LGA Architecture proudly welcomes Alexia Chen and Brittany Bleak into the ranks of ownership, a milestone both women describe not as a promotion, but as a natural progression of their long-standing commitment to the firm. Alexia, now Principal and Project Architect, and Brittany, Director of Marketing and Finance, have been instrumental in shaping LGA’s work and culture for over a decade. Chen and Bleak are now formally recognized as “partners,” formalizing a commitment that has guided their work all along.
Alexia’s journey began in 2011 when she joined LGA as a young designer and student at UNLV during a time of uncertainty in the architecture industry. Las Vegas was still reeling from the Great Recession, and construction had all but dried up. “When I started in 2011, architecture jobs were scarce,” she recalls. But Alexia made an early impression on her colleagues by excelling in her internship while at the same time leading her graduate program’s Solar Decathlon team to a first-in-the-nation win. LGA hired Alexia on as a full-time designer in November 2013, shortly after Brittany Bleak joined the firm.
Brittany came to LGA in May 2013 with a background in marketing and was hired as an Administrative Manager, but it wasn’t long before her role took an unexpected turn. Amid the firm’s post-recession rebuilding, Brittany stepped into financial management, a position that had never been part of her career plan. “Finance wasn’t what I studied, but I wanted to work for a firm I could be proud of … and I had the support to do that.” That support came in part from Principal Craig Galati, FAIA, who encouraged her to step into the challenge. “I don’t remember exactly what I said to convince her,” Craig recalls, “but I trusted her. She was honest, a good strategic thinker, and that was what the firm needed.”
Both women have shared meaningful experiences leading to their mutual respect for one another. “We came up together,” they say, having seen LGA grow from a modest post-recession staff of eight to a robust team working on large-scale, community-driven projects. Their partnership isn’t defined by hierarchy or status but by shared values and responsibilities. “We’ve been operating with an ownership mentality all along,” Brittany explains. Whether it’s managing finances or designing public spaces, both have consistently led with purpose.
It’s the internal culture at LGA that Chen and Bleak speak of most passionately. When it was announced that two women would become partners in the firm, the news was met with genuine excitement across the office. In a field still largely male-dominated at the top, LGA’s 50/50 gender balance in ownership is both intentional and impactful. “A lot of other firms have different experiences with who gets promoted and how, especially along gender lines,” Alexia says. “At LGA, we conduct regular audits of our team makeup. It forces us to ask, ‘Are we living our values?’”
Firm President Jason Jorjorian, AIA, reinforces this value mission, stating, “Having women in our leadership has deepened our capacity to grow…Alexia and Brittany don’t just reinforce our culture—they expand it. Their partnership has energized the office and deepened our confidence
in what lies ahead.” Echoing this sentiment, Vice President Lance Kirk, AIA, noted, “Our entire staff has expressed excitement about the announcement. They are visionary partners who reflect LGA’s belief that diverse perspectives are essential to meaningful architectural vision.”
Though their titles differ, Alexia and Brittany’s leadership styles are complementary. Alexia brings focus and clarity during complex design projects, and Brittany brings transparency and structure to the office. Their styles are distinct but aligned in intent: to bring happiness to the work, and to move the firm toward the future. “We’re not here just to build buildings,” Alexia says. “We want to bring happiness to the people who experience them.” That joy, once a design goal, evolved into a workplace goal: to create a life-giving firm that also gives life to the community.
Much of LGA’s identity is built around a community-centered philosophy—an ethos that influences both office culture and client-facing work. This ethos is now literally embedded in the walls of the firm itself. A large mural by Las Vegas artist Mila May spans the office interior, commemorating key projects and moments from LGA’s journey. Both Alexia and Brittany see themselves in its details: not just in buildings completed, but in the relationships formed, and the values upheld. The mural tells the story of LGA, not just through its work, but through the people who shape it.
Ultimately, what makes Alexia and Brittany’s leadership so impactful is their shared discernment. Whether it’s Brittany’s ability to see through the noise and get to the truth, or Alexia’s composure and reliability in the face of any challenge, both are trusted pillars within LGA. Their partnership isn’t just symbolic, but rather, it is essential to the firm’s future. As LGA continues to evolve, these two leaders will undoubtedly carry its mission forward: to create meaningful spaces with life, happiness, and integrity.