Architecture is a Social Justice Issue
Fast Company 2023 World Changing Ideas - Finalist, Architecture
Nueva School wins 2023 AIA COTE Top Ten Award

Nueva School Science and Environmental Center receives AIA Committee on the Environment Top Ten Projects Award

Berkeley Design Advocates Design Award
LMSA Publishes Practice with Purpose: A Guide to Mission-Driven Design for Architects Devoted to Making a Difference through Design

PR Newswire Press Release: Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects (LMSA), a nationally acclaimed architecture firm that works only with nonprofit organizations, today announced its book, Practice with Purpose: A Guide to Mission-Driven Design. The how-to guide inspires architects and young designers to envision spaces that address some of the greatest challenges of our time: the climate emergency, racial and ethnic injustice, chronic homelessness, educational crises, and the preservation of the embodied carbon and culture of existing buildings.

Marsha Maytum

As the new year begins, I will begin a new role as Principal Emeritus at Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects. I will continue to serve as an advisor and mentor to the firm and continue advocacy efforts for the environment and social justice. I am transitioning to this new role due to my ALS diagnosis and progression in the last year. As I close this chapter of my career, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the many colleagues, clients, consultants and contractors I have had the privilege of collaborating with over these many years. I am especially grateful to and inspired by Bill Leddy, Richard Stacy, and everyone in our firm (present and past) for their commitment to the power of design to make the world a better place. I am confident that they will continue to practice with purpose and lead the way to an equitable, sustainable, and carbon positive future.

Wishing you the very best in the new year.

Leddy Maytum Stacy's Science and Environmental Center Embraces its Landscape with Sustainable Goals
Edwin M. Lee Apartments, a state-of-the-art supportive housing complex
ASLA - Award of Excellence | Residential Design
A place to call home: Berkeley Way and the Hope Center open
California Promotes Architectural Innovation Through Mass Timber Competition
BRIDGE and CHP Celebrate Groundbreaking of New Permanent Supportive Housing in Mission Bay
AIA National - Committee on Architecture for Education, Education Facility Design Award
Mayor London Breed and Speaker Nancy Pelosi Celebrate Grand Opening of 100% Affordable Housing in the Mission
Edwin M. Lee wins AIA National COTE Green Project Award

Edwin M. Lee Apartments receives AIA Committee on the Environment Top Ten Projects Award

New Development Permits Filed For 3135 San Pablo Avenue, West Oakland
AIA East Bay, Concept/Unbuilt award

Mosswood Community Center & Park Master Plan received an AIA East Bay Conceptual/Unbuilt award. The AIA East Bay Design Awards is a unique design awards program established to recognize exceptional architecture in the Bay Area. Criteria to be used by the jury include quality of aesthetic design, sustainable responsibility, innovation in materials and technology, contribution to public appreciation of architecture, and facilitation of solutions to community challenges.

Broadway Cove & 735 Davis Ribbon Cutting with mayor London Breed

Mayor London N. Breed along with other San Francisco leaders celebrated the grand opening of our recently completed affordable housing project Broadway Cove and 735 Davis in Embarcadero, San Francisco. “To address our city’s housing crisis, we need to be willing to take on projects like the ones we are celebrating today,” Mayor Breed said in a statement.

Glasgow COP26 Communique LMSA and Building Industry Leaders Call to World Government: Its time to Lead on Climate

LMSA has joined leaders from the world’s largest and most influential architectural, engineering, and construction firms and professional organizations issued the 1.5°C COP26 Communiqué – a challenge to sovereign world governments to step up their commitments to reduce carbon emissions from the built environment to meet the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C carbon budget.

During the crucial period of the next decade, architects and designers have a pivotal role in addressing the climate emergency and its associated societal impacts. It is well documented that the worst impacts of climate change - extreme weather events, draught, wildfire, flooding, economic destabilization – are and will continue to be experienced disproportionately by disadvantaged communities, people with disabilities, children, and the elderly. Providing safe, dignified and zero carbon places to live and thrive for all global citizens is crucial to the health, well-being, and future of our civil society. Architects and designers must offer far more than inventive forms and the latest fashions. We must become innovative agents of change, providing the vision and skill to lead our communities toward a just, climate-positive future for all. The design values and practice of architecture must be transformed NOW to successfully meet the challenges of the climate emergency and achieve the 1.5oC carbon budget. There is no time waste.

