Category: COTE
Ruth Meghiddo, AIA – Committee Member
Ruth Meghiddo, AIA, is a licensed architect in California and a certified permaculture consultant. She holds a master’s degree in architecture and urban design from UCLA and a master’s degree cum laude in architecture from the University of Rome, Italy.
Ruth established Farm Urbana in 2013 and became a pioneering leader in ecological urban farming solutions and regenerative design practices. At Farm Urbana, she utilizes her architectural design skills to develop Urban Farming by Design as a strategic business model that integrates permaculture design with city life and environment, bringing nature closer to workplace frameworks.
As an architect, she sees urban farming as both a way to foster healthy city living and to address the challenges of global warming. By creating shared farming spaces, offering educational programs, and practicing circularity, she aims to create more engaged and self-reliant communities.
Ruth encourages organizations to change their perspective: to see city workplaces and the surrounding environment as interconnected parts of a vibrant, living system that energizes and inspires human potential. Gardens and streets can support city forestation and motivate people to fight global warming.
Meghiddo Architects, AIA – Farm Urbana
Hiba Brewster, Assoc. AIA – Committee Member
Hiba Brewster, Assoc. AIA, is a senior designer at Studio One Eleven, where she brings a thoughtful, sustainability-driven approach to architecture and urban design. She earned her Bachelor of Architecture and a minor in Regenerative Studies from Cal Poly Pomona. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Sustainable Architecture at the University of Oklahoma, further deepening her commitment to environmentally responsible design.
Over the course of her career, Hiba has contributed to a wide range of impactful projects, from local landmarks like Long Beach Exchange to award-winning international work in China and Russia, where she specialized in high-end retail environments. Her recent focus has shifted toward public realm improvements and affordable housing, where she continues to champion innovation, community-centered design, and waste reduction.
Hiba is passionate about creating spaces that inspire and endure. She believes that good design should not only elevate the human experience but also tread lightly on the planet. Outside of work, she finds joy in spending time with her husband and daughter, exploring nature through hiking, traveling to experience new cultures, and sharing home-cooked meals with family and friends.
Casey Chapin, AIA – Committee Member
Casey Chapin, AIA, LEED AP BD+C has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2021 and will serve as President for the 2026 term. He is co-chair of the Advocacy Committee, past chair of the EDI Committee, and past Secretary. Casey grew up in Costa Mesa, California, where an early interest in art and skateboarding ultimately grew into a love of architecture. After graduating from the U.C. Berkeley College of Environmental Design and working on small-scale design projects with friends, he began a career at LPA Design Studios that has continued since 2007. He currently works out of their Irvine Studio as a Project Designer, with a focus on Civic and Cultural projects. Casey is passionate about design and believes in the power of architecture to uplift communities and create meaningful social change. He lives in Long Beach with his wife, Sara and their two small dogs, Tuey and Ruth.