John Ziebarth is being honored for his unparalleled volunteer service to the profession. For 30 years, he has served with distinction as AIA | San Diego’s primary representative on in-numerous land-use regulatory boards, task forces, and committees throughout the County, always striving to achieve logical efficiencies in the codes and a balance between the myriad interests impacted by each undertaking, all while running a successful architectural firm.
Growing up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, he attended the University of Utah, receiving degrees in Accounting, History, and a Masters in Architecture. Awakening his commitment to public service, John dedicated two years in the Peace Corps, serving in Benin, West Africa designing and building primary and secondary schools.
Moving to San Diego in 1979, John gained valuable experience in a number of firms before joining Oremen Associates as a Project Architect, a firm encouraging involvement with AIA|SD. He got involved with BEEP (Built Environment Education Program), working with hundreds of elementary school children. In 1992, John founded Ziebarth Associates specializing in retail and commercial projects.
While heading his firm, John volunteered thousands of hours as AIA|SD’s voice on technical committees dealing with zoning and regulatory issues, bringing common sense to an overly complicated process. A partial list of committees/activities includes:
Advisory Board rewriting San Diego’s Zoning Code
Code Monitoring Team for SD’s Land Development Code
Technical Advisory Committee - City of San Diego DSD
City of San Diego 2008 General Plan
Citizens Oversight Committee - Chula Vista DVD
Airport Technical Advisory Group for 15 Airport Land-Use Compatibility Plans
Land-Use Planning around San Diego International Airport
Airport Land Use Plan for Naval Air Station North Island for City of Coronado
The Peace Corps’ credo has been John Ziebarth’s lifetime goal: “To build a better world, one community at a time.”
