Profile

hughesumbanhowar is the culmination of a series of offices headed by Scott Hughes and John Umbanhowar since 1981. The firm is located in Los Angeles & Hobe Sound, Florida.




Scott Hughes, is the founding principal of hughesumbanhowar. Hughes is recognized for his transformative vision that blends form with program and utilizes the unique qualities of each project to create a practical yet concept-driven solution. He was the first designer certified under the Foreign Missions Act of 1982 soon after opening his own firm in 1981 in Washington, DC. Scott has practiced as a principal in several architectural firms since 1983, accumulating over 33 years of experience in architecture. In 1995 Scott took a 3 year educational sabbatical in Los Angeles which culminated in a Masters of Architecture degree from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-ARC). Spending time on both coasts, in Los Angeles Mr. Hughes is a Trustee of The Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-ARC) and presently serves as the Chair of the Board’s Governance Committee.
On the east coast, Scott serves as a member of the Land Planning Agency for the
Town of Jupiter Island Florida.

Licensed Architect, California, Florida
Master of Architecture, SCI-Arc, Southern California Institute of Architecture
Undergraduate Architectural Studies, University of Virginia

John Umbanhowar directs the Los Angeles office. Born in New York in 1970, Umbanhowar brings a dose of rigorous intensity tempered by levity to the architectural work process, which contributes to the distinct work and close knit relationships for which the office is recognized. His daily routine is the assembly of clinging logic, wild intuition, inherent responsibility and dumb luck which he calls architecture. John has been entrusted with several historically significant Los Angeles buildings during his career, such as the renovation of the Troxell House by Richard Neutra and EastWest Recording Studios in collaboration with Philippe Starck.
Prior to forming hughesumbanhowar, John, was founding partner of the lauded firm Design Bureau in 1998. He has designed award-winning furniture and continues to pursue prefabrication and mass-produced design within the office. John received his Master of Architecture degree from the Southern California Institute of Architecture/SCI-Arc
in Los Angeles.

Licensed Architect, California
LEED AP
Member, USGBC
Master of Architecture, SCI-Arc, Southern California Institute of Architecture
Bachelor of Arts, Art History/French, Carleton College


Architectural Team
The diversity and experience of our team enhances our continuously expanding ability to enrich the environment with thoughtful, daring and precise concepts and designs.
In addition to the partners, there are two licensed architects on staff.


Kayleigh Carlisle (Bachelor of Architecture, University of Florida)
Chris Craver, Architect (BS Environmental Design, University of Colorado)
Daniel Feig (Bachelor of Architecture, University of California, Berkeley)
Jacqueline Hernandez (Master of Architecture Design ULC, UK The Bartlett)
Hadley Hughes (BA, University of Virginia)
Clint Larkan, Architect (Master of Architecture, University of Florida)

Past Collaborators: John Benavente, Ted Butcher, Haan Chau, Thierry Garzotto, Daniel Huh, Steven Knudsen, Michael Knopoff , Andrew Lindley, Lauren Mishkind, Ayako Mizushiro, David Montalba, Kyle Pfister, Louann Prestegard, Lorna Turner, Bryan Winters