The People Behind LDA Architects

We believe that the firm is only as good as its people. At LDA, we have a long tradition of developing our staff to be project leaders and leaders of the firm.

Gerald K. Lee
Architect / Principal

Gerald received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1960. Concurrent with his practice, Jerry was a member of the faculty of the Department of Architecture at UC Berkeley for 8 years and an examiner for the State Board of Architectural Examiners for 10 years.

Gerald Lee has been LDA's Partner in charge of Design since 1974. He has extensive experience on a wide range of project types including low-rise and high-rise office buildings, hotels, large public and private housing facilities, educational facilities, commercial developments, banks, and government facilities. His expertise includes site evaluation & selection, project programming, historic preservation, interior design, furnishings and furniture design, graphic design, and artwork procurement and commissioning.

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Thomas S. Lee
Architect / Principal

Tom received his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 1976 and joined LDA that same year. In 1984 he became a Principal, and in 1990 was appointed as Chief Executive. His experience with a variety of building types and his knowledge of a wide variety of construction methods is the basis for his development of the firm's construction document production systems; he remains LDA's chief project architect and manages our construction documents production system.

In the past, he has represented architectural concerns as a liaison to BART, on the CAABA Transportation Committee. He is currently serving on the Design Review Commission,and is a representative for the development of the new Seaborg Learning Center, for the City of Lafayette.

He has participated as the responsible project manager on the large projects in the firm's resume. These include projects with mixed-uses, multiple types of construction, more than one owner/ user, phased construction and more than one responsible design professional.

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Roumel Butiong
Project Manager

Roumel Butiong joined LDA in 1998, and has progressed rapidly up through the organization. His depth of experience with construction documentation, vast knowledge of detailing, great leadership ability, and attention to detail have combined to make him the lead architect for LDA on the $100 million New Asian Art Museum.

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Douglas Shortes
Senior Associate / Project Manager

Since joining LDA in 2000, Douglas has quickly become an important member of the office production / management team. Douglas has considerable experience in Types I and V construction for residential, commercial, and office tenant improvement work. His expertise in producing efficient and well-organized drawing packages is responsible for work that continues the Firm's reputation for exceeding all industry expectations.

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Janet Kennedy
Project Manager

Since joining LDA in 2005, Janet has taken lead responsibility on some of the firm's larger projects. Mixed construction types have become a specialty for her. For 845 Montgomery, she provided technical expertise in introducing a new steel framed condominium within an existing historically registered wood-framed brick shell. At the Menlo Circus Club, she successfully married a pre-engineered barn system with a custom, wood-framed clubhouse. At the historic Canterbury Hotel, near San Francisco's Union Square, she is converting three disparate and antiquated structures into a modern facility of family suites, while introducing life-safety and accessibility upgrades.

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Robert Valdez
Project Manager

Over 10 years experience in corporate architectural environments has developed Robert’s broad scope of expertise including all phases of construction for Multi-Family Residential (Apartments and Condominiums), Mixed Use, Single Family Homes and Tenant Improvements.The combination of Education, Artistic Ability and Construction Backgrounds have allowed Robert to become a problem solver and key contributor at various levels.

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