Firm: Uriu Architecture
Firm Website: http://www.uriuarchitecture.com
Education: BArch California Polytechnic of Pomona, Diploma Unit 7 Architectural Association of London
Principal, Uriu Architecture
My architectural journey began in 1993 while still a student at Cal Poly Pomona, when I joined the office of Frank Gehry as employee number 26. It was an incredibly exciting time—by the time I left in 2000, the firm had grown to over 150 people and completed major milestones like the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and had broken ground on the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
From 2000 to 2006, I worked with the talented residential architect Georgie Kajer. It was there I gained invaluable experience—not just in thoughtful residential design, but also in navigating contracts, managing client and contractor relationships, and understanding the importance of clear communication—lessons sometimes elusive in larger, more corporate settings.
Between 2004 and 2022, I co-led the firm Baumgartner+Uriu, focusing primarily on avant-garde architecture. In 2022, I launched Uriu Architecture, returning to my passion for high-quality residential work. Our current projects include homes in Pasadena, South Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Glendale, and Los Angeles, as well as a cliffside residence on the island of Sardinia. We’re also engaged in select commercial work, including a warehouse/office in South El Monte and a mixed-use project in Hollywood.
I’ve also been teaching since 2010 at both SCI-Arc and USC. At SCI-Arc, I lead the Professional Practice course, where students learn about the business, ethics, and mechanics of architecture, and engage with leading professionals such as Larry Scarpa, Barbara Bestor, Thom Mayne, Michael Maltzan, and others. The course also brings in voices from city government, development, film, and client-side perspectives. At USC, I teach across a spectrum of design studios—from “Super Future,” a forward-looking urban design studio imagining resilient, sustainable cities 200 years from now, to comprehensive studios that explore real-world systems, construction, and detailing. Recently, my students developed design proposals for the Odyssey School’s South Campus, tragically lost in the Eaton Canyon Fire, with a focus on resilience, fire resistance, and innovative prefabrication techniques. Their work was presented to Odyssey’s Executive Director, Dr. Carlos Garcia Saldana, and Governing Board Chair, Dr. Joretta Joseph.
Favorite Project: Villa Scalesciani Costa Paradiso in Sardinia is a seaside home I've had the great experience of working on the renovation of. The home originally designed by Alberto Ponis in 1977 was literally built into the cliffside fo the amazing Costa Paradiso. Our renovation updated the kitchen, bathrooms and modernized amenities to the project while maintaining all of it's original main rooms character.
A bit about me personally: I’m a not-so-great guitarist, but I loved jamming with a neighbor’s band—also a fire survivor. The night of the Eaton Fire, I foolishly left my prized guitars hanging on the wall, thinking I had more time. I also swim regularly—not quite avidly, but it’s my go-to for meditation and clearing the mind.
Design Philosophy: I truly enjoy working with clients and believe that great architecture comes from strong collaboration. It’s often said that great projects require great clients—and it’s true. I also believe that meaningful, beautiful design doesn’t require extravagant budgets. Many of my clients actively contribute to the design process, and together, we shape projects that are more refined, more personal, and ultimately more successful.
Why I joined AIAPF:
The Eaton Fire... I joined the volunteer efforts of "ask an Architect" and have been involved with many of the AIA PF's outreach programs, and although I was a member of the AIA LA chapter for decades, which is a wonderful group, a large portion of the LA chapter's efforts are concentrated with the Palisades (understandably, being part of the City of Los Angeles) and Altadena (being an unincorporated part of LA County) did not have the focus per se that the PF chapter has on the local community (while also looking at the bigger picture and continuing to help LA where it can as well). I do foresee the need of great architects in this community and predict that Altadena will become one of the most desirable neighborhoods (if not the) to live in the future, with a focus still to the middle class, which is a design challenge that many of us are taking on full heartedly.
Jodie Mendelson, AIA
Current Firm: JAM Project Management
Education: MArch University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee & Bachelor of Art Architecture, UC Berkeley
instagram.com/jamprojectmanagement
Mini-Bio & Highlights:
Background & Inspiration: I had no idea I wanted to be an architect until my first architecture lecture class in college, Environmental Design I, and immediately fell in love with the ideals of great architecture. I applied to the major on a whim after my mother told me to choose architecture over art and art history which would be more practical. The joke of course is that my education at Berkeley was totally theoretical. My uncle is an architect who I consider my biggest initial influence, and I have benefitted from so many mentors in my career. Career & Projects: Thirteen years ago I transitioned from architecture to owner's representation project management. I am most proud of a transformers replacement project at The Music Center which was technically challenging to work with multiple landlocked buildings, experienced four rounds of turnover from DWP's design staff, and absorbed 11% inflation in 2021 alone. Gruen Associates and PNG Builders were amazing partners and we got it done on budget and schedule. I love all project types, and the more challenging the better! My biggest challenge in my career growth is learning how to navigate stress and I pride myself in wading through it much better than I used to. Philosophy & Process: Listen to the better designers around me. I think building an expert team is the key to successful design that meets form and function and I am very excited by the potential for the use of earthen building materials like Adobe is Not Software and CalEarth Superadobe in California post-fire. Personal & Fun: My favorite building is Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright - it is completely one with its natural setting, and of course like a lot of starchitecture, was under-designed structurally with water intrusion issues. I would love to go back in time and collaborate with Alvar Aalto. My biggest hobby is cooking new, elaborate recipes. If I weren't an architect, I would love to be a food blogger.
