Julia Laue
City Architect & Bureau Manager
San Francisco Bureau of Architecture
Julia Laue, FAIA, LEED AP, NCARB, serves as the City Architect for San Francisco Public Works, where she is dedicated to delivering excellence in project execution and design for the city’s significant civic building projects. With 12 years of service in Public Works, Laue previously held positions as Principal Architect and Manager, overseeing a staff of over 70 professionals engaged in diverse design projects, including health centers, libraries, homeless shelters, transportation facilities, recreation centers, police stations, and more.
In late 2024, Laue made history as the first woman to be appointed City Architect since the role's inception in 1907, a position established during the city’s reconstruction after the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906. This role was created to uphold the highest standards in design and construction for the city’s public structures, ensuring resilience and excellence in response to the earthquake's devastation. Laue’s appointment continues this vital legacy.
“Julia Laue has made it her professional mission to elevate the importance of civic architecture and the crucial role public architecture plays in enhancing the experience of government services,” said Public Works Director Carla Short. “Her background and commitment to delivering exceptional projects that benefit the people of San Francisco make her the ideal choice for City Architect.”
Before joining Public Works, Laue gained valuable experience in the private sector, contributing to notable projects such as the ground-breaking Santana Row in San Jose, various developments at Stanford University (including the Medical Center's Front Entry and Bill Gates’ Computer Science Building), and the prestigious Ritz-Carlton resort in Kapalua, Maui.
In early 2024, she was elevated to the prestigious College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects, recognizing her exceptional contributions to the field.
In late 2024, Laue made history as the first woman to be appointed City Architect since the role's inception in 1907, a position established during the city’s reconstruction after the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906. This role was created to uphold the highest standards in design and construction for the city’s public structures, ensuring resilience and excellence in response to the earthquake's devastation. Laue’s appointment continues this vital legacy.
“Julia Laue has made it her professional mission to elevate the importance of civic architecture and the crucial role public architecture plays in enhancing the experience of government services,” said Public Works Director Carla Short. “Her background and commitment to delivering exceptional projects that benefit the people of San Francisco make her the ideal choice for City Architect.”
Before joining Public Works, Laue gained valuable experience in the private sector, contributing to notable projects such as the ground-breaking Santana Row in San Jose, various developments at Stanford University (including the Medical Center's Front Entry and Bill Gates’ Computer Science Building), and the prestigious Ritz-Carlton resort in Kapalua, Maui.
In early 2024, she was elevated to the prestigious College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects, recognizing her exceptional contributions to the field.