Leon Bridges (architect)
Leon Bridges | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 18, 1932 Los Angeles |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Washington, Loyola College of Maryland |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Practice | Bridges/Burke, The Leon Bridges Company, Sheladia/Bridges |
Leon Bridges FAIA (born August 18, 1932, in Los Angeles) is an American architect, and professor at Morgan State University.[1]
Early life[edit]
Bridges was born in the East Los Angeles, California neighborhood of Boyle Heights to a mother who was a postal worker and a father who worked various jobs. He met his mentor, architect Paul Williams, while a student at Adams Junior High School. Bridges earned his high school diploma from Dorsey High School in 1950 where he was a member of the track team.[2]
Bridges went on to attend East Los Angeles Junior College, Los Angeles City College and the University of California, Los Angeles before being drafted into the military in 1952 (while studying at UCLA).[2]
Life[edit]
He graduated with a bachelor's of architecture from the University of Washington in 1960 [2] and from Loyola College of Maryland with an MBA in 1984.[2]
Career[edit]
Bridges founded the firm, Leon Bridges, AIA in Seattle in 1963, partnering with Edward Burke to become Bridges/Burke in 1966, before moving the firm in 1972 to Baltimore.[3] He was principal at The Leon Bridges Company, and Sheladia/Bridges. Among his many firsts, in 1970 he became the first registered African American architect in Maryland.[4]
Bridges was the first elected Black Director of a regional AIA Board, was elected vice president of the National American Institute of Architects (AIA)[5] and in 1976 and 1984 he was nominated as a Fellow of the College of Fellows, AIA. He also co-founded the AIA/Ford Minority Scholarship fund, which has provided college scholarships for many needy students. Bridges is also a former president and a member of the counsel of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA).[6] After semi-retiring in 2005, he became an assistant professor at Morgan State University School of Architecture and Planning.[7]
Some of his projects have included the restoration of Baltimore Penn Station and Baltimore City College High School.[8]
References[edit]
- ^ "Leon Bridges". Morgan State University.
- ^ a b c d "Leon Bridges's Biography". The History Makers. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
- ^ https://sites.google.com/site/aiaseattlehonors/aia-national-honors/aia-fellows/leon-bridges-faia
- ^ https://www.aiabaltimore.org/2018-08-23/announcing-the-2018-social-equity-design-award-jury/
- ^ https://www.aiabaltimore.org/2018-08-23/announcing-the-2018-social-equity-design-award-jury/
- ^ url=http://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/leon-bridges-38%7Ctitle=Leon Bridges - The HistoryMakers|website=www.thehistorymakers.org
- ^ https://www.aiabaltimore.org/2018-08-23/announcing-the-2018-social-equity-design-award-jury/
- ^ url=http://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/leon-bridges-38%7Ctitle=Leon Bridges - The HistoryMakers|website=www.thehistorymakers.org
| International | |
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| National | |
 | This article about a United States architect or architectural firm is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 1932 births
- Living people
- University of Washington College of Built Environments alumni
- Loyola College (Montreal) alumni
- Morgan State University faculty
- 20th-century American architects
- University of California, Los Angeles alumni
- Susan Miller Dorsey High School alumni
- People from Boyle Heights, Los Angeles
- Los Angeles City College alumni
- East Los Angeles College alumni
- American architect stubs