Leon Bridges

Leon Bridges FAIA (born August 18, 1932, in Los Angeles) is an American architect, and professor at Morgan State University.

Early life

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.

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). 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.

Bridges was the first elected Black Director of a regional AIA Board, was elected vice president of the National American Institute of Architects (AIA) After semi-retiring in 2005, he became an assistant professor at Morgan State University School of Architecture and Planning.