TO JACKSONVILLE?
In 1978. “I saw it having a lot of potential. Miami was getting overpopulated so it was either Orlando or Jacksonville. I thought Jacksonville had a lot more potential with the natural resources, the beaches, the river and the climate. I felt better about the quality of life in Jacksonville, too.”
— by Michele Newbern Gillis