- Bill Leddy, FAIA and Marsha Maytum, FAIA
Founding Principals, Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects

ASLA Professional Awards - Honor Award, Analysis and Planning

Mosswood Park (in collaboration with Einwiller Kuehl) received an ASLA Professional Honor Award in the Analysis and Planning Category.

Bill Leddy Gives Keynote at Universal Design Summit

Bill Leddy gave the opening keynote presentation at the 2021 Universal Design Summit, presented by the Starkloff Disability Institute.

AB 1010 Signed by Governor Newsom

In a major success for Bill Leddy in his capacity as VP of Climate Action for AIA California, Governor Newsom signed AB 1010, a major milestone in preparing California’s architects to design a resilient, carbon neutral future for communities across our state. Following closely behind AIA California’s Declaration of Climate Emergency in August, this new law is another example of the bold actions AIA California is taking to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, helping to meet the advancing challenges of climate change for all Californians.

Creating More Accessible, Inclusive Buildings
Good Energy: Renewable Power and the Design of Everyday Life
AIA National, Housing Award

The Edwin M. Lee Apartments received an AIA Housing Award in the multifamily category.

'I felt like I won the lotto': Homeless veterans start new lives in S.F. apartments
Our Growing Leadership Team

We are pleased to announce the promotions of our four Associate Principals - Ryan Jang, Gregg Novicoff, Aaron Thornton, and Vanna Whitney - to Principal. With the addition of these principals, joining founding principals Marsha Maytum, Richard Stacy, and Bill Leddy, LMSA is welcoming a new generation of leaders to build on the firm’s mission-driven values and reputation for design excellence.

Thirty years ago Sunnydale residents asked for a gym; it's finally happening
Nueva School Science and Environmental Center Now Open

Take a first look at the Nueva School's newly completed Science and Environmental Center, and hear from the inspiring students and teachers who will bring this space to life.

1940 Bryant Certified LEED Platinum

While we're still working remotely, we're proud to announce that our home base at 1940 Bryant has been certified LEED Platinum! To reduce our carbon footprint,  our office, which we moved into in December 2018, was designed to meet the AIA 2030 Commitment with 70% reduction in energy use. Actual energy use after the first year of occupancy shows our energy reduction at 75%, exceeding our AIA 2030 Commitment goal.  One of our most effective strategies for reducing embodied carbon was one of the simplest - reusing furniture and adapting building materials from our old office.

Zero Carbon: Can Built Environment Education Deliver?

Marsha Maytum discusses transforming education to mainstream zero carbon.

Sonoma's Sweetwater Spectrum sets the standard for special needs housing
New Graduate Center Promotes Community
BRIDGE Housing Opens 68-Unit Affordable Housing Property in San Mateo

An opening celebration on Veterans Day for Montara, which will provide 68 affordable apartments, 12 of which are set aside for formerly homeless veterans.

140-Unit Permanent Supportive Housing in San Francisco’s Mission Bay Breaks Ground

410 China Basin (Mission Bay Block 9) breaks ground.

MicroClimates: An S.F. neighborhood has one of the nation’s lowest carbon footprints. It has almost nothing to do with residents’ choices
Environmental Inequity
AIA California Residential Design, Merit Award
On Nob Hill and in Mission Bay, two new housing projects serve much different needs

John King takes a look at the Edwin M. Lee Apartments in the larger housing context of today's San Francisco.

Building Accessibility Into America, Literally

30 years after its passing, Michael Kimmelman reflects on the legacy of the ADA and how it has reshaped the way architects and designers think about accessibility.

Berkeley's most ambitious homeless housing project ever breaks ground
Berkeley Way Virtual Groundbreaking
Why Are There So Few Great Accessible Buildings?
California Promotes Architectural Innovation Through Mass Timber Competition
AIA COTE Jan 2020 Newsletter

AIA Committee on the Environment's Nov / Dec newsletter, featuring Marsha Maytum's update on the AIA Climate Action Plan.

Eight Questions You’ll Hear When Proposing Zero-Carbon Design

Interested in zero-carbon design but don't know where to start? Trying to persuade leadership or clients? Our team shared our suggestions for tackling the difficult questions in this FAQ.

