James Leng

James Leng is a Lecturer in Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley's College of Environmental Design and founding partner of Figure, a San Francisco-based architecture office. He teaches core design courses including ARCH 100A, ARCH 100B, ARCH 100D, and ARCH 204B Thesis Studio at Berkeley.

His educational background includes a Master of Architecture from Harvard Graduate School of Design (2013) where he received the GSD Thesis Prize, and a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley (2007).

Leng's research focuses on architectural obsolescence and the 'afterlives' of buildings - examining structures that have outlived their original purpose. His notable 'Architectural Afterlives' project involved a six-month research trip across 17 countries and 60 cities, resulting in visual essays that explore the transitional period when architecture becomes obsolete but hasn't yet found new purpose.

His work investigates how geopolitical, economic, and industrial forces influence architectural resilience and transformation, with case studies ranging from Chernobyl to the ghost city of Ordos in China.

• Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Architecture (2018)
• Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts grant
• SOM Foundation Research Prize
• James Templeton Kelley Prize for best graduate thesis
• Harry der Boghosian Fellow, Syracuse University (2018-2019)

Leng previously worked as a project designer at Michael Maltzan Architecture and has practiced at prominent firms including Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, UNStudio, and OMA across the US, China, and Europe. His professional work includes significant projects like the Vassar Student Residence Hall at MIT, 598 Brannan development in San Francisco, and the Crest Apartments supportive housing in Van Nuys.