AIA|LA ADVOCACY REPORT
September 23, 2025

The Architect’s Role: A Call to Action for SB 79

The architecture and design community stands at the nexus of urban planning, sustainability, and human well-being. We are the visionaries who translate policy into the built environment, shaping the spaces where communities thrive. It is for this reason that we have a professional and ethical obligation to champion legislation that supports our shared goals. The passage of SB 79, the “Abundant & Affordable Homes Near Transit Act,” is a critical opportunity that requires our vocal support.

SB 79 is currently on Governor Newsom’s desk, awaiting his signature.  Or his veto!  Mayor Bass has already written a letter encouraging him to veto the bill, which is fundamentally at odds with the health and vitality of our region.

For years, we have been challenged to design with greater efficiency and a lighter environmental footprint. Now, we have the chance to advocate for the policy that will enable that work on a grand scale. The opposition to SB 79 often speaks of “unplanned disruption,” but this perspective overlooks a fundamental truth: extensive, deliberate planning has already occurred. Billions of public dollars have been invested in the design and construction of rail lines and transit stations. These are not random points on a map; they are the result of meticulous urban planning. To then prevent housing from being built nearby is to negate that initial, proactive vision and the investment we have all already made.

As advocates for smart, sustainable growth, we understand that new development near transit stops is not a disruption; it’s the logical conclusion of the existing plan. By ensuring that the economic and property valuation benefits of new housing help to sustain the operations of our transit systems, we are completing the cycle of a rational, forward-thinking approach to land use.

The Precision of Planning: Defining Transit Tiers

SB 79 Eligible Areas

Much of the fear surrounding this legislation stems from a misunderstanding of its focused scope. The bill is not a “one-size-fits-all” mandate but a surgical tool that targets only the most viable locations for new growth. The criteria for what constitutes a “transit-oriented development stop” are meticulously defined, making the bill’s application highly specific and limited to areas where it will have the most significant impact.

The bill designates transit stops into three distinct tiers based on the type of service and frequency:

  • Tier 1 Stops: These stops are located within an “urban transit county” and are served by heavy rail transit or very high-frequency commuter rail. Very high-frequency commuter rail is defined as a service with a total of at least 72 trains per day across both directions at any point in the past three years.
  • Tier 2 Stops: These stops are located within an urban transit county and are served by light rail transit, high-frequency commuter rail (at least 48 trains per day), or a specific type of bus rapid transit with a separate right-of-way and a service frequency of 15 minutes or less.
  • Tier 3 Stops: These stops are served by frequent commuter rail (at least 24 trains per day), or by ferry service.

SB 79 contains ample safeguards and provides clear pathways for local governments to create alternative plans, ensuring that it is a bill designed to encourage, not to bulldoze.

Your Voice is Essential: How to Advocate for SB 79

As members of the architecture and design community, our professional perspective holds significant weight. We understand the technical details and the long-term benefits of this legislation. By writing to Governor Newsom, we can help him see that SB 79 is not just another piece of legislation, but a visionary policy that aligns with the principles of good design and sustainable development.

Here’s how you can make your voice heard:

Draft a Letter: Start with the content of this editorial. It provides a strong, well-reasoned argument. Personalize it with your own professional perspective, experience, and commitment to building a better California.  For inspiration from Abundant Housing LA, CLICK HERE.

Highlight Your Expertise: Emphasize your professional background in architecture, urban design, or landscape architecture. Explain why this bill is a critical tool for your work.

Submit Your Letter: You can send your letter to Governor Newsom’s office through his official website or by mail. A digital submission is quick and efficient.  You can also email:  leg.unit{@}gov.ca.gov, gavin.newsom{@}gov.ca.gov.  Please include “Support for SB 79” in the subject line.

By taking a moment to act, we can help ensure that California moves forward with a proactive vision for its housing future. Let’s lend our expertise to this critical cause and help complete the urban planning that has already begun.

For reference, here’s a draft letter that you’re welcome to leverage:

A Proactive Vision for California: A Call to Action for Governor Newsom

Dear Governor Newsom,

I am writing to you with a sense of immense optimism for California’s future and to encourage you to sign SB 79, the “Abundant & Affordable Homes Near Transit Act.” This landmark bill represents a crucial opportunity to align our housing policy with the vast, long-term investments we’ve already made in public transit. Its passage will be a defining moment for our state’s journey toward a more sustainable and equitable future.