AIA COTE Nov / Dec Newsletter

AIA Committee on the Environment's Nov / Dec newsletter, featuring Marsha Maytum's final letter as the 2019 COTE Advisory Group.

Gregg Novicoff Elected to AIA SF Board of Directors

Gregg Novicoff has been elected to the AIA SF Board of Directors for 2020. Congratulations, Gregg!

California Architects Push the State for Emissions-Free Buildings

Wiliam Leddy discusses navigating California's political landscape in the push for the Zero Code.

Dear Governor Newsom: Be a Climate Hero. Adopt the Zero Code Now.

LMSA is joining the call to urge Governor Newsom to adopt the Zero Code and leverage California's power and influence to enact profound change. William Leddy weighs in on the current efforts of AIA California, and how our state can help lead the way.

Architect Magazine - 2019 Architect 50: Ranked #20

For the ninth year in a row, LMSA has ranked in Architect 50's top firms in the nation! This year, we ranked #20 overall and for sustainability, as well as #15 for business.

AIA Committee on the Environment October 2019 Newsletter
UC Berkeley Jacobs Institute
2019 Reynolds Symposium: Education by Design

Architects and educators have an historic opportunity to be leaders in these uncertain times – to employ the transformative power of design education to address some of society’s greatest challenges: rapidly advancing climate change, homelessness, disability rights, aging with dignity, and innovative education. William Leddy, FAIA, and Marsha Maytum, FAIA, will discuss how both architectural practice and education must work together to redefine design excellence for a climate positive world, helping to lead our communities toward a just, resilient and hopeful future for all. Providing context and examples from their firm’s practice, they will describe approaches to creating a “teaching practice” at two scales. Within the work: how can simple tools and educational strategies help to integrate ecological design thinking and social relevance within every project? Beyond the work: how can citizen-architects and educators advocate for rapid changes in our design culture and in public policy to accelerate the arrival of a low-carbon future?

Architects are joining a major strike—here’s why
Are you an expert in architectural marketing?

We are seeking a highly motivated and creative Marketing Manager to join our firm to oversee and manage all project pursuits, awards, external and internal communications, marketing activities, market research and business development.

Architects sign on for the Global Climate Strike
Families see new permanent supportive housing in San Francisco
AIA Committee on the Environment July Newsletter
California Preservation Foundation - Preservation Design Award: Rehabilitation (Phase 2)

The San Francisco Art Institute at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture is the winner of a 2019 Preservation Design Award for Rehabilitation. In making their decision the jury noted the exemplary design and energy savings of the project stating, “this is the best rehab project we’ve seen. Incredibly consistent and compatible with the historic structure. This is everything you would look for in the rehabilitation of a shed building in this era, and it uses significantly less energy than other similar projects.”

Microsoft Accessible Workplace Handbook

Ed Roberts Campus is a case study project in the new Microsoft Accessible Workplace Handbook

Getting to Zero Forum

Register today to hear Marsha Maytum, Ryan Jang and Gwen Fuertes present at the Getting to Zero Forum in Oakland, California on October 11, 2019. Marsha and Ryan will be speaking about "Embodied Carbon & High Performance in Landmark Structures: The Transformation of Fort Mason Pier 2", while Gwen will be speaking during "Data Driven: How the 2030 Commitment Propels High Performance Design".

AIA Committee on the Environment June Newsletter

Read the latest updates from the AIA Committee on the Environment

88 Broadway groundbreaking

Mayor London Breed and District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin joined LMSA,, BRIDGE Housing, The John Stewart Company, and members from the San Francisco Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development, the Port of San Francisco, the North Beach Neighbors and NE Waterfront Advisory Group, Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association, Bank of America, and guests on July 9, 2019 for the groundbreaking of 178 new permanent affordable homes at 88 Broadway and 735 Davis.

Shared Space and the New Nonprofit Workplace
San Francisco Business Times - Largest Bay Area Architecture Firms: Ranked #26
Sweetwater Spectrum Featured on Forbes
Building Decarbonization in San Francisco

Did you know greenhouse gas emissions from San Francisco buildings have been cut by more than half since 1990? Nonetheless, there’s a long road to travel to deliver on our commitment to a zero-emissions building stock by 2050. Join Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects and AIA San Francisco Committee on the Environment for a presentation with Staff from San Francisco Department of the Environment to discuss actions the city is taking to update the city's Climate Action Strategy.

