A Start
NLA was founded by Leonard F. Starks in 1922. Starks relocated to Sacramento from New York City, at the request of his employer, to design a chain of theaters on the Pacific Coast. After some difficulties with constructing the first theater, The Fox-Senator, Starks established his own firm and gave up a promising position with the New York office of Thomas Lamb.

Eventually the Fox-Senator Theatre was successfully built and plans for the Alhambra Theatre began. Although neither theatre exists today, each played a significant role in the formative years of not only NLA, but in influencing the architecture of Sacramento. Starks became a premier designer in Sacramento and his firm was employed to design signature buildings such as the Elks Building on 11th and J Street, C.K. McClatchy High School on Freeport Blvd, and the U.S. Post Office Building on I Street.

85 Years of Design
Over the next eight decades our firm's name and faces have changed, but the dedication to designing outstanding buildings has not. And neither has our commitment to being client-focused. Many of NLA's clients have been satisfied customers for more than 40 years!

Today, NLA has remained a premier design firm and is influential in the expanding, beautiful cityscape that is Sacramento. When you look at Sacramento's architectural history you see our designs everywhere. The Sacramento County Courthouse, the Sacramento County Main Jail, the California State Energy Commission Building, and the new U.S. Federal Courthouse are a few of the key buildings designed by NLA.

NLA is a leading architectural firm in Northern California and the Central Valley. From Tulare County to Sacramento to Siskiyou, we have been "designing innovative solutions with integrity and dedication" an astounding 85 years.

The New Century
As NLA enters the 21st century, we take with us the outstanding reputation that comes with 85 years of excellence. We continue to support our existing clients while seeking new opportunities to reinforce our commitment to exceptional service. Today, NLA has a practice that balances both private and public sector design efforts. Our experience includes design of commercial and governmental facilities; a strong practice of educational facility design; a growing healthcare and senior living facility expertise; and our continued emphasis on justice and correctional projects.

Our history is our experience. Our reputation is our excellence. And our future is our continuing effort to provide leadership in the design profession.