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Leslie Moldow

Adjunct Professor

Part-Time Faculty
Socials

Biography

For the past 30 years Leslie has devoted her career to designing buildings and spaces for seniors and special needs housing communities. Her award-winning work involves the full continuum of care facilities, from active adult to senior centers, independent living, assisted living, Alzheimer’s care, skilled nursing environments, and life plan communities. Considered an expert in her field, Leslie regularly speaks at national conventions concerning the latest trends in senior living design and she is past chair of the AIA’s Design for Aging Knowledge Community promoting research, education, and conferences to raise the bar of design in senior living communities.

Leslie also has dedicated time to teach architecture focusing on sharing her experience in professional practice with entry-level students and highlighting her knowledge of housing design by teaching the second year housing design studio.

Expertise

  • Environments that promote wellness
  • Sustainable design in senior living
  • Culture change in skilled nursing environments 
  • Trends in senior living
  • Best practices in environments for seniors

Appointments

  • American Institute of Architects, Design for Aging Knowledge Community, Chair

Education

  • University of Maryland, Bachelor of Arts, School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, 2016
  • UC Berkeley, M.Arch, 1980

Prior Experience

  • Adjunct Professor in Architecture, USF
  • Managing Principal, Perkins Eastman
  • Principal, Mithun
  • Senior Associate, CityDesign Collaborative

Awards & Distinctions

  • Designated a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects
  • Best 55+ Repositioned Community of Project Innovation Award for Rockwood Retirement Communities, Spokane, WA, 2017
  • Environments for Aging 2017 Design Showcase Honorable Mention, Rockwood
  • NAHB 55+ Best of Housing Awards for Spring Lake Village, Santa Rosa, CA, 2016
  • AIA Design for Aging Review Special Recognition, Atria Foster Square in Foster City, CA, 2015

Selected Publications

  • "Clean Slate Project" June 2019
  • "Biophilic Design: An Alternative Perspective for Sustainable Design in Senior Living" May 2016
  • "Holistic Wellness," 50+ Architecture for Aging, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2010
  • "Mission Creek POE," AIA San Francisco, Design for Aging Committee, 2009