Lara Presber

AIA Canada Topic 1 - Moderator - Lara Presber.jpg

AIA, AAA, AIBC, MAA, OAA, AIA, NCARB

Vice President, AIA Canada Society

Lara began her design career in the field of architecture earning her B.Arch from a small atelier based school in Boston. After working as a healthcare architect for several years she yearned to work on smaller and more intimate projects and took advantage of a scholarship to study fashion in Milan where she earned her MA degree in Fashion Design. She remained after graduating to gain valuable experience in product design and manufacturing by interning with luxury shoe and handbag brands before launching her own eponymous womenswear line. The shift in creative scale was the catalyst for redefining her architecture practice and Lara has grown to discover that she would much rather ‘fill the box’ than ‘build the box’ and has since narrowed her studio’s focus to Interior Architecture; strategizing with business owners to make beautiful spaces that contribute to their success through the configuration and function of their built environment. Lara is the owner and Managing Principal of Studio Presber, a 4-person architecture firm established in 2005 located in Calgary, Canada. Studio Presber’s practice focuses on the commercial sectors of retail and office.

AIA Canada: The role of renovations and refurbishments in meeting the 2030 Challenge