René is responsible for directing and managing operations for the Egan | Simon Architecture studio, encompassing a wide range of activities and providing leadership and expertise in support of a human-centric design vision. For over 26 years, René has been involved in the realm of community-based architecture with a strong focus on affordable housing. He is dedicated to exploring the possibilities of sustainability in the built environment, focusing on pragmatic, affordable methodologies to provide a truly holistic environmental design approach that addresses the natural, social, and economic dimensions. René received a Master of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture and a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts from The University of Puerto Rico. His studies focused on the intersection between sustainable and social architecture within the existing urban fabric. René has been engaged in organizations such as the Southern California Association for Nonprofit Housing, U.S. Green Building Council, National, the Los Angeles Chapter, Housing California, New Partners for Smart Growth, the California Endowment, the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health, and The Enterprise Foundation. Through these organizations, he has participated in many panels and workshops to promote socially responsible architecture and the benefits of sustainable design and construction.