The discussion around SB 79 has, at times, been dominated by concerns about local control and unplanned disruption. However, this perspective overlooks a fundamental truth: extensive, deliberate planning has already been completed. When we, as a region, decide to spend billions of dollars to design, fund, and build a new rail line or a transit station, we are executing a profound act of urban planning. This is where an extensive amount of ‘local planning’ has already occurred. These stations are not random; they are strategically located to serve as the vibrant arteries of our communities. To then prevent (or discourage) housing from being built nearby is to negate that initial, proactive vision and the investment we have all already made.

By signing SB 79, you will be ensuring that the economic and property valuation benefits that new development brings will help sustain the operations of the very transit systems we, as taxpayers, have already paid for. It is a rational, forward-thinking approach to land use that embraces the synergy between housing and transit. We are not disrupting existing plans; we are completing them.

The Precision of Planning: Defining Transit Tiers

Much of the fear surrounding this legislation is a result of a misunderstanding of its focused scope. The bill is not a “one-size-fits-all” mandate but a surgical tool that targets only the most viable locations for new growth. The criteria for what constitutes a “transit-oriented development stop” are meticulously defined, making the bill’s application highly specific and limited to areas where it will have the most significant impact.

The bill designates transit stops into three distinct tiers based on the type of service and frequency:

  • Tier 1 Stops: These stops are located within an “urban transit county” and are served by heavy rail transit or very high-frequency commuter rail. Very high-frequency commuter rail is defined as a service with a total of at least 72 trains per day across both directions at any point in the past three years.
  • Tier 2 Stops: These stops are located within an urban transit county and are served by light rail transit, high-frequency commuter rail (at least 48 trains per day), or a specific type of bus rapid transit with a separate right-of-way and a service frequency of 15 minutes or less.
  • Tier 3 Stops: These stops are served by frequent commuter rail (at least 24 trains per day), or by ferry service. The definition also includes any major transit stop that is not in an urban transit county or is otherwise designated by a local authority.

SB 79 contains ample safeguards and provides clear pathways for local governments to create alternative plans. It’s a bill designed to encourage, not to bulldoze.

Building a Brighter, More Connected California

Much like past bills that have incrementally improved our housing landscape, SB 79 is a positive, proactive step toward a better California. It acknowledges that achieving significant housing growth requires a step-by-step approach with strong foundational policies. Housing is built one project at a time, with adequate funding and market feasibility. By making it easier to build near transit, this bill helps to attract the investment, vision, and expertise needed to make these projects a reality.

By signing this landmark legislation, you are championing a future where our neighborhoods are more walkable, our air is cleaner, and our communities are more connected. You are reinforcing the commitment to public transit and to a state where families have a real chance to live affordably near the jobs and opportunities that define our great communities.

Please sign SB 79 and help us realize this optimistic vision for California.

Truly yours,

Will Wright, Hon. AIA|LA
Director, Government & Public Affairs
AIA Los Angeles

 

RESOURCES:

Landmark Bill To Build More Homes Near Public Transit Heads To The Governor

California lawmakers pass SB 79, housing bill that brings dense housing to transit hubs

SB 79 Eligible Areas

Inner City Law Center Celebrates Passage of SB 79, Advancing Housing Justice in California

Resources From California Yimby

Abundant Housing LA – Call to Action to send Governor Newsom a Letter of Support on SB 79

AIA California Supports SB 79

Transit-Oriented Development
SB 79 – Support

SB 79 (Wiener) aims to accelerate transit-oriented development (TOD) by expanding how public transit agencies can use their land and by requiring local governments to allow multifamily housing near major transit stops. It redefines “agency use” to include land leased for commercial or industrial activities supporting transit, giving agencies more flexibility in land utilization. It also mandates minimum zoning standards for height, density, and floor area ratios based on transit accessibility tiers, ensuring consistent development potential around transit hubs. Additionally, the bill strengthens the Housing Accountability Act by penalizing jurisdictions that reject compliant housing projects in high-resource areas. This bill is significant because it supports denser, mixed-use, transit-accessible development, aligns with climate and mobility goals, and opens new opportunities for urban infill and adaptive reuse projects. AIA California supports SB 79 as it promotes sustainable community design, housing production near transit, and strategic land use that integrates architecture with broader transportation and environmental objectives.


