Blogs

Juan Bugarin

Juan Bugarin is an architectural designer and LEED Green Associate based in Los Angeles, and the founder of Phronesis Lab, a regenerative design and sustainability studio focused on low-carbon, circular building systems.

He recently completed the Resilient Rebuilding Project Management Fellowship at LACI, where he trained in post-wildfire rebuilding strategies, including home hardening, wildfire-resilient construction, and energy-efficient building performance. Juan holds a Master's degree in Mass Timber Design from the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) and an Erasmus Mundus MSc in Sustainable Design, Construction, and Management of the Built Environment (The MBUILD), earned across the University of Porto, Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen, and the University of Cantabria. 

With over a decade of architectural practice spanning residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects in the U.S., Mexico, and Europe, and three years teaching Ecodesign, Juan brings a cross-disciplinary perspective to sustainable construction. Through Phronesis Lab, he translates research on prefabrication, timber systems, life-cycle assessment, and additive manufacturing with natural materials into practical strategies for architects, engineers, and developers working toward a more resilient built environment.

Sacramento Regional Leadership Advisory Board – Now Accepting Applications!

Sacramento members! Want to get more involved locally? Join our Sacramento Regional Leadership Advisory Board (RLAB) and help shape events, programs, and community impact while expanding your network and leadership experience.

Step Into Leadership

Volunteer at the 2026 California Green Building Conference

Be part of a milestone event, our 25th Annual California Green Building Conference at UC Berkeley.

We’re inviting members to support this flagship event by volunteering. It’s a great way to engage more deeply, meet fellow professionals, and contribute to the success of the conference.

Volunteer Details:

•  Pre-conference workshops: May 27

•  Conference day: May 28

•  1–2 shifts (approx. 4 hours each)

•  Roles include: event support, wayfinding, registration, set up, breakdown, and more

Member Perks:

• Complimentary conference pass (May 28)

• Breakfast and lunch included

Please note: travel and accommodations are not provided.

Sign up to volunteer by May 4, 2026, to secure your spot.

Can’t join us as a Volunteer? Remember you still have Member special pricing:

As a USGBC-CA member, you can attend with exclusive member pricing using code: CONF_MEMBER. This is your opportunity to connect with industry leaders, explore innovative solutions, and be part of the conversations shaping California’s built environment.

Register Now

Connect at Events Near You

Bay Area:

• 4/23 Bay Area Women+ in Green Breakfast

• 5/27 CGBC 2026: California Green Building Career Fair

• 5/27-5/28 California Green Building Conference (Berkeley) (Code: CONF_MEMBER)

Sacramento:

• 4/15 Sacramento Gratitude Happy Hour

Los Angeles:

• 4/2 Foundations of Green Building Hybrid/in-person @ the Metro Talent Hub

• 4/9 Evening Under the Stars in a Garden in Collaboration with USGBC California and AWA+D

• 4/25 Earth Day - Parks & Recreation - City of Burbank (Submitted by member Rodney H.)

San Diego:

• 4/18 Earth Day Extravaganza: Chollas Creekside Park Stewardship

• 4/19 Green Homes Tour 2026: WaterSmart Living & Wildfire Resilience in Escondido (Code: TOUR100)

Look further into our 2026 event schedule!

Save Money & Access Perks

An exciting opportunity! Free AIA26 registration for new California AIA members! New AIA members based in California get free registration to AIA26—the architecture and design event of the year—June 10–13, 2026, in San Diego. This special offer is worth up to $1,499 per member!

Click here for offer!

Start Your Year Getting Your WELL Knowledge in Shape!

IWBI is extending an exclusive offer to USGBC-CA members and partner organizations: enjoy 10% off WELL Summit sponsorship packages in 2026, plus a complimentary consultation with our Partnerships team to identify the opportunity that best advances your goals. Elevate your brand and lead the conversation on climate and health priorities shaping the built environment. Email events@wellcertified.com to learn more and secure this offer by May 31

Design for Net Zero and Title 24 Non-Residential Compliance - Save 15% with IES

New to IESVE? Save 15% on any IESVE license
Already an IESVE customer? Get 15% off Live Web-Based Learning packages, led by our expert Building Performance Engineers.

Contact Laura Kear for pricing and details. Laura.kear@iesve.com

 

www.iesve.com Smarter tools. Deeper insight. Better buildings.

Join Sustain SoCal for Driving Mobility 13 as we discuss sustainable transportation! There will be a program covering mobility innovation and collaboration from 1-5pm and a vehicle EXPO from 5-7pm. If you live in SoCal, you know that transportation is central to everything. Driving Mobility brings together a remarkably interconnected ecosystem spanning every layer of the sustainable transportation value chain.

Join our friends at Sustain SoCal in collaboration with OC Innovation Week: UCI Beall Applied Innovation on April 21 from 1pm-5pm for the Conference, and 5pm-7pm for the Expo.

Presale ends April 6th (50% off)

Register Here

Community Highlights

The USGBC-CA Community in Action

On March 25, we held our annual signature Women+ in Green Breakfast, this year at the intersection of L.A. and the I.E., on the beautiful Claremont McKenna College campus. Exploring “Leading through Complexity”, we celebrated the power of women leading in sustainability through especially challenging times, leveraging the strength, empathy, and adaptability that help define women's leadership. We thank moderator Kate Diamond, HDR, and the panelists Anne Cotter of ZGF Architects, Anna Cummins of 5 Gyres, Veronica Robledo of Wells Fargo, and Jessica Sutorus of City of Colton for sharing their unique perspectives on driving change.

Tips from the panel on staying optimistic:

• Ground yourself with your mission in life.

• Remember to SMILE. Yours may be the only smile someone else sees that day.

• Curiosity, wisdom, and persistence still rise to the top.

• Never be afraid to ask for help.

• Go back into nature; it will bring you joy and peace, and remind you that all is interconnected.

The March 11th Green Building Mixer in Sacramento was a smashing success! Over drinks and pizza, dozens of USGBC California members chatted with USGBC-CA Board Members and staff, and partners from state agencies and aligned advocacy groups. If you missed this event, another Sacramento happy hour is scheduled for April 15.

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Download the Community Hub App!

The Connected Community mobile application is now available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

In order to log in to the mobile application, please use our site's main domain (community.usgbc-ca.org). The app gives you quick access to the discussion feeds, committee activities, member directory, and more! Filter the content by events, blog posts, discussions, and volunteer activities.

Have questions? Contact community@usgbc-ca.org

Thank you for being a member and helping drive our mission forward. Your engagement in committees is key to advancing sustainable, equitable communities across California—and we’re thrilled to keep that momentum going together. We hope to see you at an event in your community soon!

Thank You to Our Annual Sponsors! USGBC-CA Partners and Sponsors provide operating support for all of our programs and events, as well as start-up funds for new green building programs and initiatives. Please join us - we need your support! Contact Carrie Hester for more information.