Gilbert Leong

Gilbert L. Leong (Chinese: 吉尔伯特梁; pinyin: Jí'ěr bó tè liáng) (1911-1996) was a Chinese-American architect who designed churches and public buildings in the Los Angeles area.[1] 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.[1][2]

Gilbert L. Leong
Died	August 28, 1996 (aged 85) Pasadena, California
Nationality	Chinese, American
Occupation	Architect
Buildings	Chinatown’s Baptist church Chinatown’s Methodist church Kong Chow Family Association and Temple. Interior court and authentic Chinese garden in the Pacific Asian Museum in Pasadena.

Education

• Leong studied painting sculpture at Chouinard Art Institute under Millard Sheets
• USC degree in architecture (1936) [1][3]

Career

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.[4] Leong designed both residential and public buildings in his career. He had an influence on the postwar California architecture of Los Angeles.[5][6]

Exhibitions

• In 1936 the work of Leong was featured at the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art. The exhibition was entitled "Oriental Artists".[7]
• In 2012 Steven Wong and Floridia Cheung highlighted Leong's work at the Chinese American Museum in an exhibit called "Breaking Ground".[8]

The Kong Chow Temple

Designs

• Chinatown’s Baptist church
• Chinatown’s Methodist church
• Kong Chow Family Association and Temple.
• Interior court and authentic Chinese garden in the Pacific Asian Museum in Pasadena. Co-designed[3]

Personal

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.[4] Leong and his family owned the Soochow Restaurant in Los Angeles.[9] Leong co-founded the East West Bank in 1973. Leong died in Pasadena California on August 28, 1996.[10]

References

1. "Gilbert Lester Leong; Architect, Founder of East West Bank". Los Angeles Times. 28 August 1996. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
2. "Things To Know About The East West Bank". routingnumberusa. RoutingNumberUSA. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
3. O'Connor, Pauline. "Midcentury modern by Gilbert Leong in Silver Lake seeks second-ever owner". La.curbed. Vox Media, Inc. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
4. "Midcentury modern by Gilbert Leong in Silver Lake seeks $1.699M". bestlaneighborhoods. Best LA Neighborhoods, Inc. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
5. RAGO, DANIELLE. "Hidden in Plain Sight". archpaper. The Architect's Newspaper, LLC. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
6. "Chinese American Architects in Los Angeles, 1945-1980". archpaper. The Architect's Newspaper, LLC. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
7. "Benji Okubo". encyclopedia.densho. Densho. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
8. GILMARTIN, WENDY (13 February 2012). "'BREAKING GROUND' AT CHINESE AMERICAN MUSEUM SHOWS THAT NOT ALL L.A. ARCHITECTS ARE OLD, WHITE DUDES". LA WEEKLY. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
9. Cho, Jenny (2009). Chinatown in Los Angeles (1st ed.). San Francisco California: Arcadia Publishing. p. 91. ISBN 978-0-7385-6956-7.
10. "Gilbert Leong obit". Los Angeles Times. 28 August 1996. Retrieved 16 August 2019.