Bruce Monighan, AIA, NCARB

In 2025 Bruce celebrates 53 years in architecture and 45 years as a licensed architect. He was the owner and principal of Monighan Design, an architectural design practice since its founding in 1982 and closed in 2019. Bruce has a diverse project experience throughout California, the United States, Asia, and Latin America and held as many as 32 State architectural licenses and is nationally certified through NCARB. He has also held certification by the State of California as a Certified Access Specialist. He is currently in his 15th year on the Design Review Advisory Committee for the County of Sacramento.

In November of 2014 Bruce joined the City of Sacramento Community Development Department, Planning Division as the Urban Design Manager as a way of advancing his interest in large scale policy making, regional sustainability policy and "city building". As the Urban Design Manager, he oversees citywide design review and the City Preservation program and is responsible for planning codes related to historic preservation, design policies, design guidelines, provides urban design guidance for the City General Plan and Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.

Bruce has been active in the community and public agencies and has served on Boards and Commissions related to design and planning in the region. He previously served as a member of the Rancho Murrieta Design Review Board, he is currently in his 15th year on the Design Review Committee for the County of Sacramento and served for 5 years as a member of the SHRA Alkali Flat RAC.   He previously chaired the AIA Central Valley Urban Design and Public Policy Committee, the joint AIACV/Environmental Council of Sacramento, the AIACV “Smart Growth Leadership” program and the AIACV Soul of the City Public Dialog Committee Chair.  He has served as a design juror for the AIA, the Coalition for Adequate School Housing (CASH School Design Awards), and the Retail Design Institute.

Bruce is a California licensed Architect and is National Council Architectural Registration Board Certified. 

Professional Affiliations

American Institute of Architects, Central Valley

·         President, 1996, 2011

·         Board Member 1980-1986 2007-2008

American Institute of Architects, California Council

·         Secretary Treasurer 2012 – 2013

·         Secretary/Treasurer of the California Architects Foundation 2014 – 2016

·         2024-2025 Co Chair Housing Steering Committee

·         2025 AIACA Legislative Advocacy Committee