AIA|LA ADVOCACY REPORT
January 28, 2025
ANNOUNCING THE AIA|LA WILDFIRE DISASTER RESPONSE TASK FORCE
Call to Action:
In the wake of the devastating 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, AIA|LA has launched the Wildfire Disaster Response Task Force to aid affected communities and advance wildfire resilience strategies. We’re delighted to announce that the Task Force will be led by co-chairs:
Greg Kochanowski, AIA, ASLA – Partner and Director of Design, Practice & Founder, The Wild: A Research Lab
Mohamed Sharif, AIA, RIBA – Partner, Sharif, Lynch: Architecture & Director, Undergraduate Program in Architectural Studies and Graduate Program Design Faculty, UCLA Architecture and Urban Design
Objectives:
To mobilize AIA|LA members: Form working groups & support existing AIA|LA committees to leverage expertise in immediate assistance, mid-term recovery, and long-term rebuilding efforts.
To coordinate volunteer efforts: Align volunteer interests with specific task forces, maximizing impact.
To develop a comprehensive plan: Address immediate needs, advocate for policy changes, and promote sustainable rebuilding practices.
Working together, we will rebuild more resilient communities better equipped to face ongoing climate crisis challenges. Emphasizing adaptability and preparedness in design and planning, we aim to ensure that our work will help communities withstand and recover from the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires while fostering long-term well-being.
Drawing on diverse expertise, the Task Force will robustly advocate sustainable, equitable rebuilding across immediate, mid-term, and long-term phases:
Immediate: Supporting communities and local authorities with critical professional leadership, expertise, and resources to prepare for sustainable and resilient rebuilding.
- Give Financial Assistance to members, firms, and community members impacted by the Fire
- LA Fires | IN PERSON Volunteer Opps – Google Sheets
- Need Financial Assistance and/or Temporary Office Space
- ArchitectsHelp: Resources from AIA California and ways you can assist
- AIAs in California: Direct Aid and Recovery Initiatives and Programs (Airtable)
- FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers
- Offer Temporary Office Space
Mid-Term: Laying the groundwork with Los Angeles City Planning, Los Angeles Department of Building & Safety, and related agencies and authorities for rapid, sustainable, and resilient rebuilding strategies in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades.
Long-Term: Developing innovative policies and best practices with relevant bodies to create a more fire-resilient Los Angeles region.
Mission and Tasks:
- The AIA|LA Wildfire Disaster Response Task Force is dedicated to a multidisciplinary approach to wildfire preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience. Centered on equity, inclusion, and collaboration, the Task Force will establish specialized subgroups to address these critical areas:
- Support Communities in Recovery: Provide guidance and resources for communities affected by wildfires, emphasizing sustainable, equitable, and inclusive rebuilding. Collaborate with local authorities, community organizations, and relevant stakeholders to ensure a thoughtful recovery process that addresses the unique needs of all affected populations.
- Disaster Recovery & On-Site Assessment/Evaluation
- Insurance Claims & Assistance
- Community Engagement & Outreach
- Writing Editorials & Op-Eds
- Advocate for Policy Change and Efficiencies for Fire Resilience: Advocate at the local, city, and state levels to influence policies and regulations that support wildfire resilience, sustainable land use, equitable resource allocation, climate adaptation strategies, and expedited rebuilding processes, including engineered assemblies and systems that promote decarbonization.
- Promote Innovation and Research: Proactive Building Technology for Fire Resilience: Support research into emerging technologies and innovative design solutions to address the growing risks of wildfires due to climate change. And facilitate the sharing of knowledge and experiences to build a specifically targeted body of resources for the architectural and broader community.
- Streamlining the Permitting Process
- Building Code Reform
- Help to Inform a 100-Year Plan
- General Education and Wildfire-Resilient Design:
- Increase awareness and preparedness within the architectural community and the public by offering training, resources, and best practices for designing in wildfire-prone areas. Advocate for policies that enhance fire safety, resilience, and inclusion in urban planning and development.
- Develop, promote, and implement design principles and construction practices that minimize wildfire risks to structures and communities. This includes adopting fire-resistant materials, defensible space planning, integrating natural ecosystems for fire mitigation, and long-term planning strategies to create broader urban resilience.
- Professional Development (seminars, best practices, etc.) = AIA|LA committees will program monthly educational opportunities in 2025 to ensure the AEC community has constant access to the latest best practices in implementing resilient design.
The Co-Chairs of the AIA|LA Wildfire Disaster Response Task Force
Greg Kochanowski, AIA, ASLA - Design Principal, Practice & Founder, The Wild: A Research Lab
Greg is a licensed architect, landscape designer, and educator in California with over 26 years of experience. His work weaves together architecture, landscape, and urbanism to create sustainable, equitable, and innovative environments that honor and enhance the unique qualities of place. Building on this foundation, Greg’s research emphasizes holistic design processes that foster resilience and harmony between natural systems, culture, infrastructure, and development, addressing the complex challenges posed by climate change.
Greg’s work has been featured in venues such as the Venice and Rotterdam Biennales and has received recognition, including the Architectural League of New York’s Young Architects Forum Award and honors from the AIALA, AIAPF, ASLA, and AIACA. He has presented at ASLA and AIA National Conventions, sharing insights on Southern California’s Wildland-Urban Interface and its recurring fire, flood, and debris flow cycles, exploring broader climate impacts across the Western U.S. and globally.
