Gilbert Leong


Gilbert L. Leong was a Chinese-American architect who designed churches and public buildings in the Los Angeles area. He was the first Chinese-American to graduate from USC with a degree in architecture. His designs helped shape the architecture of postwar Los Angeles and Chinatown. Leong was also a co-founder of the East West Bank in 1973. The bank was set up to serve the Chinese American community in Southern California.

Education

After graduating from the University of Southern California with a degree in architecture, Leong worked with architects Paul Williams and Harwell Hamilton Harris. Leong eventually began to work on his own. Leong designed both residential and public buildings in his career. He had an influence on the postwar California architecture of Los Angeles.

Exhibitions

Designs

Leong was born in 1911: he was the son of Chinese immigrant parents. He was the first Chinese American to graduate from USC with a degree in architecture. Leong served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Leong and his family owned the Soochow Restaurant in Los Angeles. Leong co-founded the East West Bank in 1973. Leong died in Pasadena California on August 28, 1996.