From AIA National: A Call To Action

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Tuesday Newsletter

August 19, 2025

From AIA National: A Call To Action

Urge the White House to Respect the Historic Preservation Process

The White House is a national symbol—and any changes to it must be handled with transparency, care, and respect for its historic character.

A proposed $200 million ballroom addition raises concerns about scale, process, and preservation.

The Committee for the Preservation of the White House has the authority to influence how this project moves forward.

Your message can help ensure that design excellence, public accountability, and historic integrity remain central to the process.

Call For Action

Spotlight On

Still Time to Register—Earn Your ADA Credits This Fall

AIA Members Save $70!

Whether you’re renewing your license for 2025, getting ahead for 2027, or simply

seeking fresh insights on accessible design, these fall seminars with Janis Kent, FAIA, CASp, are for you. In just one day, you can complete the 5 hours of ADA training required every two years in California - while gaining practical, real-world knowledge on ADA principles, processes, and compliance.

Stepping Thru – Accessible Environments As We Age

PLUS

Accessibility: A Photographic Look at Non-Complying Elements

Friday September 12 from 9:30am-3:30pm

This seminar includes two topics, for 5 hours total!

Stepping Thru Accessible Public Multi-Family Residential Facilities

Friday November 14 from 9:30am-3:30pm

CA LICENSE RENEWALS ARE CHANGING! FIND OUT HOW

AIA|LA ARCHITECTS IN ACTION:

May Sung, AIA

Q&A with May Sung, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP+C – PRINCIPAL, SUBU DESIGN ARCHITECTURE

Designing Narratives, Building Resilience

I. Design Philosophy & Core Values

SUBU Design Architecture is known for collaborative design and integrating architecture and interiors to tell a client’s story. How do you approach extracting these unique narratives from clients, and what’s your favorite part of that creative process?

Learning from my clients. I’ve learned something from every home I’ve ever worked on. It can be as small as a favorite recipe, to how to give back to your community.

Read the Q+A

Coming up

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 efficiently against ember and fire exposures. To address this need, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), CAL FIRE, and Insurance Institute ...

Story and Registration

A DEEPER DIVE INTO AI IN ARCHITECTURE: A TWO-PART SERIES WITH ARCHISTAR.AI – SESSION #1 - FREE

August 19 @ 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

AIA|LA, in partnership with

Archistar.AI, invites you to an exclusive two-part virtual series exploring the future of generative design and AI-powered plan checking. We’ve heard your questions about the new eCheck AI Pilot and are providing this opportunity for architects and designers to get a firsthand look...

Story and Registration

PURPOSEFUL 2025: ATTENTION, PREVENTION, INTERVENTION – LINKING THE MODALITIES OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE

August 22 @ 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Behavioral and mental health care encompasses a broad array of treatments, and a range of nuanced facility types has been created in response. Addressing them separately does not acknowledge the comprehensive nature of treatment, or the unique way a given individual might navigate the offerings.

Story and Registration

Community

License to Leap - Why Licensure is a Launchpad, Not a Finish Line

Presented by SoCal NOMA Developing Professionals

Friday, August 22 – 6pm to 8pm at Lutron LA Design Studio

Join SoCal NOMA EP for a panel of architects sharing personal experiences on licensure, balancing life, and staying motivated. Whether you’re preparing for your first exam or exploring how licensure fits into your career trajectory, this event will provide inspiration, actionable advice, and a supportive network.

RESERVE YOUR TICKETS TODAY

AIA|LA and ASLA SoCal Emerging Professionals Collaborate with FoLAR for two great events!

Reimagining the LA River: A Vision for the Sepulveda Basin

With Sarah Swanseen, OLIN Senior Landscape Architect + Certified Planner

Virtual lecture | Thursday, August 21st | 12:00-1:00 pm

Join us for a special virtual talk with Sarah Swanseen, lead designer of the Sepulveda

Basin Vision Plan. Sarah will share how OLIN’s community-driven approach is helping

reimagine 2,000 acres of LA’s most critical floodplain into a vibrant, resilient, multi-

benefit space.

With a background in biology, environmental studies, and a deep commitment to climate

resilience and cultural connection, Sarah’s work bridges systems thinking, community

needs, and the future of LA’s urban landscape.

AIA|LA + ASLA EP Volunteer Day: LA River Cleanup + Vision Talk

Hosted by Friends of the LA River (FoLAR), in collaboration with AIA|LA & ASLA SoCal

Emerging Professionals

Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve, 6100 Woodley Ave Los Angeles, CA 91604 |

Friday, September 27 | 8:00 – 11:00am

Join fellow emerging professionals from AIA LA and ASLA SoCal for a day of impact,

inspiration, and community building at the Sepulveda Basin. We’re teaming up with

Friends of the LA River (FoLAR) for a hands-on volunteer cleanup event, helping

restore a vital stretch of LA’s watershed.

· Give back to the river

· Connect with fellow designers and planners

· Learn about visionary work happening in your own backyard

HELP US RESTORE THE RIVER

Shade LA Design Competition

ShadeLA, a new people-powered movement to make Los Angeles cooler, has partnered with USC Architecture and LA Metro to launch the first annual Shade Zones Design Competition. The first of these challenges invites college and graduate students from any higher education institution in L.A. County to design innovative shade solutions that will protect people from extreme heat during the major global sporting events coming to the city in the next three years.

The theme for this year’s competition is “Modular Shade”. Student teams will design temporary, modular shade structures that can be integrated into Metro’s kit-of-parts, deployed for extreme heat, high-crowd scenarios during major events, and then repurposed in communities long after the events are over.To support student teams, we are inviting design firms to participate as Expert Advisors for the competition.

Expert Advisors will offer brief virtual feedback and professional insights to help student teams create realistic, safe, and sustainable designs. Advisors will be recognized on the ShadeLA website for their contributions to this climate resilience effort.

Join LA Metro and USC Architecture for a Shade Zones informational webinar on August 28th, 1-2 PM.

Jobs

FAME Architecture & Design | Intermediate Interior Architect/Designer | Los Angeles, CA | 8/11

FAME Architecture & Design | Intermediate Architect | Los Angeles, CA | 8/11

Michael Maltzan Architecture, Inc. | Project Architect | Los Angles, CA | 7/31

Kelly Sutherlin McLeod Architecture, Inc | Production Coordinator | Long Beach, CA | 7/31

See Arch | Senior Architect | Remote | 07.23.25

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

Collective UNBound | Organizing Lead | Los Angeles, CA | 6.23.25

Check Out All Jobs

Sponsor Highlight

Showcase your firm’s commitment to design excellence—sponsor the AIA|LA Design Awards and stand in the spotlight of Los Angeles’ architectural community.

The Los Angeles Chapter of the American Institute of Architects