FSDA’s 2025-2026 Lecture Series

The Friends of San Diego Architecture presents inspiring lectures on architecture, design, and the built environment by speakers who stimulate thoughtful, community-centered discussions. After more than 40 years, the conversations continue.

Join Us in Celebrating FSDA’s 40th Anniversary and Our Region’s Legacy as a World Design Capital!
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“The Role of the Community College Campus
in Building a Community”

City College Housing (San Diego Community College District)

Lance Lareau, District Architect
San Diego Community College District
Saturday, November 15, 10:00 AM
San Diego History Center
Casa de Balboa
1649 El Prado
Balboa Park

San Diego’s Community Colleges are currently undergoing a building boom with $3.5 billion in new projects. Lance Lareau will talk about the design of community colleges: the role of the campus in building the neighborhood/urban environment, which is not limited to the physical infrastructure but also includes shaping social infrastructure. As a case study he will focus on the work now going on at City College: the update of the campus master plan, the new buildings, and the need for student housing. He will also address how this all ties in with the proposals in the Balboa Park/San Diego High School Connections report that went to the City Council in September.    n May, the Downtown San Diego Partnership and the Prebys Foundation unveiled a new vision for the Community Concourse developed in collaboration with the nationally recognized urban planning firm U3 Advisors and more than 20 local organizations.

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Lance Lareau is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Planning, Design and Architecture, and the District Architect, at the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD). He is a highly accomplished architect with more than 25 years of industry experience. During his tenure at the SDCCD, he has been instrumental in delivering innovative and functional designs that meet the unique needs of educational environments. He played a key role in the successful implementation of the Proposition S&N Bond Programs, delivering more than $1.5 billion of much needed renovations, upgrades, and new facilities district-wide. Lareau also had a critical role in the application for and award of state grant money to fund housing for low-income and at-risk students at City College. He was named one of the Leaders of Influence in Architecture and Design by the San Diego Business Journal in 2023.

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On Friday, November 14 at noon, the public is invited to join City College President Ricky Shabazz on the corner of B and 16^th for a virtual walk-through of the 800-bed Affordable Student Housing Development. The Affordable Student Housing Community Sneak Peek video is available on YouTube.

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PLEASE NOTE: FSDA is presenting this program in our new location, at a new time. Refreshments 10-10:30, program 10:30-11:45. Admission to the museum is free but donations are welcomed. A $5 donation is also appreciated to FSDA.

Please RSVP on the FSDA website if you will attend

Friends of San Diego Architecture Image Library of the Month

Southwestern USA

Enjoy our collection of historic architecture, maps, and more in this featured Southwestern USA gallery.

FSDA News of Interest

Missed a lecture? Check out our videos: Since September 2017, FSDA has been videotaping our lectures. They have been a work in progress. If you missed one of our lectures, you now have a chance to view them here. Architect Manuel Oncina talks about Libraries: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow; Architect Hal Sadler and Modernist Keith York have a dialogue about Evolving Styles: From the Sixties; Architects Ken Baldwin and Andy Darragh discuss From Labs to Libraries; Landscape Architect Vicki Estrada revisits San Diego Design Decisions, and, Architects Kathleen McCormick and Ted Smith present An Alternative Practice. We have now added our September and October lecture videos. We would love to have your comments.

November 2019: Diane Kane – Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Irving Gill: Modern Architecture Emerges

February 2020: Glen Schmidt – Mission Valley: An Open Space Renaissance

January 2022: Panel of Speakers – San Diego-Tijuana: World Design Capital 2024

The latest video now available and one you won’t want to miss!

UC San Diego: Billions in Development

FSDA Image Library: Our image library continues to grow with new images added often, so you might want to bookmark this link. We started with the Ned Paynter Collection and have now added the Diane Kane Collection, Competitions, Exhibits, and FSDA Events. This image is from the Southern California Gallery in the Diane Kane Collection.