At 2019 AIA Conference, Members Push for Urgent Climate Action

Members of Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects helped to advance the Resolution for Urgent and Sustained Climate Action during the 2019 AIA Annual Business Meeting

Groundbreaking Women in Construction

Marsha Maytum recently spoke at the ENR 2019 Groundbreaking Women in Construction (GWIC) conference in San Francisco on May 24th.

Zero Carbon Architecture: the Business Case

William Leddy outlines the business case for designing zero net carbon architecture in the latest issue of arcCA, the journal of AIA California.

Mayor London Breed Celebrates Affordable Housing

San Francisco Mayor London Breed and community leaders joined together on Friday, May 10th, for the groundbreaking of Casa Adelante, located at 1990 Folsom. The project brings 143 new, permanently affordable apartments for low-income households to the Mission, while also providing support spaces for Galería de la Raza - an arts organization, HOMEY - a non-profit, and Felton Institute - early care and education services.

East Bay Housing Organization Affordable Housing Week, 2019

East Bay Housing Organization's Affordable Housing Week is May 9-18, 2019

Celebrate with us at the following events:
Celebrating Culture and Community on the Corridor, Saturday, May 11th, 2:00pm-3:30pm

Sneak Preview and Hard Hat Tour of Casa Arabella, hosted by The Unity Council, Monday, May 13th, 3:00pm-5:00pm

How Local Government and the Private Sector are Tackling the Displacement of Low Income Residents, hosted by the City of Oakland, Thursday, May 16th, 10:00am-12:00pm

California College of the Arts - Blattner Hall Student Housing

In response to the critical unmet need for affordable student housing for the California College of the Arts (CCA) San Francisco campus, a trustee developed new mixed- use student apartments that simultaneously fosters student and neighborhood community, are affordable to students and the College, and reflects CCA’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

AIA Announces Recipients of 2019 Education Facility Design Awards

AIA Announces Recipients of 2019 Education Facility Design Awards

Green Design Needs a New Narrative, Says USGBC Report

Broadening the base of support for environmental priorities by linking them to health is also an AIA strategy, says Marsha Maytum, chair of the AIA Committee on the Environment and principal at the San Francisco–based Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects. “Health is not controversial or partisan. It’s for the benefit of everyone,” she tells record, “so it’s a good way to put the environmental message forward without overwhelming people with the entire topic of climate change.”

AIA Honors Cutting-Edge Designs with 2019 Education Facility Design Award

The American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE) is recognizing nine projects for state-of-the-art designs of schools and learning centers.

Blattner Hall at 75 Arkansas
AIA National - Educational Facility Design Award

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) at Fort Mason Center for the Arts as a winner of the 2019 Education Facility Design Awards.

Bay Meadows Affordable Housing Breaks Ground

BRIDGE Housing celebrates the groundbreaking of Bay Meadows, a new 68 unit affordable housing development.

Casa Adelante at 1990 Folsom has closed on construction financing

The Casa Adelante, also known as 1990 Folsom, has closed escrow and started construction. This new affordable apartment building will add 143 units to the Mission District of San Francisco.

San Mateo launches 68-unit affordable housing project

The City of San Mateo and BRIDGE Housing bring new affordable housing to San Mateo

Blattner Hall at California College of the Arts
Upcoming lecture at the University of California, Berkeley College of Environmental Design

William Leddy and Marsha Maytum will illustrate how architecture can help lead the way toward a just, healthy and regenerative future as part of the spring architecture lecture series at the University of California, Berkeley College of Environmental Design. They are currently teaching a spring architecture studio as Howard A. Friedman Visiting Professors.

AIA Releases New COTE® Top Ten Toolkit

The COTE® Top Ten Awards is the industry’s best-known award program for sustainable design excellence. The COTE® Top Ten Measures and this Toolkit are a framework for incorporating deep green principles from the beginning of every project.

AIA Committee on the Environment January Newsletter

Marsha Maytum, FAIA, LEED AP becomes the 26th Chair of the AIA Committee on the Environment

Architect's Newspaper - Best of Design: Adaptive Reuse

San Francisco Art Institute receives Architect's Newspaper 2018 Best of Design Award for Adaptive Reuse

New student housing for CCA opens at 75 Arkansas

California College of the Arts (CCA) celebrates the ribbon cutting of Blattner Hall

The Commonwealth Club’s San Francisco headquarters honors its union history

The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. Each year, we bring nearly 500 events on topics ranging across politics, culture, society and the economy to more than 25,000 members and the public.

