Aaron S. Leppanen (b. Sept 17, 1979, in Marquette, Michigan) received his 4 year, Bachelor of Architecture Degree in 2002 while graduating from The University of Michigan. In 2003 he commenced his graduate architectural work at the Southern California Institute of Architecture, and in January of 2006, he received his professional Master of Architecture Degree.

Preceding his work at Belzberg Architects, Aaron was involved in numerous large scale projects ranging from “The World Islands” in Dubai with Naga Studio to the Sentosa Island proposal with Greg Lynn Form and Gehry Partners. His experiences contribute both academically and professionally to the firm’s growing interest in large scale developments, contemporary aesthetic, and sustainability.

Barry Gartin (b. June 2, 1979, in Portland, Oregon) received his 4 year, bachelor of Environmental Design degree in 2001 from the University of Colorado, Boulder. After taking a semester off to explore the variable depths and consistencies of snow in the Rocky Mountains, he began his graduate architectural work at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Design/GSFA in 2002, and in May of 2005, he received his professional master of architecture degree.

A northern California native, Barry traded Atlantic humidity and attitude for palm trees and traffic jams to join Belzberg Architects in October of 2005. He is now a contributing designer and project manager for various projects within the office. His current projects include private residences on the big island of Hawaii and Brentwood, office condos in Hollywood, milled wood panels in Hong Kong and others.

Carina Bien-Willner (b. September 11, 1979, in Buenos Aires, Argentina) received her 5 year, professional Bachelor of Architecture degree in 2003 from the College of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture at the University of Arizona where she was awarded the Alpha Rho Chi Award for leadership, service, and professional merit. In 2005, she co-wrote and served on the jury for the Lyceum Fellowship in Honolulu, Hawaii. Carina was born to two Architects [both professors and professionals] turned furniture designers/builders. She has been designing furniture and working in her parents’ shop for most of her life.

Carina is currently a project manager at Belzberg Architects. Her projects include the Las Lomas Residence, the Ahmanson Founders Room furniture, Skyline Residence, Conga Room, and the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust. Prior to working at BA, she was a project manager at the Office of Mobile Design in Venice, CA and interned at Marmol-Radziner & Associates in Santa Monica. In pursuit of her love for furniture, she is involved with most furniture/interior design projects within the office.

In addition to pursuing her passionate architectural career, you may hear her soothing voice on a national Buick commercial, as she was recently [and randomly] cast as a voice-over. She also volunteers her time as a friendly visitor at the Center for Healthy Aging.

With over 12 years experience practicing architecture and hands on construction, Cory is a recent graduate from Columbia University of the AAD program, and an undergraduate from Montana State University. Cory has worked in New York City for six years as lead designer and project architect of high-rise condominiums, art galleries, luxury retail showrooms and boutiques, health-care facilities, and custom homes throughout New York and New Jersey.

David Cheung (b. July 14, 1974, in La Palma, California) holds a B.A. in Social Ecology (with an emphasis in Environmental Design and Analysis) from the University of California Irvine (1997) and a Masters of Architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Fine Arts (2003), where he held assistant teaching positions with Winka Dubbeldam and Alice Chun.

His work has been published in Architectural Record, Architecture Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, the Journal of Architectural Education and Flaunt Magazine. Prior to his tenure at Belzberg Architects, he worked with Callas Shortridge Architects and Ted Tokio Tanaka Architects. At Belzberg Architects, he’s served as project manager/designer for the Ahmanson Founders Room and Hotel Ray and has worked on the design/production teams for most every other project in the office since his employment in 2004.

He lives in Venice with his wife, Ai, their cat, Daisy and their dog, Oliver.

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Susie’s background is in Business Management and Hospitality. Originally from Hawaii she now lives in Marina Del Rey with her husband and daughter.