LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — The Los Angeles architecture and academic communities are mourning the reported passing of Heather Roberge, a longtime professor at the University of California, Los Angeles and the founder and principal of the design practice Murmur.
Friends have begun sharing messages of remembrance following news of her reported death, describing Roberge as a dear and deeply valued friend. Public tributes have also expressed sympathy to people identified as David and Finian.
At the time of publication, UCLA had not yet posted a formal death announcement on its public Architecture and Urban Design news pages, and important personal details surrounding Roberge’s reported passing remain unavailable.
Heather Roberge and UCLA Architecture
Roberge was a prominent member of UCLA Architecture and Urban Design, where she served as a professor and contributed to teaching, research and departmental leadership.
According to UCLA’s faculty profile, she joined the university faculty in 2002 and served as chair of UCLA Architecture and Urban Design from 2017 to 2020. She also directed the department’s undergraduate program.
Her academic work examined the relationship between architecture, digital technology, materials and building construction.
Through her teaching and research, she explored how computation and advanced manufacturing could expand architectural possibilities.
Founder and Principal of Murmur
Outside UCLA, Roberge was the founder and principal of Murmur, a Los Angeles-based architecture and design practice.
Murmur describes her work as combining research, design and technical performance, with projects spanning residential, higher-education and commercial architecture.
Her professional work investigated the spatial, structural and atmospheric possibilities created by digital technologies.
That combination of architectural practice and academic research became a defining feature of her career.
Heather Roberge’s Architectural Career
Roberge’s professional background included work with several respected architecture firms, including Eisenman Architects, Architecture Research Office and Davis Brody Bond.
She also previously worked with Gnuform and taught architecture at several universities, including Yale University, the University of Virginia, Washington University in St. Louis, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Pratt Institute.
Her education included a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture, earned at Ohio State University, where she graduated summa cum laude in architecture.
She also participated in an international study program at the Architectural Association in London.
Awards and Recognition
Roberge received significant recognition throughout her architectural and academic career.
Her honors included the 2016 Emerging Voices Award from the Architectural League of New York and the 2017 ACADIA Teaching Award of Excellence.
Her architectural projects also received recognition from the Los Angeles chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
Most recently, UCLA announced in July 2026 that Roberge had been named 2026 AIA-LA Educator of the Year, recognizing her contributions to architectural education.
That recognition came only weeks before the current reports of her death.
Friends Remember Heather Roberge
The first public tributes following the reported news of Roberge’s passing have focused on her relationships with friends and loved ones.
One tribute described Heather as a special and dear friend and expressed condolences to David and Finian.
The messages reflect the personal grief surrounding her reported death while offering little information about the circumstances.
For those who knew Roberge personally, her legacy extends beyond her professional accomplishments to the relationships she built throughout her life.
A Legacy in Architecture and Education
Roberge’s professional legacy encompasses architectural practice, university teaching, research and experimentation.
At UCLA, she worked with students and colleagues in a department dedicated to architecture and urban design. Her research explored the intersection of digital technology and physical construction, while her teaching encouraged students to investigate new approaches to materials, computation and manufacturing.
Her work was also published and exhibited internationally, according to UCLA and Murmur.
Cause of Death and Circumstances
The cause and circumstances of Heather Roberge’s reported death have not been publicly confirmed in the reliable information reviewed.
Her exact date of death and age have also not been independently established.
No speculation about the circumstances is included here.
Further information may become available if UCLA, her family or another authoritative source issues a formal announcement.
Heather Roberge Obituary and Funeral Details
Funeral, visitation and memorial-service arrangements for Roberge have not been publicly confirmed.
Any information concerning services should be verified through her family, UCLA or an official memorial announcement before being treated as final.
Heather Roberge Obituary Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Heather Roberge |
| Profession | Architect and educator |
| UCLA affiliation | UCLA Architecture and Urban Design |
| Position | Professor |
| UCLA faculty since | 2002 |
| Former leadership role | Chair, UCLA Architecture and Urban Design, 2017–2020 |
| Design practice | Murmur |
| Role at Murmur | Founder and principal |
| Base | Los Angeles, California |
| Education | Ohio State University; Architectural Association, London |
| Major recognition | 2026 AIA-LA Educator of the Year |
| Reported status | Deceased |
| Exact date of death | Not publicly confirmed |
| Age | Not publicly confirmed |
| Cause of death | Not publicly confirmed |
| Funeral arrangements | Not publicly announced |
Remembering Heather Roberge
The reported death of Heather Roberge has brought grief to friends and members of the architecture community who knew her through UCLA, Murmur and her wider professional life.
Her career brought together architecture, education, research and technological experimentation, while her work as an educator placed her in contact with generations of architecture students.
As friends and colleagues process the reported loss, additional details about her life and memorial arrangements may emerge.
For now, the public record provides a picture of an accomplished architect and educator whose work had a lasting place within Los Angeles architecture and UCLA’s design community.
Disclaimer: This obituary is based on information publicly available as of September 23, 2026. The reported death has not yet been accompanied by a comprehensive formal announcement from UCLA or the family in the information reviewed. Age, exact date of death, cause of death and funeral arrangements should not be treated as confirmed unless subsequently announced by an authoritative source.