Hunter-based prefabricated construction firm Marathon has expanded its internal architectural capability, appointing former NBRS Principal Architect James Kim as Senior Design Associate. The executive recruitment aligns with the firm’s strategic expansion across eastern Australia’s commercial, healthcare, and education infrastructure channels, aiming to integrate high-end architectural design with industrialised off-site manufacturing methodologies.
James transitions to the Singleton-headquartered modular manufacturer following a 24-year tenure within traditional tier-one architectural firms. His corporate portfolio encompasses the design leadership and delivery oversight of more than $1.5 billion worth of institutional assets across New South Wales, navigating complex statutory approvals, sustainability compliance, and building information modelling (BIM) frameworks.
The executive deployment targets growing commercial demand for rapid-build infrastructure as traditional building sites grapple with escalating material costs and skilled labor deficits. Prefabricated workflows enable education and healthcare operators to commission new building footprints with minimal on-site disruption, contracting standard project delivery schedules significantly.
Senior Design Associate at Marathon, James Kim said that shifting from traditional construction frameworks to modular architectural models allows for enhanced capital efficiency and rapid asset deployment.
“I’ve spent my career designing spaces where people learn, grow and thrive. Joining Marathon gives me the opportunity to apply that experience in a new way by delivering premium, design-led buildings faster and more efficiently than ever before,” James said.
James holds a Master of Architecture alongside a Master of Construction Management, maintaining status as a Registered Architect within New South Wales. His previous project delivery pipeline includes the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) award-winning Taronga Institute of Science and Learning, which secured a six-star Green Star environmental rating as the first dedicated facility of its architectural classification in the Southern Hemisphere.
The modular operator provides industrialised building solutions across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory.
General Manager of Marathon, Jeremy Bird stated that recruiting tier-one architectural directors into the off-site fabrication space is essential to disrupting standard industry perceptions of modular building capabilities.
“At Marathon, we’re proving what modular construction is truly capable of, and James has a key role in that. His track record in education and health architecture, and his instinct for buildings that genuinely serve their communities, is exactly what our clients deserve,” Jeremy said.
To outline the operational integration of architectural metrics with manufacturing parameters, Marathon will host an online industry technical brief on Wednesday 5 August 2026 from 11:00am to 11:45am. Corporate registration for the live streaming session is managed directly via the firm’s enterprise digital portal.
IMAGE | Modular construction builder Marathon expands executive design pipeline with appointment of Principal Architect James Kim
