Gilbert Leong

Last updated
Gilbert Lester Leong
Gilbert and Florence Leong, 1943.jpg
Gilbert and Florence "Sissee" Leong, c. 1943.
Born1910or1911
Died (aged 85)
OccupationArchitect
SpouseFlorence "Sissee" (née See)
ChildrenLeslee See Leong
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

Gilbert Lester Leong (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]

Contents

Education

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. [5] Leong designed both residential and public buildings in his career. He had an influence on the postwar California architecture of Los Angeles. [6] [7]

Exhibitions

Designs

Selected Chinatown buildings by Gilbert Leong
NameImageYearAddressNotes/Refs.
Chinese United Methodist Church1947825 N Hill [10]
First Chinese Baptist Church1951942 Yale [11]
Kong Chow Family Association and Temple Los Angeles - USA (15229823996).jpg 1960931 N Broadway
King Hing Theater Los Angeles - USA (15249797271).jpg 1962647 N Spring [12] :4
Bank of America Los Angeles (26398498372).jpg 1972850 N BroadwayWith Richard Layne Tom [12] :5
Phoenix Bakery1977969 N Broadway [12] :10

Other designs by Leong include:

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. [12] :4 Leong served in the U.S. Army during World War II, [5] [18] and worked for Paul R. Williams after the war. [11] Leong and his family owned the Soochow Restaurant in Los Angeles. [19] Leong co-founded the East West Bank in 1973. [20] Leong died in Pasadena California on August 23, 1996. [21]

Leong married Florence "Sissee" See in 1942; [22] [23] she was the daughter of Chinatown businessman Fong See and the great-aunt of novelist Lisa See, who documented the family's history in her memoir On Gold Mountain at Sissee's request. [24] Leslee Leong, the daughter of Gilbert and Florence, inherited the F. Suie One Co., which had been founded by Fong See. [25]

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References

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  2. "Things To Know About The East West Bank". routingnumberusa. RoutingNumberUSA. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  3. "Chinatownia: Los Angeles News". Chinese Digest. Vol. 2, no. 8. February 21, 1936. p. 4. Retrieved 17 June 2021. A first prize of $200 goes to Gilbert Leong for his piece of sculpturing displayed at the last Los Angeles County Fair held at Pomona, California. For his outstanding artistic ability he has earned scholarships to the Chouinard School of Art, one of the leading art schools on the Pacific Coast. Presently, he will be transferred to U. S. C.
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  5. 1 2 "Midcentury modern by Gilbert Leong in Silver Lake seeks $1.699M". bestlaneighborhoods. Best LA Neighborhoods, Inc. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
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