John S. Egan, AIA –Principal, Egan | Simon Architecture & Board Director, USGBC-LA

As part of the AIA|LA Citizen Architect initiative, we are profiling architects that are currently engaged in civic affairs by serving on Boards, Commissions, Neighborhood Councils  or who work for public agencies.

IMAGE CREDITS:  John Egan, AIA

What inspired you to become an architect and what were some of the formative
memories that continue to shape your design philosophy?

At a young age I experienced Chicago architecture walking from the Printers Row Lofts to Union Station as a commuter to grade school. I would change my route regularly cutting through the ground floor of buildings; the Rookery, Manadnock, Transamerica, Chicago Federal Center, this experience inspired a passion for architecture.

I attended the University of Southern California’s School of Architecture. During my time there, I partook in a new grass roots movement that sought to solve the Affordable Housing crisis in Southern California. The importance of Architecture and how it impacts peoples’ everyday lives. Social benefit became apparent and motivating.

What motivates and fascinates you the most (or challenges you the most) about your
current role?

The pushing for progressive architecture is a great motivator. I’ve been working in Affordable Housing since the early 1990s. I continue to find others who are likeminded, such as the members of the US Green Building Council. Creating experiences with
environmentally and society sound design is truly rewarding.

As you’ve become more civically engaged, what insight can you share on how architects
can become both better listeners and stronger leaders?

Get involved with what you are passionate about. Leadership occurs in many ways on many levels. Everybody has an opportunity to lead. Architects need to be engaged in their
community as a citizen with a perspective to be shared with others.

At this time, what do you recognize to be amongst our most pressing needs?

Affordable Housing continues to rank among our most crucial needs, especially for
veterans and people experiencing homelessness. We are working with the City and County of Los Angeles as well as affordable housing developers to provide men’s and
women’s shelters, homeless housing, addiction recovery centers, pet shelter where the
homeless’ pets can receive medical care, and storage facilities for the homeless’ personal belongings. There’s a true shortage of all facilities. All of these services help alleviate stress from many peoples’ lives, continuing to make positive impacts on our community.

And what do you anticipate will be our most pressing needs in 2028? In the year 2058?

Over the next few decades environmentally sustainable growth will be the most pressing
issue for Los Angeles. We need to draw on past and present technologies in order to assure that our growing communities create a positive outcome for our surroundings.

What’s your favorite city/building/park/plaza/place and why?

Chicago really impacted me during my formative years. The variance of the downtown architecture as a whole is amazing. Walking the city is a wonderful experience.

Los Angeles is also an architecturally rich. Lately, I have been enjoying the buildings from the regency modern era.

What your favorite way to spend the weekend? (What do you do for fun? Favorite book?
Podcast? Museum?)

My weekends usually consist of spending time with my wife and three daughters. I enjoy attending my kids’ sporting and school events. Getting to see them participate in life milestones is overall the best experience.

John S. Egan, AIA –Principal, Egan | Simon Architecture & Board Director, USGBC-LA

John S. Egan is a Principal of Egan | Simon architecture. John believes investment in Progressive Architecture should benefit the community, create diversity, and strengthen the urban fabric.

His childhood was spent along the Potomac River where Washington D.C. sprawled into rural Colonial America. At a formative age, he moved to Chicago; an unknown metropolis with deep generational family roots. The greatest of the City Beautiful Movement cities provided an architectural immersion. Commuting to school, John walked to and from Union Station. The Architecture scraped the sky; replacing the forests of his youth. The difference ignited his Architectural pursuit.
John ventured to Los Angeles, attending the renowned University of Southern California’s School of Architecture. During this time, a grass roots movement seeking a solution to a Southern California Affordable Housing crisis was underway. In response, John vested his evenings providing Architectural services to Non-Profit Housing Developers.

With an early office establishment, he managed the renovation of the Hotel Bel-Air, a prestigious luxury hotel owned by the Royal Family of Brunei, followed shortly by the design of Le Palais du Couchant, on Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills.

Simultaneously, his affinity for a progressive Los Angeles, was validated through groundbreaking projects; Project Angel Food serving over 2,000 meals daily to the seriously ill; The S. Mark Taper Shelter Resource Bank providing goods to over 100,000 homeless individuals in Los Angeles annually; and numerous Affordable Housing developments resulting in homes for those in need.

Architecturally recognized by the US Green Building Council and by the Clinton Global Initiative, John believes in environmentally responsible Architecture. His practice borrows from past and current technologies to create a Progressive Architecture.

John is a past commissioner for the California Board of Architects, a member of the American Institute of Architects, a licensed Architect in California and Florida, a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional, a member of the US Green Building Council, a member of the Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing (SCANPH), and a Board member of HY Architects in Northern California. He is a returning guest speaker at the Annual Housing California Conference as well as the Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing (SCANPH) Annual Conference.