Leigh Christy

Describe the work you do. What are some of your recent and current projects that excite you? What inspires you about the future of your chosen field?
I work in that blurred interface of architecture and urban design in order to focus on the restorative possibilities of design. For both private and public clients, my team leadership encompasses design, management, and technical realms at a variety of scales, offering a perspective that is comprehensive and forward-looking. Using research and project work as a basis, I frequently present and publish on actionable approaches to social and environmental resilience.

I lead Perkins&Will’s firmwide Innovation Incubator microgrant program and sit on the firm’s Research and Development Council. I currently chair the ULI Los Angeles Innovation Council. Until recently, I was a member of the AIA California’s ArcCA Digest Editorial Board and the Committee on the Environment (COTE).

Why did you choose Taubman College for your education?
Not only a strong architecture program, but access to top-tier classes across academic subjects and the space within the architectural curriculum to take them.

How did Taubman College prepare you for your career? What experiences beyond the classroom (internships, research assistantships, teaching opportunities, or other external experiences) provided additional value?
The liberal arts base in the Honors College that I was able to build prior to joining Taubman was unique and foundational to my career. The balance of design, theory, and tectonics in Taubman’s program, coupled with a breadth of studio foci – from urban design to set design, always with an architectural lens – then set the stage for me to carve my own path in the architectural design profession.

How has being part of the alumni community impacted you, personally and professionally?
I used the alumni network to identify and interview for what became my first full-time job – in NYC directly after graduation.