GANBARU: The Resilience of Salt Lake City’s Japantown Through Generations of Trial and Transformation

Darin Mano

Darin is a practicing licensed architect. For 13 years he owned and managed two local architecture firms, Raw Design Studio and Uncommon Architects. He worked on a variety of project types including professional and medical offices, housing, custom residential, retail, hospitality, and religious buildings. Darin stepped away from his firms earlier this year to focus the remainder of his career on affordable housing, an issue he has become passionate about through his public service. He is working on some independent projects while he finishes out his council term and contemplates what’s next.

Darin received a Master’s of Architecture from Harvard University and Bachelor’s degrees in Architecture and Psychology from the University of Utah. He taught Architecture and Urban Design courses for six years at the University of Utah’s College of Architecture + Planning. Before joining the Council, he served on the Ballpark Community Council Board and on Salt Lake City’s Redevelopment Advisory Committee and Planning Commission. He currently serves on the Housing Authority of Salt Lake City’s Board of Commissioners and the Board of Directors for the Harvard Alumni Association of Utah. In 2024, Utah Business Magazine recognized Darin as a “40 Under 40” honoree.

Darin stays involved with and connected to the Asian American and LGBTQ+ communities in Salt Lake City. Darin was raised in Sandy, Utah, and is the sixth of seven children. He lives with his husband, Kevin, their four kids, and their dog, Bucky.