Studio

Good architecture starts with good people.

Level Nine started on the ninth floor of Temple University’s architecture building, long before it had an office of its own.

Jared Blake and Brendan Kemmerer spent five years studying architecture together. Outside the studio, Jared worked in architecture firms and Brendan worked in construction. They became friends, learned the profession from different sides and started talking about the kind of practice they wanted to build.

After graduation, they went to work at separate firms. But the idea stayed with them: a practice where they could develop their own designs and work directly with the people they were designing for. In September 2017, they founded Level Nine, named for the place where it began.

Today, the team works from Brewerytown and Downingtown on homes, apartment buildings and commercial spaces throughout the region. The projects have grown in size and variety, but that direct relationship with clients remains central to the practice.

Who you’ll work with

We’re a small team, and you’ll know us by name. Here’s a little about the people behind the drawings.

Jared Melvin Blake, RA

Principal Architect · Co-founder

Jared leads design and new-project conversations at the studio. He helps clients see what’s possible on their property and turns their ideas into a clear direction, and he co-founded Level Nine in 2017 to work directly with the people he designs for.

He studied architecture at Temple while working in architecture firms and is licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He enjoys the challenge of finding a good solution to a difficult property, whether that means rethinking a rowhouse or designing a new home.

Outside the office, you’ll usually find him on a golf course. Don’t be surprised if he starts talking about golf mid-presentation.

Brendan James Kemmerer, RA

Principal Architect · Co-founder

If you’re looking for Brendan, try a construction site, a soccer field or anywhere there’s an engine that needs fixing. Otherwise, he’s likely at the office, possibly eating stromboli, or meeting with a client.

Brendan worked in construction while studying architecture at Temple, and that hands-on experience still shapes his approach to design. He co-founded Level Nine with Jared in 2017 and is a registered architect in Pennsylvania. His favorite part of the work is building relationships with clients: listening, talking through ideas and helping them take shape.

A devoted Philadelphia sports fan married to a passionate Pittsburgh fan, Brendan and his wife are raising their son in as much competitive harmony as they can.

Benjamin Hoffman

Architectural Designer

Ben joined Level Nine in spring 2022 after earning his architecture degree from Jefferson University. He works across residential and multifamily projects, taking them from the initial building survey through design, consultant coordination and permit drawings.

His work combines the creative side of developing a design with the technical challenge of making the drawings fit together. He stays involved as projects progress, working with clients and engineers through the decisions and revisions along the way.

And while he’s officially finished school, he still quietly puts the ‘stud’ in ‘studio.’

Gayne Blanca

Designer

Gayne is meticulous about how a drawing set fits together. She develops plans, works through revisions and coordinates architectural and structural information, tracking a change beyond the sheet where it first appears.

She catches the inconsistencies that are easy to miss: a layout that no longer agrees with a detail, or a revision that needs to carry through the rest of the set. Her persistence helps turn a developing design into clear, coordinated drawings.

Caleb El-Attar

Designer

Caleb builds the digital starting point for many of our renovation projects, turning laser scans into 3D models of existing buildings. He also develops drawings and supports the team through design and permit review.

Meet us in Philadelphia or Downingtown.

We meet by appointment at either office, on site or by video.

Offices & contact

Philadelphia

3060 W Jefferson St
Philadelphia, PA 19121

Brewerytown · Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm

Directions to the Philadelphia office

Downingtown

107 E Lancaster Ave
Downingtown, PA 19335

By appointment

Directions to the Downingtown office

(215) 259-8332 · info@level9arch.com

Next step

Tell us about your project

A few lines about the property and what you have in mind are enough to start.

Start a project Send a message or call (215) 259-8332