John Southern is the founder and principal of Urban Operations, a Los Angeles–based architecture practice specializing in adaptive reuse, commercial environments, and custom residential projects—particularly on challenging hillside sites. A licensed architect with over two decades of experience, Southern brings a pragmatic, design-forward approach to projects that navigate complex zoning, site constraints, and construction realities.

His work has been featured in Domus, Architect's Newspaper, and MONU, and exhibited internationally at venues including the Venice Biennale and Shenzhen Biennale. In addition to his practice, Southern serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor at the USC School of Architecture, where his teaching explores the intersections of design speculation, artificial intelligence, and environmental adaptation. He has also held faculty positions at SCI-Arc and Woodbury University. Across both professional and academic contexts, Southern’s work blends material intelligence with spatial strategy to produce architecture that is contextually responsive and future-facing.

Our specialties include:

-Site analysis and project feasibility

-Modern design for all scales, programs, and budgets

-Attentive construction observation in order to ensure the success of our client’s projects

-Construction management

-Historical research and analysis

-Aesthetic branding and corporate identity

-Strategic urban planning

-Installation design

-Furniture design

For more information about Urban Operations contact us:

telephone: 310-666-5985

email: info@urban-ops.net

post: 2820 North Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90031