About the Lecture Series
AIA San Diego, in partnership with NewSchool of Architecture & Design and UCSD Design Lab, presents an ongoing public lecture series featuring design leaders from around the world. From architecture and urban design to education, equity, and sustainability, the series brings together practicing architects, students, and the broader community for bold ideas and open dialogue.
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Prado Courtyard, Balboa Park
6:30–7 PM Networking & Bites, 7-8 PM Lecture
Leon Rost is a Partner at Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and leads the Los Angeles office, overseeing projects that span large-scale masterplans, workplaces, higher education, and residential design.
He oversaw the design of 3 million square feet within Google’s next-generation campus—home to Google Gemini—reimagining the Silicon Valley workplace as a flexible, sustainable, and human-centered environment. He also played a key role in the Athletics Ballpark Masterplan, shaping a vision for an integrated sports district. Additionally, Leon led the visioning of Toyota’s Woven City, a prototype smart city exploring the future of mobility, robotics, and urban life.
His expertise in institutional and campus planning includes work on the UC San Diego and Claremont McKenna College campuses, integrating architecture with campus design. His leadership on the Johns Hopkins University Student Center, the university's first mass timber structure, has shaped a dynamic hub for academic and social life.
Google Bay View | Mountain View, US | 2022 | © Iwan Baan
Beyond large-scale projects, Leon has a strong focus on residential and hospitality design. His work on private homes along the Pacific Coast and Not A Hotel in Setouchi, Japan, creates bespoke spaces deeply connected to their surroundings.
Leon’s projects shape how people live, learn, work, and gather, from urban-scale developments to private homes.
REGISTER BELOW! Limited capacity!
$5 – AIA Members | $30 – General Public | Free – Students
Each lecture in this series supports a different cause. Proceeds from this event benefit the AIA San Diego Laura Shinn Diversity in Architecture Scholarship Fund, which supports the next generation of underrepresented students pursuing careers in architecture and design.
If you are no longer able to attend, please pass your ticket to someone else or notify us in advance. For events with limited capacity, no-shows may result in your spot being given to a waitlisted guest.
Thank you for helping us make the most of every seat and ensure full participation at our events.
This Lecture Series is Sponsored by:
Learn how you can become a sponsor HERE
