Founder + Principal

With over 30 years of experience in architecture, engineering, and land development, Lee Budd has been instrumental in delivering high-profile commercial and residential projects nationwide.

Lee began his career at The Bergman Companies, where he expanded a small drafting department into a full-service architectural firm.

He played a key role in designing and managing projects for major brands, including KFC, Wendy’s, Starbucks, Rite Aid, Lowe’s, and multiple large-scale retail centers.

In 2004, he founded LBA, designing over 500 custom homes, residential tracts, and commercial developments for private firms.

He later rejoined The Bergman Companies as a Site Acquisition and Design lead, successfully entitling 65+ Fresh & Easy locations across Southern California and managing site architecture for multiple Disneyland projects.

In 2010, Lee transitioned to Ei Engineering, where he grew a small two-person team into a 55+ member division generating over $5 million in revenue.

As Vice President, he led energy-efficient MEP designs for top homebuilders, including Toll Brothers, KB Home, and Pulte Homes, helping streamline their development processes.

In 2017, while still at Ei, he co-founded Ei Design, assembling a 40+ person architectural and engineering team.

Under his leadership, the firm secured projects for America’s Tire, Dry Bar, Madison Reed, 7-Eleven, PF Chang’s, and a 222,831 SF Greenfield Organix facility.

In 2020, Lee established Pacific Crest Design Group, Inc., and then partnered with Vol Carter combining their years of expertise in architecture, planning, and engineering to serve a diverse range of clients in commercial and residential development.