James M. Wilson is a Santa Monica native and third-generation craftsman who learned the building trade from the ground up, working alongside his father—a respected carpenter who built homes throughout Santa Monica, Inglewood, and Pacific Palisades. This early, hands-on education gave James a deep and intuitive understanding of construction that continues to inform his design leadership today. Widely respected by consultants and contractors alike, he’s known for anticipating challenges early and fostering collaborative, solution-oriented teams.

After earning his Bachelor of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (Sci-Arc), James began his career designing high-end residential and retail projects before founding his own firm, Design Intervention, in 1988. He later joined Benton, Park Candereva, where he transitioned into multi-family housing and rose to partner. At Van Tilburg, Banvard & Soderbergh, he managed major developments such as Palazzo Park La Brea, Villa Azure, Alexan Savoy, and The Marlow Apartments in Hollywood—projects ranging from 60 to 2,500 units.

James went on to lead the housing studio at the Cuningham Group, expanding into high-rise residential and hospitality work, and later joined WWCOT Architects to strengthen their housing practice. He has since directed housing studios at GMPA Architects, DLG Group, and Nadel Architects, consistently delivering high-impact projects across Los Angeles and beyond.