Biography
Brian’s work focuses on climate adaptation in housing, land use and transport. Dr. Garcia is working on a book on social democratic urbanism in Europe and California.
Dr. Garcia also teaches sustainable cities at Soka University. Brian has taught urban regeneration, transport planning and been a studio critic in urban design at the Bartlett, University College London (UCL).
Dr. Garcia has been a Visiting Scholar at the UCLA Luskin Department of Urban Planning, the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and the Hong Kong University School of Social Work and Social Administration. He has advised the American Planning Association’s national policy guides on energy and smart growth. Brian has also been a Virtual Fellow for the United States Department of State.
Brian is an urban designer with experience on large development projects in the United States, China, Hong Kong, India, Kazakhstan and Malaysia. In Los Angeles, Dr. Garcia has worked at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LAMetro) in Metro Art and Design as well as the Environmental Compliance and Sustainability Program. Prior to that, he worked as an architectural designer on a variety of projects including portions of the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit system and within the Executive Architect team for the Office for Metropolitan Architecture’s (OMA) Prada expansion.
Dr. Garcia studied for his PhD at the Bartlett School of Planning, University College London (UCL) and the Yale University School of Architecture. His field work took place in Berlin, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles and Medellin. Dr. Garcia’s PhD supervisor was Professor Sir Peter Hall. Brian holds degrees in architecture, art and urban planning.
A native of Central California, Brian grew up aware of the importance of the environment and resource management. However, he was always fascinated with cities and their cultural institutions. These experiences motivated his interest in environmental policy and urban design.
Academic History
PhD, University College London
MSc, University College London
MArch, University of Southern California
MPAS, University of Southern California
BA, UC Berkeley
BA, UC Berkeley
Academic Focus
Urban design solutions against climate change in housing and transit oriented development. Social Urbanism, Digital Divides and Urban Planning Reform.
Courses Taught
Introduction to Environmental Analysis
Environmental Justice
Selected Research and Publications
Garcia, B. (2021). Scanning for Cultural Competency in Online Urban Planning Programs. Urban Planning, 6(4), 273–282.
Garcia, B. (Autumn 2020). Urban Design Review in the Creative Milieu Los Angeles, Urban Design Group Journal, London, UK.
Garcia, B., Density and Demographics in Los Angeles Transit-Oriented Development. Cities in the 21st Century the International Seminar on Urban Form, Held Online, Sep 1-4, 2020.
Awards and Honors
MIT Professional Education Junior Faculty Scholarship.
Certified Urban Planner, American Institute of Certified Planners.
Collaborative Exchange Fellowship Yale University and University College London.
Associate Fellow, Teaching in Higher Education, Higher Education Academy United Kingdom.