Heather Roberge Obituary, Death: UCLA Architecture Professor and Murmur Founder Remembered for Lasting Design Legacy

The Los Angeles architecture community is mourning the reported passing of Heather Roberge, a respected architect, educator, and longtime professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Roberge was widely recognized for her contributions to architectural education and for founding the Los Angeles design practice Murmur.

Public tributes from friends and colleagues have expressed sorrow following reports of her passing. However, as of the information reviewed, UCLA had not publicly released a formal announcement confirming her death, and her family had not publicly disclosed details regarding her passing.

A Career at UCLA Architecture and Urban Design

According to her UCLA faculty profile, Heather Roberge joined the faculty of UCLA Architecture and Urban Design in 2002.

During her tenure, she served as:

• Professor of Architecture

• Chair of UCLA Architecture and Urban Design (2017–2020)

• Director of the undergraduate architecture program

Her teaching and research focused on architecture, computation, digital fabrication, material innovation, and emerging construction technologies.

Founder of Murmur

Beyond academia, Roberge founded and led Murmur, a Los Angeles-based architecture and design practice.

Her firm’s work explored the intersection of design research, advanced manufacturing, and built architecture, completing residential, institutional, and commercial projects while contributing to broader conversations about contemporary architectural practice.

Professional Background

Before joining UCLA, Roberge worked with several well-known architectural firms, including:

• Eisenman Architects

• Architecture Research Office (ARO)

• Davis Brody Bond

• Gnuform

She also taught architecture at institutions including Yale University, the University of Virginia, Washington University in St. Louis, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Pratt Institute.

Roberge earned both her Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Master of Architecture from The Ohio State University and also studied at the Architectural Association in London.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout her career, Roberge received numerous honors, including:

• Architectural League of New York Emerging Voices Award (2016)

• ACADIA Teaching Award of Excellence (2017)

• Multiple recognitions from the American Institute of Architects Los Angeles chapter

According to UCLA, she was also named the 2026 AIA Los Angeles Educator of the Year, recognizing her longstanding contributions to architectural education.

Public Tributes

Friends and colleagues have shared messages remembering Roberge as an influential educator, respected architect, mentor, and valued friend.

These tributes reflect the impact she had on students, collaborators, and the wider design community throughout her career.

Cause of Death

No verified information regarding Heather Roberge’s cause of death has been publicly released in the information reviewed.

Likewise, her family has not publicly announced details regarding the circumstances of her reported passing.

Funeral and Memorial Information

At the time of writing, no verified funeral, memorial service, or celebration-of-life arrangements have been publicly announced.

Any future information should be confirmed through Heather Roberge’s family, UCLA, or another authoritative source.

Information Disclaimer

This article is based on publicly available information regarding Heather Roberge’s academic career, professional accomplishments, and public tributes. Although reports of her passing have circulated, the information reviewed did not include a formal confirmation from UCLA or her family. Her reported death, date of death, age, cause of death, and memorial arrangements should not be treated as confirmed unless announced by her family or another authoritative source.