Gordon Sean Magnin AIA/ PE
Gordon Magnin is a licensed architect and professional engineer, registered in California and Nevada. He holds a certificate from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and is a LEED Green Associate through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.
Gordon brings over 20 years of experience in building and architecture, having worked on a wide range of projects—including custom homes, hospitality venues, restaurants and bars, multifamily developments, institutional buildings, and industrial/commercial projects of varying scale and complexity. His background includes several years in structural and civil engineering, which has proven invaluable to his architectural practice. This technical foundation enables him to effectively integrate and coordinate these disciplines from the earliest stages of project development.
He holds a Master’s degree in Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) and a Bachelor of Science in Structural Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno.
-
Gordon has deep roots in the Reno/Tahoe region. He was born and raised in Reno, Nevada, attended local schools through college, and later moved to Los Angeles for graduate school. He continued working in Southern California until achieving his professional licensure. After the birth of their first son in Los Angeles, Gordon and his family decided to return to Reno, where he worked for two award-winning architects before establishing his own practice in 2018.
In addition to his architectural work, Gordon is a highly accomplished artist and illustrator, with numerous publications to his name—including illustrations for The New York Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, and various art and editorial books. He maintains a strong interest in contemporary art.
When he's not working, Gordon enjoys spending time outdoors with his family—camping, running, mountain biking, skiing, hiking, backpacking, or simply exploring the natural landscapes of Tahoe, the Eastern Sierras, the high desert of Nevada, and the Great Basin.
-
Born
1978 Reno, Nevada
Magnin Architecture
Founded 2018
Address
1277 West 7th Street Suite A Reno Nevada 89503
Alma Mater
2008 Mountain School of the Arts (MSA^); Post Graduate Studies 2006
Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI_arc); M_Arch
2001 University of Nevada, Reno; BSCE structural engineering
Professional Registrations
Licensed Architect California & Nevada
Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) California & Nevada
LEED Green Associate
American Institute of Architects Member
Professional Experience
Faulkner Architects - Truckee/San Francisco, California
Hawkins Associates Architects - Reno, Nevada
Tim Barber Architecture and Interiors - Los Angeles, California
Vanos Architects - Los Angeles, California
CM Peck Architecture and Engineering - Pasadena, California
Zellner Plus - Los Angeles, California
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
John Muir called the Sierra Nevada the range of light.
As the setting for many of the projects in the studio, the place that I was raised and play, and ultimately returned to for professional practice, this phenomena resonates deeply as a driver for this growing and evolving body of work.
Architecture at its essence is about light, form, materials, landscape and the ever changing and subtle qualities of these elements and how they can be assembled and configured to enrich the spaces we inhabit. Much like the natural environment.
In the studio, we aim to create an architecture that is integral to the site. We highly consider environmental factors such as topography, land features, views, natural weather cycles, snow, ice, and rain as drivers for design.
If this is done correctly, many of the other decisions on the project come naturally as an extension of that research.
Simple forms and materials are chosen for tectonic logic and to allow for a sense of legibility of how the building was assembled. Vernacular forms and traditional construction techniques are celebrated and utilized in updated modern applications.
The work is sustainability focused and is constantly moving towards net zero practices as materials and technologies evolve.
The Sierra Nevada is a place like no other, it demands a unique approach to architecture and construction. The environment calls for design
that complements its wild topography; that embraces and harnesses its extremes in inventive, intelligent and functional ways.
Ansel Adams made a career out of the deep visual study and understanding of the quickly fleeting moments that are the Sierra Nevada. We attempt to do the same in this work.