Kent Aden, a licensed architect, developer and the visionary behind many of San Diego’s most honored master-planned communities, was inducted into the San Diego Building Industry Association’s (BIA) Hall of Fame on Feb. 3, during a ceremony at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina. The Hall of Fame recognition is the highest honor bestowed by the organization, which comprises 800 member companies throughout San Diego County.
Aden was inducted by David Hammar, president of Hunsaker & Associates San Diego, Inc., who praised Aden’s leadership in the industry, contributions to the community and devotion to his family.
Hammar said, “Kent has been in the building industry for over 35 years, involved in the planning, community design and entitlement of master plans that will produce over 40,000 homes. I have been fortunate to draft in his wake for much of my professional career and even more fortunate to call him a friend.”
Aden has been a passionate advocate for walkable, pedestrian-centric communities that encourage neighborliness and community interaction. He has left his imprint on South County’s communities of Eastlake and Otay Ranch during his career, which included 11 years in executive positions with the Eastlake Development Company and 18 years with The Otay Ranch Company.
Aden’s current position, vice president and senior development officer for HomeFed Corporation, involves communities on both coasts. He is responsible for managing entitlements, design and development for the 700-acre SweetBay community in Panama City, Florida, the 6,200-acre Otay Land Company project in Chula Vista, and the 2,600-acre Fanita Ranch in Santee. He is also overseeing the completion of the final phase of the San Elijo Hills community in San Marcos.
“The greatest satisfaction I have had in my career is to build great communities and get to see residents enjoying the lifestyle,” Aden said. “The design of each community builds on what we have learned from previous projects and what we learn visiting the best communities around the country. Just as architectural innovations are creating better living spaces, community design trends are creating more inviting and hospitable communities.”
Aden has been active in the BIA of San Diego for 34 years and served as president in 2003. He also chaired the 2008 Pacific Coast Builders Conference (PCBC) in San Francisco, which attracted 33,000 participants. For 18 years he was a director of Housing Opportunities Inc., which developed affordable housing in San Diego County.
In addition to his roles in the building industry, he has been a member of the board of the San Diego International Sports Council and managed Little League Baseball.
Aden was the co-chair of the 2009 Miracle Maker’s Gala for Rady Children’s Hospital and received the 2008 Spirit of Life® Award from the City of Hope’s San Diego Construction Industries Alliance.
He has an MBA degree from California State University, Fullerton, and a BA degree in architecture from the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He lives in Coronado with his wife Toni. Their two children are attending college.
