Oswaldo “Oz” Ortega, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP, is a New York City–born architect whose passion for design began at Brooklyn Technical High School and led him to earn a B.Arch. from Syracuse University and an MS in Urban Design and Architecture from Columbia University. His early career included community-driven urban design work in Harlem through the Urban Technical Assistance Project. Oz has held impactful roles at HOK and Gensler, leading large-scale architecture, interiors, and global workplace projects. His experience includes serving as project architect for the JCI Headquarters in Shanghai and managing a multi-office program delivering over 40 retail financial institutions across the north-central U.S.A., past president of the Illinois Chapter of NOMA, Oz expanded youth initiatives such as Project Pipeline and has served on boards including AIA Chicago and Erie Neighborhood House. His leadership has earned national recognition, including the AIA Young Architect Award and Architizer’s “Architects to Know.”In 2021, Oz joined Brandywine Realty Trust as Director of Architecture and Interiors, where he leads design efforts and chairs the Voices affinity group. In 2024, he was elected NOMA Northeast Vice President, supporting chapters across the region.