He is the author of The Wild and the upcoming Wildlands in the Expanded Field: Designing in the Pyrocene (Routledge Press, 2026). In connection with issues of wildfire and climate, Greg’s research also delves into affordable housing strategies aimed at addressing pressing social and environmental challenges. This includes innovative ownership models and housing solutions for vulnerable populations, emphasizing equitable, resilient, and sustainable communities.
As Partner and Director of Design at Practice in Pasadena, CA, and Founder of The Wild: A Research Lab, a nonprofit addressing urban climate issues, he advances design research and advocacy by bridging innovative practice with critical research. He currently serves on the Board of Community Design Group and previously served as Co-President of the Los Angeles Forum for Architecture and Urban Design.
Mohamed Sharif, AIA, RIBA - Partner, Sharif, Lynch: Architecture & Director, Undergraduate Program in Architectural Studies and Graduate Program Design Faculty, UCLA Architecture and Urban Design
Mohamed Sharif is an Associate Adjunct Professor at UCLA’s Department of Architecture and Design, where he teaches graduate and undergraduate courses and directs the undergraduate program. Recently, he worked with Professor Hitoshi Abe on a multi-year design research platform focused on resilience and regenerative urbanism.
His practice, Sharif, Lynch: Architecture, with Todd Lynch, has completed several award-winning projects in Los Angeles.
Sharif’s work has been published in journals and periodicals, including 306090, a+u, arq, Constructs, JAE, the Getty Center, Log, and POOL. He served on the arq editorial board (Cambridge University Press, 2006–2016) and was President of the Los Angeles Forum for Architecture and Urban Design (2007–2009), later joining its Advisory Board (2010–2016).
Portrait credit: Alyssa Tohyama
WILDFIRE RESPONSE RESOURCES & READING LIST
AIA|LA Wildfire Response 2025: Sign Up to Volunteer
AIA|LA Los Angeles Wildfire Disaster Response Task Force (Recording on Youtube) = January 15, 2025
Agenda for AIA|LA Wildfire Disaster Response Ad Hoc Task Force Meeting
AIA California DISASTER RESPONSE TOOLKIT
Pacific Palisade Community Council
Palisades Fire Information/Updates
PPCC January 23, 2025 Meeting Recording
Fire Safety and Health Information (LA County)
All Releases and Fact Sheets FEMA shares on this disaster can be found here
Here’s all the actions Governor Newsom has taken in response to the Los Angeles fires
LA County Emergency Resources for Workers and Businesses
Los Angeles Wildfires: Safety & Support Guide for Angelenos
Recovery Efforts: Briefing on Governor Newsom’s Recent Executive Order N-4-25
Padilla Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Wildfire Resilience and Recovery
Mayor Bass Issues Sweeping Executive Order to Clear Way for Angelenos to Rebuild Their Homes Fast
Eaton & Palisades Fire Response
Moving from “Reaction and Relief” to “Recovery and Resilience”
In the rush to rebuild, one topic is taboo: What should be built differently — or not at all?
Wealth will dictate LA fire recovery unless California learns from mistakes of past disasters
Opinion: Before rebuilding, we should recognize the fires’ tragedies and opportunities
Disasters Are Exactly the Time for Urban Planning
Building Code is the New Zoning Reform
Why California keeps putting homes where fires burn
How Los Angeles Dreams Became Kindling
Editorial: After the fires, must we get rid of our flammable eucalyptus and palm trees? Maybe not
‘We surpassed human limits to stop this’: LA megafires show our approach to fire needs to change
“Los Angeles Against the Mountains—I.”
Petition for Immediate Action to Address Firestorm Catastrophes in Los Angeles County
Summary of AIA|LA Wildfire Disaster Response Initiatives and Activities
The AIA|LA is committed to supporting communities impacted by recent wildfires. Here’s a summary of the ways they are providing assistance:
- Design and Consulting Services: Many architects, engineers, and designers are offering their professional services to help with rebuilding efforts.
- Permitting and Building Code Reform Advocacy: AIA|LA advocates for streamlined permitting processes and updated building codes to improve fire safety and resilience.
- Community Engagement: AIA|LA is organizing workshops and town halls to gather input from residents on rebuilding priorities.
- Resource Compilation: A centralized platform will be created to provide critical resources such as building code updates, best practices for fire-resistant design, and information on available assistance programs.
- Collaboration: AIA|LA is building relationships with other organizations to coordinate efforts and maximize impact.
Opportunities to Amplify and Support AIA|LA Wildfire Disaster Response Efforts
- Volunteer Your Skills: If you are an architect, engineer, contractor, or have other relevant skills, you can volunteer your time to help with rebuilding efforts.
- Donate Materials or Services: Companies can donate materials or services to support the rebuilding process.
- Spread Awareness: Help spread the word about AIA|LA’s wildfire disaster response efforts by sharing information on social media or with your network.
- Advocate for Policy Changes: Support AIA|LA’s advocacy efforts for streamlined permitting and updated building codes.
- Get Involved in Community Engagement: Attend workshops and town halls to provide your input on rebuilding priorities.
This is not an exhaustive list, and there are many other ways to get involved. By working together, we can help communities rebuild and recover from these devastating wildfires.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Will Wright, Hon. AIA|LA
Director, Government & Public Affairs
t: 213.639.0764
e: will@aialosangeles.org
www.aialosangeles.org
