Chair

Tommy Zandi, AIA 

Tahmores “Tommy” Zandi, with over two decades of experience in the field, has honed his expertise as a technical architect dedicated to decarbonizing the built environment. In SOM’s LA Studio, Tommy is a champion for the firm’s various sustainability initiatives, including the AIA 2030 Commitment –an industry-wide action plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2030. On each project, he seeks to make it the most environmentally responsible version of itself. Tommy’s recently completed projects include the new LAX Airport Police Facility and University of California Santa Barbara San Joaquin Apartments, both projects in which passive strategies improved building performance. Currently, amongst other assignments he is leading the technical design for a major film studio on Toronto’s waterfront.

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Vice Chair

Brendan Townes Bailey, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, LFA

Brendan, a registered architect with over a decade of experience, is dedicated to advancing sustainable design in architecture. Specializing in Multi-Family, Mixed-Use, Creative Office, Emergency Response, and Transit-Oriented Development, he has expertise in Healthy Materials, Biophilic Design, and Coastal Sustainability. Brendan holds key accreditations—LEED AP BD+C, Living Future, and EcoDistricts—alongside a Healthier Materials certificate from Parsons School of Design. His practical experience includes impactful design research as a graduate assistant for LSU’s Coastal Sustainability Studio, focusing on post-disaster rebuilding of communities in Southeastern Louisiana affected by inland flood events, emphasizing resilience, health, and well-being. With a BEnvD from the University of Colorado Boulder and an MArch from Louisiana State University, Brendan believes in advancing the AEC industry through volunteerism, demonstrated by his service as this year’s AIA LA COTE Committee Vice Chair. He also contributes to subcommittees on climate action (AIA CA Climate Action Advocacy), and green schools (USGBC Green in Schools), and is a thought leader at Johnson Fain’s Sustainability + Resilience Lab.

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Past Chair

Megumi Hironaka, AIA 

Megumi Hironaka brings over 20 years of experience in the planning, design, and construction of higher education, civic, and mixed-use developments throughout California. She brings a technical expertise in managing and producing all architectural project documentation with a focus on designing and developing highly sustainable and healthy buildings. As a WELL Accredited Professional, Megumi is dedicated to improving working and living environments through design solutions that promote creativity, well-being, and community. She is serving as a Chair for the AIA Los Angeles, Committee on the Environment (COTE).

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