Building Communities: Perspectives on Everyday Architecture in The City
What is everyday architecture, and why is it important?
While its downtown skyline features the most skyscrapers of any city along the West Coast (26 out of more than 480 high-rises), San Francisco's built environment ecosystem, comprising around 200,000 structures, includes exponentially more low- and mid-rise buildings. Many of these buildings underpin the fabric of communal daily life in the city's various neighborhoods — primary and secondary schools; childcare centers; places of worship; and spaces for essential services.
Featuring a variety of perspectives—that of a real estate developer; a construction company founder; a design advocate/architect/designer; and a building inspector/Plan Review team member—the panel conversation will cover local case studies, as well as, future thinking on the transformative role of architecture, design and construction at the community level in San Francisco.
5:30 Doors Open
6:00 Panel Starts
7:00 Panel Ends
7:30 Event Ends
CHRIS FOLEY is Director at Ground Matrix, who specializes in entitlement, financial analysis and land acquisition. Chris works with some of the largest clients in Northern and Southern California including Tishman Speyer, Lennar Urban, TMG Partners, Morgan Stanley, The Pauls Corporation, CIM Group, Trumark Urban and others. Over the past decade, Chris has brokered and consulted on land transactions involving over 10,000 condominium residences and apartments. Since 2012, Chris has brokered over $400 million of development projects for clients in the San Francisco area.
Chris spends his time and expertise helping non-profit organizations such as the Homeless Prenatal Program, Sword to Plowshares, Family House and United Playez; he is also a board member at the Chinese American International School in San Francisco and the East Cut CBD.
MIGUEL GUZMAN is Founder of Guzman Construction Group. With three decades of experience in the construction industry, Miguel has worked across nearly every facet of the field—from hands-on roles on jobsites to high-level operations—giving him a deep, practical understanding of what it takes to build both projects and teams. A proud San Francisco native, Miguel launched Guzman Construction Group with a vision to uplift the city he calls home. What began as a small, local firm has grown into one of San Francisco’s leading general contractors, recognized for delivering complex projects with precision, integrity, and care.
A firm founded on vision, driven by values, Guzman Construction Group continues to lead with purpose—advancing innovation, inclusion, and quality across every jobsite. As a hands-on CEO, Miguel remains deeply involved in the performance of each project and the growth of every team member. His commitment to community is personal shaped by lived experience, driven by responsibility, and reflected in the firm’s dedication to building stronger, more equitable neighborhoods across the Bay Area.
LAURA RAMBIN, AIA, LEED AP, is a Principal at Studio Bondy Architecture, a women-owned business based in Oakland, CA, focusing on the design of schools and non-profits. Laura specializes in projects where users are at the heart of the design process, transforming community aspirations into inspiring spaces that foster collaboration, innovation, and comfort.
Her portfolio demonstrates architecture's power to build community through transformative projects including the San Francisco Zen Center renovation, which enhanced accessibility and spiritual connection; the Presidio Knolls School's distinctive Mandarin-immersion campus; and San Francisco Day School's award-winning arts and innovation building. Laura's background in printmaking informs her iterative design approach, while her appointment by Governor Newsom to the California Building Standards Commission reflects her commitment to advancing architectural excellence that serves communities.
RICH SOENKSEN is a building inspector with the City of San Francisco. He is also part of the Plan Review team at San Francisco Department of Building Inspection, assisting architects and designers with navigating the California Building Code’s Life Safety provisions and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Throughout his career of 20+ years, including as a small business owner, environmental sustainability has always been a central theme. In 1994, Rich spent a year in El Salvador in Central America working for an architect who specialized in environmental design and construction, primarily constructing a facility for training farmers in organic farming practices. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Arizona.
LISA BOQUIREN A seasoned strategist and design & architecture aficionada, Lisa works with creative businesses on branding, marketing and communications. She currently serves as Editorial Advisor for AIA San Francisco's publication, Small Firms, Great Projects.
Lisa also produces and moderates convergent conversations, and has presented during San Francisco Design Week, and at AIA Los Angeles and AIA San Francisco. Recent conversations held at the Center for Architecture + Design include, Architect, Barbie: Reflections on Women in Practice; Stand Out: Storytelling at the Intersection of Brand & Business Strategy; and Leading Edge: Creative Forerunners in Design, Architecture + Technology.