San Francisco Business Times - Largest Bay Area Architecture Firms: Ranked #34
San Francisco Art Institute at Fort Mason Wins 2018 AIA COTE Top 10 Award
AIA National - Committee on the Environment Top Ten Green Project Award

San Francisco Art Institute at Fort Mason Center for the Arts receives AIA Committee on the Environment Top Ten Projects Award

AIA National - Committee on the Environment, Top Ten Green Project Award

Family House receives AIA Committee on the Environment Top Ten Projects Award

LMSA Announces New Promotions

We are excited to share that Ryan Jang, AIA, LEED AP has been promoted to Associate Principal and Idit Harlev has been promoted to Associate, Director of Finance and Operations. Ryan and Idit both play a key role in the ongoing success of LMSA and we are excited to see them continue to grow. Congratulations!

Architect Magazine - 2017 Architect 50: Ranked #26

For the seventh year in a row, LMSA has ranked in Architect 50's top firms in the nation! This year, we ranked #7 for sustainable design and #26 overall.

AIA National - Educational Facility Design Award: Award of Merit

The Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation at UC Berkeley received a 2017 AIA Committee on Architecture for Education Award of Merit- we are continually pleased to see this great project recognized at a national level.

SFAI Fort Mason Campus Architecture + the City Tour

On Friday, September 29, LMSA and the San Francisco Art Institute will be conducting a tour of the new SFAI Fort Mason Center campus as part of AIA San Francisco's Architecture + the City Tour. This will be a unique opportunity to learn more about both the renovation and seismic strengthening of the Pier 2 shed as well as the conversion of the pier into the new SFAI campus. Tickets are $15 for AIA SF members and $25 for non-members.

LMSA Welcomes Two New Senior Associates

We are pleased to share that Jasen Bohlander, AIA, LEED AP and Aaron Thornton, AIA have been promoted to the position of Senior Associate. Jasen and Aaron both have extensive experience designing for public, private, and nonprofit clients in the Bay Area, and they share a powerful commitment to socially conscious and environmentally responsible architecture- we're excited to have them take on greater leadership roles in the firm.

William Leddy Interview with Modern Architect

Bill Leddy recently sat down with Tom Dioro at KZSU 90.1FM, Stanford University's radio station, for their Modern Architect program. He discusses his inspiration for choosing to become an architect, what has made LMSA so successful, and more. Check it out!

William Leddy and Marsha Maytum Honored with Lawrence Medal

The University of Oregon, School of Architecture and Allied Arts presented the Ellis F. Lawrence Medal—the school’s highest honor—to William Leddy and Marsha Maytum during commencement ceremonies on June 19, 2017.

California College Of The Arts Breaks Ground On More Student Housing

California College of the Arts started construction on its next student housing project in April. The 228-bed four-story building at 75 Arkansas St. will take about 16 months to build and is expected to be ready for students by fall 2018.

On the Habits of High-Performance Firms

LMSA participated in a study recently published by the AIA Committee on the Environment that investigated ten firms who have received at least three AIA COTE Top Ten Green Project awards and their secrets to sustainable design excellence. We loved being a part of it and sharing our experiences with the architecture community; be sure to check out Lance Hosey's summary of the report in Architect Magazine.

Vanna Whitney Promoted to Senior Associate

We are excited to share that Vanna Whitney has been promoted to Senior Associate!

Vanna has focused her more than 20-year career on underserved communities and environmental and social sustainability. As a valued leader at LMSA, she has made key contributions to the firm and the community. She has deep experience with multifamily housing and has led the firm's mentorship program and spoken on supportive housing at local and national events.

2017 AIA Architecture Firm Award

LMSA is thrilled to have been selected by the American Institute of Architects Board of Directors for the 2017 Architecture Firm Award, the highest honor the Institute bestows on an architecture firm.

UC Berkeley Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation Certified LEED Platinum

The Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation at UC Berkeley, an exemplary model of sustainable design since it opened in the fall of 2015, has officially been certified LEED Platinum.