ZEEK MAGALLANES, MLA

Studio Team Leader

Zeek earned his first degree in Cultural Anthropology in 2004 from San Diego State University (SDSU) with honors in Phi Eta Sigma, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and the Dean's List. After several years in the Biotechnology industry he undertook a 5-year career transition which culminated in earning his Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture and Urbanism from the University of Southern California (USC), graduating with honors in Tau Sigma Delta for his academic achievements.

Prior to attending USC, he studied Residential Landscape Design at Cuyamaca College, while also working for the Cuyamaca College Plant Nursery, Armstrong Garden Centers, and the City of San Diego’s Water Conservation Program, where he co-managed residential landscape rebates for the 2012 fiscal year. Zeek has been active in various club organizations. While at Cuyamaca College he served first as the Media Officer, then as the Secretary of the ASLA Student Chapter. Concurrently, he was also active in the Cuyamaca College Botanical Society where he served first as an Assistant to the Board, then as its 36th President. While attending USC’s School of Architecture, Zeek served as the ASLA Student Chapter President for an academic year.

While in graduate school between 2013-2016, he completed over a dozen small to medium scale residential landscape designs for clients in Southern California through his side project, Integrifolia Landscape Design before returning to San Deigo to pursue his professional career.

Zeek joined McCullough Landscape Architecture in January 2020 as an Associate and assumed the role of Studio Team Leader in 2022.  Zeek has guided the development and refinement of McCullough’s office standards and approach to documentation, as well as personally on-boarded and trained 10 of the 12 members of the designer team. Zeek also works closely with the Principal and CEO on ensuring project leads and management are pursued with professionalism and integrity as the firm pursues its strategic goals and stated mission.

Zeek Magallanes brings a reliable history of leadership and accountability to the projects he works on and is passionate about the intersection of urbanism, social and environmental resiliency, and the business of design.

A little known fact about Zeek is that he has maintained an intentionally sober lifestyle since 2008. He takes pride in his commitment to a holistic approach to well-being, self-discovery, and the pursuit of meaningful and fulfilling relationships without the use of drugs or alcohol.

Zeek also has a passion for the study of Western Esotericism, Religion, and Philosophy; and the cultural / historic influences they have on contemporary society.