Student 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.

In Memoriam: Cornelius Michael Deasy, FAIA

August 30, 2010

Cornelius Michael (Neil) Deasy, 92, died in his sleep at his home in San Luis Obispo on August 14, 2010. His three daughters were with him when he passed away. His wife had died in 2008, the 67th year of their marriage.

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.

In Memoriam: Elaine Jones, Hon. AIA/LA

August 20, 2010

AIA Los Angeles is saddened to announce that Elaine Kollins Sewell Jones, Hon. AIA/LA, public relations counselor and communication specialist, and widow of architect A. Quincy Jones, has passed away at the age of 92.

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 & LADBS: Implementing CALGreen for the City of Los Angeles

August 13, 2010

On Thursday, August 12th AIA|LA members Stuart Magruder, Jim Dixon and Tracy Stone discussed ideas and opportunities for what it would take to encourage new construction projects to go 15% beyond TITLE-24 requirements. Together with LADBS management and representatives from Turner Construction, Clark Construction, Gensler and AC Martin, AIA|LA is exploring ways to incentivize the use of sustainable building materials.

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 Government and Public Affairs Updates

August 6, 2010

This page provides updates on the AIA|LA Government and Public Affairs.

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.

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 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.

Grassroots Letter Writing Campaign - UDC-Universal vs.CH2M Hill

March 26, 2010

The profession needs your participation in an important AIACC grassroots letter writing campaign in response to the recent California Court of Appeal decision concerning UDC-Universal v. CH2M Hill.

The letter writing campaign is part of a multi-approach effort by the AIACC and others to reverse this adverse and far reaching decision. Please take the time to read the following information to become familiar with the issue and learn what you can do to help. Thank you in advance for you participation.

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.

The 30-10 Plan

March 26, 2010

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA|LA) I am writing to pledge our full support for your 30-10 Plan.

Los Angeles County Strategic Plan for Economic Development

March 26, 2010

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA|LA) I am writing to acknowledge our support for the Los Angeles County Strategic Plan for Economic Development.

The 4th Street Bicycle Boulevard

March 26, 2010

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA|LA) I am writing to pledge our support for the neighborhood consensus building initiative led by the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC) to transform 4th Street from Hoover St. to Cochran St. into a bicycle boulevard. This effort will help make the City of Los Angeles more bicycle and pedestrian friendly.

APPLY: AIAS and AARP launches 3-year/multi-phase design competition.

March 25, 2010

The AIAS and AARP have launched a three-year/multi-phase design competition. Take this opportunity to register for the competition and get started on your initial designs.

2010 2x8:Verge - Annual Students Exhibit and Scholarship

March 24, 2010

The American Institute of Architects Los Angeles Chapter (AIA|LA) announces the June 26 Opening of the annual 2x8 student exhibition at the LA Convention Center in conjunction with Dwell on Design

Court Facility Projects – Funding and Contracts

March 11, 2010

The money that currently is financing the acquisition of land and contracts with architects for the $5 billion court facility improvement program remains threatened in the Legislature. Some judges and the court employee unions are asking the Legislature to divert the money to the court system general fund to offset budget cuts. The AIACC is a part of a coalition to protect the capitol improvement money. The coalition includes other design professional associations, contractor and sub?contractor groups, construction unions, and the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Baseline Hillside Ordinance

March 9, 2010

Staff is currently processing all of the comments made at the workshops and will try to address as many of them as we can in the proposed Baseline Hillside Ordinance. We will take into consideration written comments received up to Monday, March 15, 2010 in the development of the proposed Ordinance; please email them to . We will continue to accept your comments after the 15th, but will unfortunately not be able to be incorporated in that iteration of the proposal. For those individuals who attended and/or gave us their input, thank you for your time and participation.