The AIA|LA Immigration Summit: The Economic & Creative ROI of Immigrants in Los Angeles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AIA|LA TO HOST IMMIGRATION SUMMIT: EXPLORING THE ECONOMIC AND CREATIVE IMPACT OF IMMIGRANTS IN LOS ANGELES

LOS ANGELES, CA — The American Institute of Architects, Los Angeles (AIA|LA) is thrilled to announce its inaugural Immigration Summit, a vital think tank event set for Friday, October 17, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Center for Communities (4450 West Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016). This pivotal summit will officially bring together leading voices from the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries, academia, and government to explore the profound and often understated contributions of immigrants to the economic and creative vitality of our city and profession.

 

Understanding the ROI of Immigrants

This event will feature compelling keynotes and discussions that illuminate the significant economic return on investment (ROI) of immigrants in California. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how immigrants are a core part of the state’s economic framework, driving growth and innovation.

 

Key insights will include:

  • The Power of International Students: We’ll explore how our academic institutions serve as a “knowledge factory,” with international students contributing $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023-2024 and supporting over 378,000 jobs.
  • AEC Industry Reliance: The summit will highlight how the construction industry, which relies heavily on immigrant labor, would face a nearly 16% GDP contraction without this essential workforce.
  • Entrepreneurial Spirit: Attendees will learn that undocumented immigrants have a higher labor force participation rate (over 72%) than native-born Californians and own almost 11% of the state’s small businesses.

 

Building an Innovative and Resilient Los Angeles

The summit is designed to move beyond dehumanizing terminology and celebrate the creative outcomes that a diverse workforce brings to the AEC industry. It will feature two key panel discussions:

  • Panel 1: The Value of International Students in Higher Education will feature leaders such as Dean Brett Steele of the USC School of Architecture and Dean Heather Flood of Woodbury University, highlighting how international students, particularly those in STEM fields, drive innovation and global competitiveness.
  • Panel 2: Immigration, Skilled Labor, and Creative Outcomes in the AEC Industry will bring together experts like Alfred Fraijo Jr. of Somos Group and Thai Nguyen of PCL Construction to discuss how a rich blend of perspectives and experiences—built on courage and resilience—enhances creative solutions and secures our collective prosperity.

 

Join the Conversation

This event is a unique opportunity to engage in a forward-looking dialogue that will redefine our understanding of immigration’s role in design and beyond. Attendees will not only gain critical knowledge but also identify proactive ways to support this vital workforce, especially in a time of rebuilding and preparation for upcoming global sporting events.

Carlo Caccavale, Hon. AIA|LA, Executive Director of AIA Los Angeles, will offer a welcome, while a roster of distinguished speakers, including Stephen Cheung, President & CEO of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, and Assemblymember Hon. Sade Elharaway, will deliver keynotes.

RSVP: Registration and detailed program information can be found HERE.

CONTACT: Will Wright, Hon. AIA|LA – Director, Government & Public Affairs, AIA Los Angeles // will[@]aialosangeles.org

About AIA|LA: The American Institute of Architects, Los Angeles (AIA|LA), is the voice of the architecture profession in Los Angeles, dedicated to promoting the value of architecture and design through leadership, advocacy, and education.


Building a Resilient Los Angeles: A Call to Action for Architects and Designers

 

Los Angeles faces an urgent climate crisis, from extreme heat to catastrophic fires. As architects and designers, we recognize that “natural disasters” are often exacerbated by human systems—and our profession is uniquely positioned to build proactive resilience.

This isn’t just about rebuilding; it’s about transforming our city to be more equitable and sustainable before the next crisis. Heat, for instance, disproportionately impacts vulnerable neighborhoods lacking green space and air conditioning. We must move beyond reactive recovery to strategic, community-driven solutions.

Architects are essential conveners, integrators, and problem-solvers. We can translate abstract climate goals into tangible, community-level interventions that enhance physical, natural, and social capital. From co-designing cooling strategies with neighborhood councils to informing city-wide plans, our expertise can literally be the difference between a neighborhood that struggles and one that thrives.

Join us in this critical work. Engage with CEMO’s Heat Action Plan, partner with your local Neighborhood Council, and leverage professional networks like AIA|LA and ACLA. Together, we can build a Los Angeles that is not only resilient but also a beacon of hope in action. Read the full article to learn how you can contribute.

CLICK HERE to take a deeper dive and learn more about how to get involved.


AIA|LA Opposes City of LA Standard Plan Pilot Program as Currently Written

September 9, 2025

Dear Honorable Mayor Karen Bass:

Subject: Standard Plan Pilot Program

On behalf of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA|LA), representing over 4,500 architects, designers, emerging professionals, and students, we are writing to express deep concern with the recently launched Single-Family Home Standard Plans Pilot Program for fire rebuilds.

