Newsmaker: Marsha Maytum on the Architect as Advocate

Marsha Maytum is a founder of Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects (LMSA), a San Francisco-based firm known for buildings that address some of today’s thorniest issues, including social inequity, homelessness, universal access, and the climate crisis. With her husband, Bill Leddy, and their partner, Richard Stacy, she has built a firm widely recognized for its thoughtful, community-focused designs. Among LMSA’s many honors are the 2017 AIA Architecture Firm Award and 11 AIA COTE (Committee on the Environment) awards. Along with Leddy and Stacy, she recently published Practice with Purpose: A Guide to Mission-Driven Design. Earlier this year, Maytum announced that, due to a diagnosis of ALS, she will be stepping away from her day-to-day duties at LMSA, but will mentor and advise the firm as principal emeritus and will continue her environmental and social justice advocacy. RECORD deputy editor Joann Gonchar spoke with Maytum during a visit in San Francisco.