Dr. John Lesak

Assistant Professor

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Biography

John D. Lesak is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Southern California's School of Architecture, specializing in the intersection of sustainability and heritage conservation. He holds a Master of Architecture in Architecture & Structural Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. As a principal at Page & Turnbull, he has been a recognized authority on environmental sustainability and heritage conservation since 1993. His work focuses on the rehabilitation, repair, and reuse of historic structures, and he is known for projects like the seismic retrofit of the Capitol Records Tower and the adaptive reuse of the 1965 Riverside Public Library into the world-class Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture. Lesak co-founded the Sustainable Preservation Technical Committee of the Association for Preservation Technology International and has served on various boards and committees, including the South Pasadena Cultural Heritage Commission and the Planning Commission. He actively lectures and writes about the relationship between green building practices and historic preservation, engaging audiences on the socio-cultural impacts of environmental degradation and advocating for stronger federal preservation funding.

Research Interests

Experience

Adjunct Assistant Professor

— Present

University of Southern California • Los Angeles, CA

Teaching sustainable conservation of the historic built environment, focusing on the intersection of heritage conservation and green building.

Courses

Sustainable Conservation of the Historic Built Environment

Requirements for University of Southern California

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Listening
Required:20
Reading
Required:20
Writing
Required:20
Speaking
Required:20
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Listening
Required:6
Reading
Required:6
Writing
Required:6
Speaking
Required:6
Overall
Required:6.5
GRE General
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Math, or Hard Science
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Official transcripts
  • Personal Statement
  • Resume/CV
  • Letters of Recommendation (not required for MS CS, but allowed)
Specialization Notes

GRE is NOT required for Master's applicants for 2025-2026.