This initiative, as currently presented, simply does not recognize the complexity of the design, engineering, and documentation required in the process of producing a single-family home, nor does it respect the professional expertise required to realize a successful project. As the most important voice of the architecture profession, we feel we cannot recommend that our members or colleagues participate in this program, in its current iteration.

Every project constructed in Southern California has a specific relationship to its site; to the conditions of the land, its soil and topography; to its climate and orientation; to the zoning of that neighborhood. Each project represents the orchestration of the needs of a client, the requirements of the context, and the regulations that public agencies have overlain regarding energy usage, water retention, seismic requirements, and neighborhood concerns.

We do want to work with the Mayor’s office, and absolutely are committed to helping our city heal and our residents rebuild. We are not opposed to a standard plan program with fast-track permit approvals for this purpose. A number of firms and groups of architects have themselves initiated a kind of predesigned plan program available to homeowners, and a number of material suppliers have initiated programs offering deep discounts. However, in each of these cases, the work of completing the design and engineering of a set of plan-check-ready documents is not taken up without regard for the site, without a client, and with no professional fees for that portion of the work.

Los Angeles County has also begun a process that we feel better acknowledges both the process and the expertise of the professionals involved and, because of that, stands a better chance of successfully assisting homeowners who suffered losses in the fires to rebuild and return to their neighborhoods. The ‘road to recovery’ portion of the Los Angeles County website includes the following descriptions:

To begin the construction process, your proposed project will need to be accurately defined in detail by preparing design plans. These plans need to be prepared by a design professional. A California-licensed architect or engineer may be required to prepare the design plans. For complex soil conditions, foundation/site work, or structural designs, detailed engineering may also be necessary to support the proposed design

And, to introduce their standard plan program:

Selecting a pre-approved plan is also an option.

Before you begin: Every property is unique. A pre-approved design may not work for your property due to site-specific constraints. Verify with Planning and the Building and Safety Division the pre-approved design works for your property before you contract with a professional.

We feel strongly that the involvement of the architecture community in the crafting of this program is essential to its effectiveness and future success. It is in our interest to both ensure that homeowners do not misunderstand the process and are not disappointed at being promised a way forward that simply will not materialize, and to engage architects in a way that leverages the full depth of our experience and our expertise. Our staff and our membership are available to meet and help craft a program that is a more responsible way forward, equitable to our community of architects and allied professionals, and honestly engages the needs of residents who are looking to return and rebuild.

Please contact Will Wright – Director, Government & Public Affairs, at will[@]aialosangeles.org or at (213) 639-0764 for deeper coordination.

Truly yours,

Chava Danielson, AIA
2025 President, AIA Los Angeles

CLICK HERE to read the letter to Mayor Bass.


AIA|LA’s Recommendations for a Feasible and Effective Single-Stair Building Ordinance (CF 25-0247)

September 9, 2025

Planning and Land Use Management Committee
JOHN FERRARO COUNCIL CHAMBER
ROOM 340, CITY HALL
200 NORTH SPRING STREET, LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

MEMBERS: COUNCILMEMBER BOB BLUMENFIELD, CHAIR
COUNCILMEMBER HEATHER HUTT
COUNCILMEMBER ADRIN NAZARIAN
COUNCILMEMBER JOHN S. LEE
COUNCILMEMBER NITHYA RAMAN

RE: CF 25-0247 – Recommendations for a Feasible and Effective Single-Stair Building Ordinance

Dear Chair Blumenfield and Honorable Committee Members,

As the Director of Government and Public Affairs for the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA|LA), I am writing to share support for the City’s efforts to legalize single-stair residential buildings up to six stories and our support for the core mission of ordinance CF 25-0247. Legalizing single-stair residential buildings is a pivotal, common-sense reform that can unlock thousands of underutilized lots, facilitate better housing design, and create the family-sized homes Los Angeles desperately needs.

While we commend the collaboration between LADBS, LAFD, and LADCP, we have significant concerns that the current draft includes requirements that go far beyond proven safety standards. These provisions will, unfortunately, render this typology financially and spatially infeasible, undermining the ordinance’s primary goals. Our recommendations aim to align the ordinance with successful precedents in cities like Seattle and countless others worldwide.

