Lester Tobias was born and raised in West Los Angeles, educated in one of the premier schools of architecture in the world, and trained by several international architectural luminaries. He was involved in construction at an early age and was drafting in a firm by the time he was nineteen years old. This early experience gave him a foundation and longevity in the discipline that very few practicing architects can claim. Having his work experience out of the way before he was thirty, he started his sole practice in 1986 as Tobias Design Associates. Five years later he obtained his architect’s registration, changed the firm name to Tobias Architecture, and moved into office space in Santa Monica, California. He moved his family and practice to Malibu, California in 1994 and has spent the past 30 years becoming one of Malibu’s most prominent architects and citizens. Recently he has built a second home in Montana and opened a branch office in the town of Bigfork.

His 2013 book, Building in the ‘Bu: Navigating the Malibu Zoning Code, has become the local bible for builders, homeowners, and regulatory bureaucrats alike.

His design work is wide ranging in style and application. His civic engagement is focused on public policy that directly affects stakeholders in Malibu’s built environment and future planning and quality of life issues.