Ken Lowney

President & CEO at Lowney Architecture

Speaker

Ken Lowney is the President and CEO of Lowney Architecture, a multidisciplinary design firm headquartered in Oakland, California, with offices in Los Angeles and Honolulu. Since founding the firm in 2003, Ken has led with a clear purpose: to design in ways that enrich experiences, build sustainable communities, and inspire a better future.

That mission drives every aspect of Lowney Architecture’s work—from architecture and master planning to a specialized focus on modular design. The firm’s expertise spans housing, retail, mixed-use developments, hospitality, and industrial design. Ken’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that architecture is more than just buildings; it’s a powerful vehicle for social impact.

Under his leadership, the firm has become a key player in addressing California’s housing crisis, delivering thousands of modular and site-built units across supportive, workforce, and mixed-income housing. A recognized expert in modular design, Ken champions innovative prefabricated construction strategies to bring efficiency, scalability, and affordability to the communities that need them most. The firm has completed over 20 modular housing projects and has collaborated with most factories across the western United States.

Thanks to Ken’s vision, Lowney Architecture has earned national recognition for its community-centered, forward-thinking design. The firm’s projects have received numerous awards and are consistently ranked among the top architecture firms in the San Francisco Bay Area by the San Francisco Business Times. Each project reflects Ken’s commitment to creating places that uplift, connect, and endure.

Beyond his practice, Ken has been deeply engaged in civic and urban leadership. He has served on the Board of Directors for SPUR and the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, where he chaired the Land Use Committee. He has also contributed to national urban development conversations through his work with the Urban Land Institute’s Small Scale Development Council and the International Council of Shopping Centers’ Northern California Program Committee. Most recently, he completed two terms on the Board of Directors for the Modular Building Institute.

Ken brings an interdisciplinary mindset to his work, holding a Bachelor of Arts in

Philosophy from Occidental College and a Master of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc). An NCARB-certified architect, he is licensed in California, Hawaii, Nevada, Washington, Colorado, New York, and Montana. He blends design expertise with big-picture thinking.