A Proven International Model for Safety and Livability

The requirement for two staircases is a historical anomaly of 20th-century American building codes. For centuries, dense, vibrant cities have been built around single-stair buildings, which remain the dominant form of housing in cities like Paris, Vienna, and Tokyo. These cities prove that life safety is not achieved through redundant stairs, but through a modern, layered approach combining:
• Automatic sprinkler systems
• Pressurized stairwells to keep smoke out
• Strict limits on the number of units per floor
• Fire-rated construction materials and methods

Research by organizations like the Pew Charitable Trusts has shown no discernible difference in fire mortality rates between buildings with one and two staircases when these modern protections are in place. Los Angeles can and should confidently adopt this global standard.

Critical Recommendations for a Workable Ordinance

AIA|LA supports the ordinance’s core components, including the six-story height limit, the four-unit-per-floor maximum, and maintaining limits in High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. To ensure the policy’s success, we offer the following critical recommendations.

1. Align with Modern Safety Codes on Rescue Openings (Item #26)

This is our most urgent concern. The draft eliminates key exceptions in the California Building Code (CBC § 1031.2) that rightly permit buildings of fire-resistant, non-combustible construction (Type III, II, or I) to forgo emergency rescue windows.
• The Problem: Mandating rescue windows in every bedroom of a six-story building forces an 8-foot yard setback for fire ladder access. On a typical 50-foot-wide LA lot, this makes a functional building footprint virtually impossible to achieve.
• The Solution: The CBC provides these exceptions precisely because the combination of sprinklers, pressurized stairs, and fire-resistant construction provides a superior, systemic level of safety.
• Recommendation: We strongly urge you to strike the following language from Item #26: “Exceptions 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8, listed in CBC Section 1031.2, shall not apply.”

2. Provide Greater Flexibility for Feasible Design

Successful ordinances in other cities allow for practical design. The LA draft includes several unnecessarily restrictive limits that we do not support:
• Increase Travel Distance: A 20-foot travel distance from a unit door to the stairs is overly restrictive. A 40-footdistance is a safe and reasonable standard that allows for better building layouts, including designs with open-air courtyards, without compromising safety.
• Allow Two Buildings Per Lot: Limiting sites to one single-stair building prevents efficient design on larger or consolidated lots. We recommend permitting up to two buildings per lot, which is common in other jurisdictions.
• Permit Mixed Occupancies: Prohibiting the integration of residential (R-2) with other uses prevents proven mixed-use typologies, such as ground-floor retail with apartments or live-work units above. This flexibility is essential for creating vibrant, walkable corridors.

3. Clarify Technical Requirements to Avoid Unintended Costs

The ordinance must clarify if buildings over four stories will require emergency backup power for elevators. Under the current code, this expensive requirement (often necessitating a gas generator) is triggered unless a horizontal exit is provided. This could be an unforeseen poison pill for many projects, and its necessity should be evaluated.

A Collaborative Path Forward

The success of this ordinance hinges on getting the technical details right. We are concerned that the professional design community has not yet had a formal opportunity to collaborate with City staff to vet the draft’s real-world implications.

We ask the PLUM Committee to approve the ordinance in principle while directing staff to consult with technical experts from AIA|LA and the broader community of architects and engineers to refine these critical requirements before the ordinance proceeds to the full City Council.

With these data-driven amendments, Los Angeles can pass a landmark ordinance that follows global best practices, maintains the highest level of safety, and delivers on its promise to increase our housing supply.

We urge you to support the motion and adopt our recommendation to establish a technical advisory panel. AIA|LA and our members are ready to assist in this vital work to build a more affordable, resilient, and beautiful Los Angeles.

Thank you for your leadership on this vital issue.

Truly yours,

Will Wright, Hon. AIA|LA
Director, Government & Public Affairs

CLICK HERE to read the letter.


Shape LA’s Future: Join the 2025 AIA|LA City Leaders Breakfast Series!

Connect directly with the civic leaders transforming Los Angeles.

The AIA|LA City Leaders Breakfast Series offers a unique opportunity for architects, designers, and community stakeholders to engage in intimate roundtable discussions with key decision-makers. Share innovative ideas to foster a healthy, sustainable, equitable, inclusive, and economically prosperous future for all.

Why Attend?

  • Direct Engagement: Meet and converse with top civic leaders shaping our built and natural environment.
  • Influence & Impact: Contribute your insights on critical issues like economic development, climate, urban design, and land-use policy.
  • Networking: Connect with peers and leaders in a collaborative, inspiring setting.

Upcoming Breakfast Receptions:

October 2025

AND MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED.

Please make plans to attend one (or more) of these inspirational receptions!


