About Us.
Daniel Ziese - AIA, NCARB, LEED AP
Principal + Founder
Founded by Daniel Ziese in 2008, Ziese Architecture is a Los Angeles-based firm specializing in innovative, sustainable, and alternative building techniques. Backed by hands-on construction experience, our designs merge creativity, functionality, and environmental responsibility to bring thoughtfully designed spaces to life.
With over a decade of experience, we have successfully completed projects across a variety of sectors, including residential, office spaces, hospitality, restaurants, civic developments, and industrial facilities. Our approach emphasizes sustainable design strategies while celebrating the sensory and aesthetic qualities of materials, creating environments that feel both intuitive and meaningful for their occupants.
Principal Architect, Daniel Ziese, brings a depth of understanding that is invaluable to clients seeking to realize their projects. He has 18+ years of professional practice covering hospitality, multi-family housing, mix-used development, educational facilities, retail centers, and commercial office projects. Prior to starting Ziese Architecture in Los Angeles, Daniel worked with Orange County firms Dougherty + Dougherty, Thomas Cox Architects, KTGY, and Bundy-Finkel Architects on a wide range of project types. Daniel holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arizona where he graduated with honors and is a recipient of the American Institute of Architects National Scholarship. Daniel is licensed to practice architecture in California and is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), and the United States Green Building Counsel (USGBC).
Don’t Hear it Just From Us.
See what our clients have to say…
“Daniel was a joy to work with and designed a fantastic, creative space for us in Burbank. Having been in the space he designed for us for over a year, we’ve experienced both the aesthetic and the functionally of what he’s done and we couldn’t be happier. We are constantly getting compliments. The space is fun, energizing and productive. Ziese Architecture gets my full endorsement!”
- C. Williams, CCO Marza Animation Planet, Burbank, CA
“Ziese Architecture is a great firm that I can’t recommend more highly. Our decision to work with Daniel Ziese, their principle architect, is a key reason that our business made it past the permitting phase and is a success today.
Ziese is totally unflappable. He understood the challenges of our commercial project in a 115-year-old historic building. He was able to work within our tight budget to create a 2,000 square foot free-standing structure with a second floor mezzanine within the building on-time and on-budget. Meeting seismic requirements is not easy in large un-reinforced masonry buildings in Los Angeles, and he saw us through getting a seismic upgrade for the entire 12,000 square foot plus structure. His mechanical and electrical plans, plans for a beautiful retail entrance, and plans to meet fire and ADA requirements were all top-notch. He was able to work very quickly and make revisions whenever needed on a tight schedule.
In meetings with Plan Check engineers in the City of L.A., Ziese’s competence and professionalism was a great asset. Given the buildings unique and historic nature, getting plans approved was quite complex, but Ziese’s help made everything possible.
I think it is quite rare to find an architect who excels not only creatively, but who also is highly skilled at dealing with the messy realities of construction in Los Angeles. At least in our case, these realities included too little time, too little money, and too many twists and turns in the Building Code to count. Ziese has connections to good engineers, and had the knowledge, patience, and optimism needed to see things through. He shepherded our project from a set of ideas, to a set of plans, to a set of permitted plans, through construction, through inspection, all the way to opening day. His excellent taste meant that despite our budget, our project ended up looking like a billion bucks.
In short, if you can get Ziese Architecture on your side, do it and your project will benefit. He is an amazing ally!”
- Katharine M. and Peter S. - Stronghold Gym, Los Angeles, CA
“Daniel Ziese has a talent for blending strong architectural design, technical know-how, and budget-conscious solutions that demonstrate his depth of experience and range of product types.”
- Tom G., Developer - Westchester Craftsman, Los Angeles, CA
“Working with Ziese Architecture was an incredible experience. After purchasing my Malibu home, it was tragically lost in the Woolsey Fire. Rebuilding felt overwhelming, but their expertise made all the difference.
The original home had an unpermitted basement that couldn’t be included in the original value. I thought it was lost square footage after the fire, but Ziese Architecture secured a variance to include it in the new design, adding value and functionality. They also streamlined the construction timeline by starting work before the basement’s approval, saving us valuable time.
They helped redesign the outdated layout into a modern, practical home perfectly suited to my family’s needs and even advocated for me with the contractor to resolve issues. Their creativity and professionalism turned a challenging situation into a beautifully designed home.”
- Jim T., Malibu, CA - Malibu Residence, Malibu , CA