Who We Are
LEBA Architects is a Southern California practice with a focus on healthcare, laboratory, educational, civic, and institutional environments. The office specializes in adaptive reuse, occupied renovations, and technically complex projects requiring thoughtful coordination and long-term stewardship.
Working collaboratively with clients, consultants, and contractors, LEBA assembles integrated project teams tailored to each project’s scale, technical requirements, and user needs. The practice is recognized for its responsive approach, technical rigor, and ability to deliver sophisticated projects within active campus and operational environments.
Christopher Lewis, AIA
LEBA Architects, Inc.
Partner
Christopher Lewis is Managing and Design Partner at LEBA Architects, where he leads the planning, design, and delivery of healthcare, educational, institutional, and public-sector projects throughout Southern California. His work focuses on adaptive reuse, complex renovations, and the thoughtful transformation of facilities within active operational environments.
With extensive experience guiding multidisciplinary consultant teams and navigating complex stakeholder interests, Christopher is recognized for his strategic leadership, technical expertise, and commitment to responsive client service. His portfolio includes higher education, civic, and healthcare projects requiring careful phasing, regulatory coordination, and uninterrupted facility operations.
Aiyla Balakumar, AIA, PMP
LEBA Architects, Inc.
Partner
Aiyla Balakumar is a Partner at LEBA Architects, where she leads institutional, community, and K–12 public education projects with an emphasis on thoughtful planning, stakeholder engagement, and responsive project delivery.
Her work combines design sensitivity with technical coordination, helping clients navigate complex project requirements from programming and planning through construction. Known for her clear communication, organizational leadership, and practical problem-solving approach, Aiyla excels at building consensus among diverse stakeholder groups while maintaining a strong focus on project goals, user needs, and long-term success.
Collaborative Network
At LEBA Architects, we bring energy, curiosity, and rigorous design thinking to every project. We collaborate with a trusted network of consultants, engineers, and specialists assembled specifically for each project’s scope, technical requirements, and operational needs.
These long-standing professional relationships allow the practice to deliver complex institutional and public-sector projects through highly coordinated, multidisciplinary teams. The office regularly partners with experienced structural, MEP, civil, landscape, accessibility, and specialty consultants to support projects from planning and design through construction administration.
Our consultant relationships span many years and have engaged multiple project types, creating a shared understanding of project delivery, communication, and quality expectations. This collaborative approach allows LEBA to scale project teams appropriately, leverage specialized expertise when needed, and provide clients with seamless coordination from initial planning through project completion.