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Tuesday Newsletter

July 29, 2025

A week In Advocacy

Beyond the Blueprint: Designing Los Angeles with Heart for the Next Century

*Written By Will Wright – Director of Government and Public Affairs, AIA Los Angeles.

As architects, designers, and urbanists, we are driven by a relentless curiosity—forever peering into what’s possible, imagining futures not yet seen. Too often, however, our gaze is limited to the scale of the next project, the next few years. What if we dared to look further? With a spirit of optimism, what if we expanded our horizon to envision a 100-year future for Los Angeles?

Read The Story

Spotlight On

AIA|LA City Leaders Breakfast Reception w/ Laura Friedman – U.S. Congressional Representative, 30th District

August 8 @ 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Rep. Friedman has lived in California for more than three decades. Currently, she lives in Glendale with her husband and daughter.

Friedman proudly represents California’s 30th District, which includes Burbank, Glendale, West Hollywood, and parts of Los Angeles and Pasadena.

Friedman is committed to making meaningful progress on the issues that matter most to her district: making housing more affordable, safeguarding access to clean water, protecting communities from wildfires and other disasters, and creating an economy that works for everyone.

Get Your Seat

Architects In Action

Designing for Impact, Leading for Change

Q&A with Carlos Augusto Garcia, AIA, NCARB, WELL AP – Associate Principal & Studio Director, BROOKS + SCARPA

I. Design Philosophy & Core Values

Q1: Your bio states, “architecture is not merely about creating beautiful buildings; it is about building equitable, resilient communities.” Could you elaborate on how this core philosophy translates into the everyday design decisions and processes at Brooks + Scarpa?

A: At our office, that philosophy is the essential filter through which we view our daily work. It dictates that our process must be about more than just form; it must be about creating positive social and environmental outcomes.

Read the Q+A

Coming up

PLEIN AIR DRAWING: ARCHITECTURE AND ATMOSPHERE

August 2 @ 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Join LACMA Teaching Artists for an open-air sketching session exploring the museum’s new architecture and sculpture garden. A brief tour introduces the site...

Story and Registration

URBAN DESIGN REVIEW SESSION 08.05.25

August 5 @ 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

August 12 @ 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

August 19 @ 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Now more than ever, aspiring architectural designers debate whether licensure is worthwhile. Earning a license to practice architecture is a massive effort...

Story and Registration

WILDFIRE HARDENING BEST PRACTICES - FREE

August 19@ 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

There has been a growing need for a comprehensive hazard assessment and mitigation methodology to harden structures and parcels effectively and...

Story and Registration

Community

USGBC-CA and SEAOSC invite you to join SoCal’s builders, designers, policymakers, and material experts at Epson America (Los Alamitos) for fast-paced event: gain exclusive insights into California’s evolving embodied-carbon regulations, explore breakthrough low-carbon materials, and hear real-world success stories from top firms, through presentations & workshops. A must-attend forum!

Get Your Seat

AIA Makes ARE Prep More Affordable and Supportive Than Ever

Members: Use code AIALA-10 for 10% off!

Becoming a licensed architect is a milestone moment, but the journey through the Architect Registration Exam (ARE) can feel overwhelming—especially when it comes to the cost of study materials.

The AIA is stepping up to make the process more accessible and supportive through PrepARE, a program designed to help you study smarter, connect with mentors, and pass the ARE with confidence.

* Designed by architects who understand the ARE journey

* Free weekly live Zoom study sessions led by AIA experts

* Real-time Q&A and concept breakdowns

* Access to a growing library of free practice exams

* Build confidence with the exam format—at no cost

* More affordable than traditional test prep programs that can cost thousands.

Whether you’re just starting your ARE journey or looking for support on a specific division, try PrepARE free for seven days. Get access to expert guidance, live study sessions, and practice tests—all at no risk. The AIA is here to make sure cost isn’t a barrier to licensure.

Ready to see what PrepARE can do for you?

BUILD BETTER: Solutions for Sustainable & Resilient Construction in California Symposium

Learn about Resilient & Sustainable Construction from Industry Professionals. Six (6) Continuing Educational Sessions (5 AIA LUs & 1 AIA HSW LUs available.)

Thursday, September 4, 2025

9am – 5pm

UCLA Mathias Botanical Gardens – La Kretz Pavilion

707 Tiverton Dr.

Los Angeles, CA 90095

More info and Tickets

Jobs

Check Out All Jobs

See Arch | Job Captain | Remote | 7/23

Mascari Dinh Architects | Project Manager | Healthcare | San Diego, CA | 7/17

KFA Architecture | Project Architect | Culver City, CA | 7/16

KFA Architecture | Project Manager | Culver City, CA | 7/16

KFA Architecture | Senior Project Architect | Culver City, CA | 7/16

Rockefeller Partners Architects | Job Captain | El Segundo, CA | 7.8.25

Austin Sandy Architects | Architect | Los Angeles CA | 7.6.25

Sponsor Highlight

A Huge Thank You to Our Annual Sponsors!

We’re incredibly grateful to our Annual Sponsors—your support powers everything we do, from programs and advocacy to community impact.

Want to join this amazing roster? Sign up in July and your sponsorship will carry through July 2026—a full year of visibility, engagement, and meaningful benefits. And trust us... the benefits are huge!

The Los Angeles Chapter of the American Institute of Architects