Students Reinventing Cities Competition: Free Design Workshop

Los Angeles: Reimagining Lincoln Heights Jail

Reimagine Lincoln Heights Jail: Free Design Workshop for Students

(Volunteer Architects Welcome, too!)

Calling all future architects and changemakers!

This is your chance to shape the future of Los Angeles! Join us for a FREE design workshop where you’ll:

• Reimagine the Lincoln Heights Jail site: Design a future focused on housing, green spaces, collaboration, and healthy living.
• Learn from the pros: Work alongside architects and engineers as part of your team.
• Build your skills: Create a physical model and stunning visuals of your design.
• No experience is needed! Open to all students and teams (individuals welcome too!)

This workshop will help you:

• Develop your design proposal: Craft innovative solutions using biomimicry and natural patterns.
• Master the art of presentation: Generate amazing visualizations to showcase your vision.
• Make your dream a reality: Take home your model and bring your design to life!

Volunteer Architects Wanted!

Share your expertise and inspire the next generation of architects. This is a rewarding opportunity to give back to the community.

If you’re an architect or designer and would like to volunteer your time on Saturday, March 20th please let us know as well.  

#FutureofLA #DesignWorkshop #LincolnHeights #NoExperienceNeeded

To learn more about the C40 Students Reinventing Cities Competition, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

To learn more about the site that the City of Los Angeles chose to enter – The Lincoln Heights Jail, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Learning Objectives:
1. To advance your project proposal by creating:
+ site solutions including landscape on the site using biomimicry and natural patterns
+ a mass model using a “kit of parts” by hand and computer following natural rules and the needs of the program

2. To advance your graphic presentation by generating visualizations for your project submission

Come and envision the future of our community for housing, green spaces, business, healthy materials, and spaces of collaboration.

Participants will be able to take home a physical architectural model and make amazing images of your design, as well as, learn the fundamentals of leveraging AI tools and hand drawings to visualize your dream.

In addition, you will be able to work directly with Architects and Engineers as part of your team.

REMINDER: No experience is necessary and no need to be in school to register as a team!

For more information:

If you have any questions about this program or would like to volunteer your time, please contact Will Wright

Location: LATTC Architecture and Environmental Design Program, Tom Bradley Building Studio C109

Marcela Oliva, Assoc. AIA – Professor, LATTC Architecture and Environmental Design

For over a decade, she has served as the Knowledge Architect for the $9 billion Building Program at the Los Angeles Community College District, leading the development of the nation’s largest Digital Twin/Virtualization BIM/GIS System, in accordance with National Intelligence Standards. As a Professor of Architecture and Environmental Design at LATTC, she founded UCLA Extension Courses in Transforming Community and Design for Social Justice, underscoring her proficiency in Omniverse/Metaverse/Digital Twins and their impact on society. Her significant contributions at NASA’s Knowledge Management and as the principal investigator for the Cyber-Physical Systems NSF Grant highlight her leadership in the field. Recognized with the California Governor’s Award in Geospatial Technologies, she is a prominent speaker at forums dedicated to education, technology, and social justice worldwide. Accolades such as the Alpha Rho Chi Medal from USC and the 2012 Educator of the Year award emphasize her innovative use of biomimicry with digital twins. Holding degrees in Architecture and Building Science from USC and Columbia University, and leading initiatives like the Mayor’s Workforce Initiative for the Green New Deal, she continues to be a pioneer in AEC education and practice. The 2022 AIA LA Presidential Award for Educator of the Year further confirms her lasting impact on academia and the industry. She also serves on the Board of Directors for USGBC LA, Pando Populus, and Architecture and Advocacy. Her Architecture and Environmental Design Program at LATTC was recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal at the Diversity, Equity + Inclusion Symposium. Celebrated as a champion in the Los Angeles region, her efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the AEC industry span higher education, the workplace, and business leadership, fostering an environment where diversity and equity can flourish. Building on this foundation of inclusivity and leadership, she has recently collaborated closely with NOMA to introduce a certified course endorsed by the United Nations for the “New Urban Agenda.” This partnership exemplifies her commitment to expanding educational opportunities and advancing urban development strategies that embrace social justice and sustainability, reinforcing her role as a visionary in shaping the future of architecture and environmental design.

Arthur Modine – Design Consultant, Adjunct Professor, Product Manager, & Co-Founder, Openended

Arthur Modine is a designer based in Los Angeles, California, specializing in architecture and fashion. He holds an undergraduate degree in architecture from the University of New Mexico and a master’s in architecture from SCI-Arc, where he was honored with a master’s thesis award for developing AURA (Augmented Urban Regeneration Accelerator), an innovative AR-based urban planning platform.

As a co-founder of Openended, a fashion brand working with 3D printed jewelry and accessories, Modine has helped launch six products, including four necklaces and two handbags. Openended recently won an award for high-tech wearables from the A+D Museum LA.

With experience in both large and small-scale architectural projects, Modine has contributed significantly to the field as a lead designer and independent contractor. He led the design of a new hospital wing in Echo Park, securing full funding through a California Department of Health Services grant for 18 Million.

Currently, he also serves as an adjunct professor at LATTC, where he teaches sustainable building systems, landscape design, and advanced design studios with a focus on digital innovation, including parametric modeling, 3D printing, and AI workflows. Modine’s design philosophy is rooted in seamlessly integrating human-made structures with natural systems, balancing aesthetic desires with the functional harmony of our environment.