Member News
Los Angeles Citywide Design Guidelines
September 1, 2010
On August 31st, I attended a public meeting at City Hall, where The Los Angeles Department of City Planning announced their request to receive input and feedback on draft citywide design guidelines. Although the guidelines are not construed to be mandatory, they will help the City establish a precedent for design excellence. The guidelines, if used effectively, can serve as a community-based tool to help shape the design process by focusing the dialogue around certain urban design principals.
The Department of Energy requested our assistance
August 30, 2010
During the BEC Chairs meeting in April 2010 the Department of Energy requested our assistance to identify areas of research that we believe would be beneficial to the design and construction industry and applicable to specific areas of the country. We are asking all BEC Chairs to pole their membership and other contacts for issues that they would like more research data or direction. Please keep these focused around areas where the DOE has interest (building envelope, energy efficiency, durability, tools, etc.).
This is our opportunity to influence the direction of research and gain more assurance for what we do.
In Memoriam: Leroy Miller, FAIA
August 25, 2010
Leroy Miller, FAIA, 78, died of respiratory failure Friday, August 20, at his home in Santa Monica, his family said.
Chasing Contemporary Architecture for the 2010 Design Awards Party
August 18, 2010
AIA|LA aims to promote innovative design to its members and friends at large. For this reason, AIA|LA is hosting the 2010 Design Awards Reception and Program at the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Pavilion, a new addition to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
AIA|LA & LAUSD - Design Excellence Promotes Academic Success
August 11, 2010
The following summaries of research linking school facilities to academic success with the specific hard data on each of them. This was prepared by Greg Stack, Principal K-12 Thought Leader from our firm. Please note that exact titles of the studies were not always used for the sake of brevity. They can all be found in the enclosed studies themselves.
AIA|LA meets with Assembly Member Kevin DeLeon
August 9, 2010
On Friday, August 6, AIA members Michael Pinto and Travis Frankel joined me in a meeting with Assembly Member Kevin de León and his District Director Steve Veres.
Essentially, we were there to introduce Kevin de León to the leadership resources of AIA|LA and to hear what's on his mind and discuss ideas for how we can help advance his key initiatives. We were also there on behalf of the profession to advocate the need for the State to allow municipalities and other public agencies the same degree of flexibility as the private-sector in selecting capital improvement project delivery methods that best suit the needs for each particular project, as opposed to always relying on either Design-Bid-Build or Design-Build for all of them
AIA|LA Launches Two New Programs to Help Improve the Built Environment
August 3, 2010
AIA|LA is currently building a task-force of local architects and urban designers who will provide critical insight and feedback to public agencies through one of two pilot programs launching in August 2010. The goal of both of these programs is to give architects the opportunity to serve their community and help shape the dialogue around such issues as: urban design; contracting reform; the selection process; masterplanning initiatives; design competitions; project delivery methods; peer-review & design review sessions
AIA|LA Advocates for the Future of Planning in the City of Los Angeles
July 22, 2010
The Los Angeles Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA|LA) expresses its gratitude to Gail Goldberg for her accomplishments as Director of the Department of City Planning (DCP), as well as its support for the initiatives begun under the leadership of the DCP and the Planning Commission during her tenure. Meaningful momentum to Do Real Planning has been achieved and it is important to carry these efforts forward while you search for a new Director of Planning. The Urban Design Studio, tools such as the urban design guidelines and the walkability checklist, and commitment to the community plan process will ensure a healthier, more livable, and more economically competitive Los Angeles.
railLA asks LA to think big about high-speed rail on July 17
July 13, 2010
LOS ANGELES, California - Urban planner and artist James Rojas believes he has found a way to develop community consensus through design and provide a process for the public to envision their ideal California High-Speed Rail project, which is now in the process of finalizing its track alignments in Northern and Southern California. A demonstration of the pioneering technique he describes as Interactive Planning will be held July 17 from 11:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m. at the Pico House in the El Pueblo district of Los Angeles. Interactive models of the 30/10 scenario for Los Angeles County and Union Station with High-Speed Rail will also be on display.
