Stepping into Leadership

Leadership develops through demanding work, tested ideas, and a commitment to continued growth. It also requires responsibility for both design and the people behind it.

OFFICEUNTITLED announces its 2026 promotions of Christianne Jordan to Principal and Diane Thepkhounphithack to Director. Each leader brings distinct strengths to the practice. However, they share the same ambition: elevate the work, support their teams, and take responsibility for delivery.

“The firms that will matter in the next decade aren’t the ones chasing scale,” says Shawn Gehle, Co-Founder. “They’re the ones developing people who can adapt to complexity, build culture, and push design forward at the same time. That’s exactly what these promotions represent.”

Growing a Bicoastal Practice

Since emerging in 2019, OFFICEUNTITLED has grown from a small studio into a bicoastal practice. Today, the firm operates from offices in Culver City and New York.

Co-Founders Benjamin Anderson, Christian Robert, and Shawn Gehle guide the practice alongside Partner and Chief Operating Officer Lindsay Green. Together, they have built a firm rooted in curiosity, craft, and discovery. The studio values thoughtful growth over scale alone. Therefore, developing adaptable leaders remains central to its future. These promotions recognize Christianne and Diane’s contributions to both design and studio culture.

Christianne Jordan, Principal

Christianne approaches leadership as a form of stewardship. She focuses on design quality, strong processes, and the people who move projects forward. Her experience spans museums, offices, multifamily housing, laboratories, research facilities, and master planning. Moreover, she guides projects from early concepts through final execution.

Since joining OFFICEUNTITLED in 2018, Christianne has helped deliver several ambitious projects. These include the Cayton Children’s Museum, Edwards Lifesciences Master Plan, and AVA LA Arts District.

Her influence also extends beyond individual projects. For example, Christianne founded and leads the firm’s Sustainability Action Squad and AIA 2030 Commitment efforts. In addition, she launched OU’s BIM Band Advisory Group. She also contributes to firmwide quality assurance and quality control initiatives. Together, these programs strengthen how the practice works.

For Christianne, the promotion reflects a long-term commitment to the firm’s future. “We can always do better and learn more,” she says. That perspective guides her approach to projects, teams, and leadership.

Diane Thepkhounphithack, Director

Diane built her career through the work itself. She measures leadership through clarity, follow-through, and the ability to advance complex projects.

Her previous roles at BROOKS + SCARPA Architects and Hawkins\Brown shaped her pragmatic approach. She now brings that experience to design and project management at OFFICEUNTITLED. At OU, Diane has led 1527 Lincoln, 2919 Wilshire, and 2800 28th Street. Through these projects, she has navigated adaptive reuse, mixed-use development, and technically demanding scopes.

As a daughter of Lao refugees and a longtime Angeleno, Diane also brings a deep commitment to Los Angeles. That connection informs her dedication to the people shaping the city’s built environment.

Furthermore, Diane established and leads OFFICEUNTITLED’s mentorship program. The initiative gives staff—especially junior team members—access to guidance and advocacy. Her leadership extends beyond the studio as well. Diane has served with AIA Los Angeles and the Laotian American National Alliance. Ultimately, she grounds leadership in support, listening, and shared responsibility. For Diane, these values remain inseparable from good design.

Building the Practice Together

Christianne and Diane have earned these promotions through sustained responsibility. Both leaders strengthen the work while supporting the people who make it possible.

Together, their new roles represent OFFICEUNTITLED’s continued investment in design excellence, studio culture, and the practice’s future.