Leon Bridges (architect)

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]

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)^[4] 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).^[5] After semi-retiring in 2005, he became an assistant professor at Morgan State University School of Architecture and Planning.^[4]

Some of his projects have included the restoration of Baltimore Penn Station and Baltimore City College High School.^[5]

In 1998, Bridges received the AIA Whitney Young Award for his “unselfish service to the betterment of the profession, to the health of the community and to the encouragement for future architects.” ^[6]