AIA Los Angeles TAP/LA Design Technology Forum
July 12, 2010
On June 17th the AIA|LA Technology in Architectural Practice committee, working with the LA Design Technology Forum, hosted Ball-Nogues Studio and BplusU for a fascinating evening talking about connecting the digital and physical design worlds. Topics discussed ranged from sound recordings being processed into spatial forms, to 3D printing and physical model making, to fabrication of incredibly complex structures and installation artworks.
In Memoriam: Stephen Kanner, FAIA. Friend and Former President of AIA|LA.
July 6, 2010
We are sad to share that Stephen Kanner, FAIA, friend and former President of AIA|LA has passed away Friday, July 2, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.
CO Architects Hires Kent Brown as Director, Science & Technology
July 6, 2010
CO Architects Hires Kent Brown as Director, Science & Technology
New Hire Adds to Firm’s Deep Background in Research Laboratories
AIA|LA Announces Winners of the 2010 Restaurant Design Awards (RDA) @ Mobius LA/Dwell on Design
June 27, 2010
AIA|LA Announces Winners of the 2010 Restaurant Design Awards (RDA) @ Mobius LA/Dwell on Design
AIA|LA SUPPORTS FEED-IN-TARIFF STUDY
June 11, 2010
The Los Angeles Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA|LA), expresses strong support for the newly released study "Designing An Effective Feed-In-Tariff For Greater Los Angeles" from UCLA's Luskin Center for Innovation. The study was commissioned by the Los Angeles Business Council.
NEW COMMUNITY COALITION FORMS TO PROMOTE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AND LAUNCHES A CALL FOR IDEAS/VENUES
May 25, 2010
The Los Angeles chapters of the American Institute of Architects (AIA|LA) and the American Planning Association (APA), along with community members, business leaders, local governments and universities formed railLA to promote the California High-Speed Rail project and help advance a change in Los Angeles’ car-centric lifestyle.
AIA|LA Call for Issue Briefs
May 4, 2010
Each year AIA Los Angeles presents a critical agenda of key environmental design issues to City leaders and pushes for their adoption as part of our annual AIA|LA Legislative Day at City Hall. As an architect & design professional providing the leadership to improve the built environment, this is your opportunity to recommend to the Political Outreach Committee specific ISSUE BRIEFS you'd like to see AIA|LA officially adopt as part of its 2010 advocacy slate.
AIA|LA Baseline Hillside Ordinance Working Group Recommendations
April 28, 2010
An informal working group of AIA|LA has reviewed the proposed Baseline Hillside Ordinance (BHO). The working group substantially agrees with the goals and objectives of the proposed ordinance. In particular the working group supports the following provisions:
A CALL-TO-ACTION For Architects to Get More Involved With Their Neighborhood Councils
March 31, 2010
Do you care about PLANNING, URBAN DESIGN, ARCHITECTURE AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE in your community? Would you like to serve on (or possibly Chair) a Design Review, Housing, or Parks committee and receive advance notice of, and comment on, all entitlement applications in your community? Want to get involved? Run for a seat on one of the Hollywood or other Neighborhood Councils' Board of Directors!
BizFed Hails Economy-Boosting Home-buyer Tax Credit and Green-Tech Legislation
March 29, 2010
Los Angeles County Business Federation strongly commends California lawmakers for passage this week of key home-buyer tax-credit and green-tech legislation that will help provide a significant and much-needed boost to the state’s economy.
AIA|LA Board endorses LAEDC, 30/10, Bicycle Boulevard
March 26, 2010
On Tuesday, March 23, The AIA|LA Board of Directors endorsed the following city wide initiatives: LAEDC, 30/10, Bicycle Boulevard. The time is NOW for you to take action.