ADVANCING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADAPTIVE REUSE

On behalf of the AIA|LA Building Performance & Regulations Committee, we are reaching out to solicit feedback from members and stakeholders with direct experience converting existing office buildings into housing.

Our request is two-fold:

AB 529 Working Group Input – As the AB 529 Working Group nears its conclusion, we are concerned it may not do enough to remove key barriers in the building code. We want to ensure your experiences and perspectives are represented in the public comment process.

Exploring State Legislation – We are also in early discussions with Assemblymember Gonzalez about the potential for a bill modeled after AB 2910. This would provide a mechanism to evaluate and address both local (City of Los Angeles) and state code provisions that create barriers to adaptive reuse housing.

As a valued AIA|LA member, we ask that you share your top three to five code-related barriers that have created undue financial hardship in adaptive reuse projects. Addressing these barriers could unlock more affordable housing opportunities while preserving commercial real estate value.

By way of example, our committee has identified issues such as:

  • Gurney elevator requirements
  • Redundant fire pump requirements
  • Change-of-use seismic triggers
  • Other provisions that can render office-to-housing projects financially infeasible

Your response can be as brief or detailed as you like. Our goal is to gather feedback from the AIA|LA community, prioritize the most impactful barriers, and present a focused set of proposed code revisions—ideally no more than ten—to Assemblymember Gonzalez and other decision-makers.

Please reply by 9/19/2025 we can incorporate your input into our recommendations.  Please email your input to will{@}aialosangeles.org with “Adaptive Reuse” in the subject line.

Thank you in advance for your feedback and for supporting this important effort.

Link to AB 529:  Adaptive Reuse Working Group and Report (AB 529 (Chapter 743, Statutes of 2023)) | California Department of Housing and Community Development

Link to (Vetoed on 09/22/24) AB 2901:  Bill Text – AB-2910 State Housing Law: City of Los Angeles: conversion of nonresidential buildings.


Your Expertise is Needed: Help Us Shape the Future of Los Angeles

 

We are reaching out to you, our valued members and stakeholders, with two critical opportunities to use your expertise to influence the development of Los Angeles. Your unique perspective as an architect or designer is essential to both of these efforts.

 

1. Unlock Adaptive Reuse for Housing

 

The AIA|LA Building Performance & Regulations Committee is actively working to remove the code barriers that prevent the conversion of existing office buildings into much-needed housing. We are concerned that the current AB 529 Working Group may not go far enough, and we need your direct experience to inform our public comments.

We are also in early discussions with Assemblymember Gonzalez about a new bill to evaluate and address the local and state code provisions that make adaptive reuse projects financially infeasible.

We need your input: Please share your top 3-5 code-related barriers that have created significant financial hardship on adaptive reuse projects. Your feedback will directly inform our recommendations to decision-makers.

Deadline to Respond: September 19, 2025

 

2. Influence DTLA’s Development

 

The DTLA Neighborhood Council’s Planning & Land Use Committee is seeking architects who live or work in Downtown Los Angeles to join the committee. This is a crucial opportunity to proactively guide and influence the development and planning processes within Downtown LA.

As a committee member, you will help shape land use policies, review individual projects, and ensure that development reflects the needs and aspirations of our community. We are looking for individuals who can commit to monthly meetings and actively participate in discussions.

How to get involved: To join the committee, please send a statement of interest and a brief summary of your qualifications to andrew.wong@dlanc.com by September 5, 2025.

 

Helpful Resources

 


> AIA CA Collective Action for Wildfire Recovery

The AIA LA & LACP Professional Volunteer Program (PVP)

Architects & designers passionate about improving the design quality of newly proposed projects throughout the City of Los Angeles are encouraged to participate in the Professional Volunteer Program (PVP), which is a collaborative design review program organized by AIA LA & Los Angeles City Planning (LACP)’s Urban Design Studio.

This year, we will be coordinating thirty-one virtual design review sessions, which will serve as opportunities for architects and designers to help the Los Angeles City Planning’s Urban Design Studio critically review upcoming projects throughout our City.

Sept 16 (10am)

Oct 7 (10am)

Oct 14 (10am)

Oct 21 (10am)

RSVP HERE (virtual on zoom)

Design Review Sessions w/ LACP Urban Design Studio 2025

UNPLAN LA_Transitional Height

 

 


 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Will Wright, Hon. AIA|LA
Director, Government & Public Affairs
t: 213.639.0764
e: will@aialosangeles.org
www.aialosangeles.org