About the Office
Swift Lee Office (SLO) is a multidisciplinary design collaborative located in Los Angeles. Our work affirms the importance of architecture and art in both spatial and cultural production, framing civic space as an agent of social change and community connection. We are committed to honoring the cultural, social, and ecological environments and identities that contribute toward a sense of place. We are constantly pushing the boundaries of innovative design that strive to curtail climate change and address social inequities. As a full-service architecture firm, we offer a wide range of services:
New Construction Designed for Net Zero Energy
Tenant Improvement
Additions and Alterations
Rehabilitations/Renovations of Historical Structures
Accessibility Upgrades for ADA Compliance
Design and Preparation of Drawings and Specifications
Building Evaluation and Feasibility Reports
Master Planning and Programming Studies
Conditional Use Permit and Entitlement Support
Design-Build Project Delivery
Civic Art
Our Founding
SLO was founded in Los Angeles in 2000 by Gloria Lee and Nathan Swift. They met while studying at Harvard Graduate School of Design and subsequently established SLO in an artist’s complex in Downtown L.A. SLO was launched as a multidisciplinary design laboratory, combining an architectural design studio, a hands-on prototyping workshop, and a gallery showcasing the work of local artists.
SLO has grown to a full-service architectural firm with an extensive portfolio of complex and innovative civic, educational, residential, commercial, and industrial projects. SLO retains its founding spirit of inventiveness and its interest in the cross-disciplinary practice of architecture. We think of ourselves as design evangelists, preaching the value of ingenious problem solving with a will to experiment, innovate and collaborate.
Nearing the end of our 19th year, we’re looking back, moving forward, and standing still in the here and now.
Our Team
Nathan Swift, AIA, CA Sp
Principal
he/him
Gloria Lee
Principal
she/her
Nora Ames
Project Architect
she/her
Romi A. Grepo
Project Designer
she/her
Catalina Sis
Office Manager
she/her
Ai Nishikata
Project Designer
she/her
Andrew L. Portugal
Project Designer
he/him
Our Clients
An iterative process and close collaboration with our clients and expert specialists, make SLO a privileged member in the field of public and private architecture projects.
Alliance Public Schools
Bright Star Schools
City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering
City of Pasadena Public Works
Clifford Beers Housing
CoHab Development
County Library of Los Angeles
Erik Karlshoej Education Foundation
Fortune School of Education
KIPP: Public Charter Schools
The Korean Scholarship Foundation
Los Angeles County Arts Commission
Los Angeles Unified School District
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Orange County Parks
Orange County Public Libraries
Orange County Public Works
Partnerships to Uplift Communities
Pasadena Unified School District
Rocketship Public Schools
REAL Journey Academies
San Diego Public Works
Turner Impact Capital, LLC
Awards & Recognition
SLO’s work has been widely recognized through publications, exhibitions, and awards, including AIA/LA design awards, SXSWEDU Learn by Design Finalist, LafargeHolcim Sustainable Construction Award, Citation Award from the National School Boards Association, and a grant from the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts.
Date
Selected Recognition
2018
Honorable Mention for A+DU, The County of Los Angeles Homeless Initiative Housing Innovation Challenge
Presenter, AWA+D, AIA-LA WiA, and SoCal NoMA Speed Talks – My Ah-Ha Moment
Panel participant on LACAC Creative Graffiti Abatement Project presentation, for Arts Management class
2017
AIA Citation Award, Civic Art Installation, Woodcrest Butterfly Wings & Scales
LafargeHolcim Foundation Building Better Recognition, 2017
Sustainable Design Award from Metal Architecture, Twin Rivers Charter School
Selected to present at SXSW EDU “Learn By Design”
2016
Led Reading Hour as part of public engagement for the LACAC civic art installation project, South Los Angeles
“Infrastructure Space” Forum participant, Detroit, MI
2015
Biocity Symposium, Keynote Speaker, Palermo, Italy
Panel Discussion Lead at the 1st “Next Generation” Awards Lab held in New York City
2014
Public Engagement Workshop with Trash 4 Teaching at Woodcrest Library, South Los Angeles, CA
Grant from the Open Space District, Los Angeles County Arts Commission for Creative Graffiti Abatement Project
2012
Special Citation Award National School Boards Association Exhibition of School Architecture
2010
Winner: Prototype School Design Competition Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Design Charrette
2001
Creating Green Homes Charrette: Providing a foundation for developing green building criteria for future affordable housing projects in the City of West Hollywood, Global Green USA & The City of West Hollywood
Oberdick Research and Teaching Fellowship, University of Michigan
International Design Resource Awards, Stud Series TM Furniture Line, Honorable Mention
2000
Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts, Stud Series TM Research and Development
AIA/LA Design Award, Stud Series TM, Honorable Mention