wHO WE ARE
Heleo is an award-winning, San Diego-based full-service architecture and design practice, committed to creating innovative experiences through the built environment. Our expertise lies in commercial, retail, adaptive re-use, and residential markets, with projects spanning across California and the southwestern states. Since establishing in 2015, our mission has been to challenge the status quo and improve our surroundings with pragmatic solutions that reflect their context and the people who inhabit them.
As a young and dynamic team of architects and designers, we are dedicated to delivering excellence and exceeding expectations. Through our innovative design approach and use of cutting-edge technology, we strive to push the boundaries of what is possible and create solutions that are both aesthetically pleasing and socially responsible. We are committed to sustainability, diversity, and collaboration, and we work closely with our clients to ensure their vision is realized in every project.
Team
Barbara Leon, AIA, NCARB
PRINCIPAL / CO-FOUNDER
Barbara Leon is a co-founder and principal of Heleo Architecture + Design, a multidisciplinary design practice in San Diego. She holds a bachelor's degree in architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture, Los Angeles), having also received architectural training at Kyoto Seika University in Kyoto, Japan. As a licensed architect in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado with over 16 years of professional experience, she leads the studio’s projects in the commercial, retail, and residential markets throughout California, the southwestern U.S. states, and Baja California. She currently serves on the AIA San Diego Chapter’s Board of Directors as Co-director of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Justice to help promote the advancement of underrepresented groups in the architecture field.
Josue Braganca,
ASSOCIATE / SENIOR DESIGNER
Josue brings over 8 years of professional ex-perience with a strong background in design/visualization and leads the firm’s production and documentation efforts. Josue holds a B. Arch from the Woodbury University School of Architecture. As associate and senior designer with strong design and technical abilities, he has been a part of numerous projects at all phases of project delivery, leading production on projects from initial design and visualization through construction administration.
Francisco Gutierrez
BIM LEAD, DESIGNER
A graduate of Butic The New School, Spain, with a Master's in BIM Management, Francisco brings a wealth of expertise to his role as BIM Lead. He oversees the firm’s BIM production standards, ensuring consistency and quality across all projects, and manages the development and coordination of complex BIM models. With a keen eye for detail and a collaborative approach, Francisco excels at streamlining workflows, optimizing project efficiency between design and construction teams and maintaining the firm at the forefront of industry advancements.
Stephanie Absalon
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT / OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
A graduate of Woodbury University with a Bachelor of Architecture, Stephanie combines her architectural background with her roles in business development and office administration. She supports client outreach, manages day-to-day operations, and helps ensure smooth coordination across the firm’s projects and initiatives.
Carlos E. Hernandez, Assoc. AIA, LEED A.P.
PRINCIPAL / CO-FOUNDER
Carlos Hernandez is a co-founder and managing principal of Heleo, and holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Southern California Institute of Architecture, Los Angeles. He holds certificates in the USC Ross Minority Program in Real Estate, and the Turner school of Construction Management. He manages and leads Heleo’s projects to ensure their successful outcomes with a passion for design excellence, and 16+ years of expertise in commercial, mixed use, multifamily residential and urban planning.
Amaranta Morton, AIA, NCARB
PROJECT ACHITECT
A California-licensed architect, Amaranta has been a Project Architect at HELEO and has contributed to a wide range of projects, collaborating from Schematic Design to Construction Administration. Her diverse experience spans commercial, civic, educational, institutional, and residential project typologies, enabling her to make meaningful contributions across the office. She brings expertise in communication, organization, interdisciplinary collaboration, and Building Information Modeling (BIM), effectively leading project teams through all design and construction phases.
German Iturrios
DESIGNER
A graduate of Escuela Libre de Arquitectura in TIjuana, B.C. Mexico, German combines an experimental design sensibility with a meticulous approach to project documentation. His love for traveling, photography and art is evident in experimenting and refining design concepts, translating them into precise drawings and technical documentation that ensure seamless project execution.