Category: Member Spotlight

Ruth Meghiddo, AIA – Committee Member

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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

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthmeghiddo

Hiba Brewster, Assoc. AIA – Committee Member

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Hiba Brewster, Assoc. AIA

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

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Casey Chapin, AIA
Casey Chapin, AIA

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.

Casey Roccanova, AIA – Committee Member

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Casey Roccanova. AIA
Casey Roccanova. AIA

Casey Roccanova, AIA, NCARB is a licensed architect and Native Californian raised in Los Angeles and Orange County, with a deep appreciation for the rich cultural and architectural diversity of her home state. She earned both her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Architecture from Tulane School of Architecture in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she experienced the city before and after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. This pivotal moment in her life sparked a strong interest in urban design, particularly in relation to waterfronts and resilient city planning.

While at Tulane, Casey further broadened her perspective by studying European cities on the water, including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Venice, Barcelona, and Bilbao. These experiences fueled her curiosity about sustainable design and the ways in which architecture can enhance the relationship between cities and their natural environments.

After returning to Los Angeles, Casey began her career working in high-end residential design before transitioning into the fields of Higher Education, Entertainment, and Healthcare. Over the course of more than a decade, she honed her expertise in hospital and medical office building design, focusing on creating environments that support both the health of individuals and the vitality of the communities they serve.
Today, Casey is a key member of Studio One Eleven, where she is dedicated to improving cities through thoughtful design. She is particularly passionate about adaptive reuse, working to revitalize existing structures and create spaces where communities can thrive and grow while preserving their unique culture and character.

Outside of her professional life, Casey enjoys spending time with her husband and two beautiful daughters, who inspire her every day to make a positive impact on the world around them. Whether on adventures with her family or tackling complex urban challenges, Casey remains deeply committed to building a better, more sustainable future for generations to come.