Renato “Butch” Lara is a highly motivated Design Architect with diverse international experience. He worked as a Project Design Director, Senior Design Consultant in variuous firms in the US. His wealth of experience in the field of architecture started since 1980 and developed a wholistic approach to architecture through planning and design methodology. He can visualize the project with timeless purpose relevant to its form, function and practicality. In today's era green attitude, he involves this value in his excellent skills, particularly in conceptual schematic design, visual sketches and digital graphics. His keen sense of proportion and image composition is one of his highly developed talents. He is also adept in site planning, spatial design concept development, project management and coordination process.
He graduated from the University of Santo Tomas with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Architecture, and passed his license as an Architect in the Philippines (Lic. 6182) in 1980 . He is a bonafide member of the United Architects of the Philippines.
In keeping up with the rising demand in technology, he has combined his excellent manual sketch ability with the use of Sketch-up, Photoshop, Illustrator, Photo Impact, CADD and other special softwares. While still in college in the 70’s, he worked for the Ecology Sector of the Institute of Environmental Planning, a government infrastructure agency with the UNDP. Then from 1973-75, he transferred to the Nationwide Industrial Estates Division of the National Economic Development Authority as a head draughtsman. After obtaining his Architecture license, Butch Lara advanced to the various private firms as an Architectural Designer of high-end residential and commercial projects He was asked to rejoin CC Castro International where he participated in its major projects i.e. Shoemart -Makati, Three-T Towers, Union Bank, Far East Bank of the Philippines and the Church of the Latter Day Saints (Mormon Churches).
In 1985, he established an Architectural firm with the late Tomas De Castro III and developed many prestigious civic projects like The Boys Town ( operated by the Dominican priests) and the Cavite Institute, a privately owned high school in Silang, Cavite Philippines. Later he organized his own firm, and explored the restaurant arena, as well as residential and entertainment projects i.e The Nihonkai Japanese Restaurant and Satchmo Jazz Bar within the country’s tourist belt area.
In 1990, in order to gain international experience, Butch migrated to Singapore and joined several firms that specialized in hotels and high-density residential design, i.e. West Lake Hanoi Hotel with NeTec Architects; Mactan Airport Casino and the Cebu Convention Center in Cebu Philippines with Moisson Design Pte . Then before the country’s recession, he joined Timothy Seow Group as Project Architect that specialized in high-density housing and resort hotels in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and other Asian cities.
In 1998, Butch Lara moved to California and worked as an Assistant Architect in Pasadena doing mostly TI projects for commercial and industrial buildings. He moved to Orange County and joined a well known residential firm- JBZ Architects (now JZMK) as a Designer and Graphics manager. He moved to WHA as a Senior Designer, later was offered an Associate position. Later, he decided to take a challenge with a new firm Bucilla-Brooklyn in OC, a smaller scale residential firm.
In 2006, He joined Perkowitz and Ruth Architects as a Project Design Director, where he was involved in the retail place-making and mixed use hospitality projects. Projects involved such as the Proposed New Orleans Mall, The Purchase in Las Vegas; The Pearl Lane at Northridge; Northridge Fashion Mall; Krikorian Theatres; Crystal Theater, New Orleans University Village, Aloft Hotel in Seattle, The Meridian and many more..
He had major contributions in a few significant custom homes such as the Cohen Residence in Newport Beach, formerly owned by John Wayne, and the Casa Comodoro in Tustin Orange.
He concurrently had travelled to many cities in China, like Beijing, Shanghai, Xin Yi and Hangzhou for reserarch and presentation of contract projects.
Butch lives with his wife Annie, and two children in Corona CA. He also manages a website of Filipino professionals (LASing) as his civic and charitable contribution to this dynamic community who have worked in Singapore and later moved to California. He is also a member of the Toastmaster’s International in Irvine District. He is currently pursuing his LEEDS accreditation for Green Architecture.