Advice: Architecture is an incredible education - the field trains you to think critically about the visual, functional and written intersection of ideas. Success means marrying all three seamlessly and turning it into a business. Never be afraid to ask for what you want, be on time, and send a thank you email within a day. I learn by staying in touch with colleagues even when we're no longer working on a project together.
My Favorite Project | Music Center Plaza Renovation:
The team was wonderful to work with and truly experts in their particular fields: Gary Leonard (photographer of this photo), Howard Sherman (Music Center COO), Chase Neuwald (Matt Construction), all the trades, RIOS (AOR) and many many others. The interventions on the site were challenging, and this photo is one example. We had to relocate the 15-ton Jacques Lipchitz Peace on Earth sculpture, and didn't realize the steel structure was completely corroded and covered in hazardous material until we removed the 60-year-old granite veneer base. There was a week of scrambling to coordinate with Peyton Hall of HRG and Mike Krakower, a structural engineer specializing in historic bronze sculptures to confirm means and methods for abating and resupporting the sculpture prior to relocating it 150' to the west.
Why AIAPF?
I joined the AIA when I was a student because I think it's important to be part of a group to share resources and learn from others. Now that I am further along in my career, I think it's important to pay it forward. I belong to the AIA LA chapter, but I started volunteering with the AIA PF chapter quickly after the fires to start the Ask an Architect program. I worked in Pasadena and South Pasadena from 2010-2016 and the region is very dear to me.
Past president for AIA Pasadena - Foothill (1982). He dedicated much of his career to community service, culminating via the photograph below, in the presidency of the Tournament of Roses.
Bud Griest, President of the Tournament of Roses for the 1996 parade, passed away in December at the remarkable age of 91.
The 1996 parade, with his theme “Kids’, Laughter & Dreams,” featured Kermit the Frog as Grand Marshal—the first non-human to host the event solo. Muppet-lover Bud had long dreamed of inviting Jim Henson to lead the parade, but when Henson passed away, Jim’s star, sidekick and best friend, Kermit the Frog, hopped up in his honor.
Bud joined the Tournament in 1967 and quickly became a major contributor to a variety of committees over the years. He chaired Television & Radio, Parade Operations, Queen & Court and a variety of other committees. His leadership was instrumental in shaping the success of many Parades, and his enthusiasm for the Tournament was contagious.
Professionally, Bud was an architect. He received his degree from the University of Texas School of Architecture in 1957, then returned to his native Pasadena to practice for more than four decades. Voluntarily, he was a member and president of the Optimist Club of Pasadena, the Pasadena-Foothill Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the University Club of Pasadena and the Pasadena Jaycees. Contributing to his community and the friendships he made while doing so were central to his full and laughter-filled life.
He loved the early Tournament years of staying out all night in the cold just as much as visiting the bands, riding down the Parade route, or awarding the Game trophy during his year as President. His favorite Rose Bowl Game, however, was not the 1996 game, but the 2006 game, when Texas beat USC in the final seconds in “The Best Game Ever.”
Joseph Almeida, AIA, LEED, WELL
Current Firm: Flewelling-Moody
Specialties: Multi-family residential, mixed-use, education, commercial, hospitality
Education: B.Arch. Cal Poly Pomona
My Career Journey: Born in Torrance and growing up in Inglewood, my journey into the world of architecture began unexpectedly during my high school years. It was through my involvement in the FIRST Robotics team that I discovered my passion for design and engineering. The exhilaration of strategizing, designing, and building robots to compete in international competitions fueled my fascination with creating and innovating. This passion led me to pursue a Bachelor of Architecture degree at Cal Poly Pomona. During my time there, a pivotal moment occurred when I embarked on a week-long trip to New York City to study our final project site in person. Standing amidst the towering skyscrapers and intricate facades of the Big Apple, I was overwhelmed with awe. The city's architectural diversity and rich history captivated me, reinforcing my resolve to pursue a career in architecture in this vibrant metropolis. After graduating, I made the bold decision to move to New York City without a secured job, driven by my desire to contribute to the city's architectural landscape. Despite the challenges of starting anew in a bustling city far from home, I found my footing at Cooper Carry, where I spent seven years honing my skills as a project architect. Working on a diverse range of projects, from mixed-use developments to historic preservation, I immersed myself in every aspect of the architectural process. My involvement in sustainability initiatives and professional organizations like the Urban Land Institute broadened my perspective and deepened my commitment to creating sustainable and innovative architectural solutions. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, I was laid off in 2020 and I was able to seek another opportunity at another prestigious architecture firm: Beyer Blinder Belle (BBB). I worked in the mixed use/multi family residential studio. I was the project architect on a development in Newark and in Harlem, both with an affordable housing component. I also led various sustainability initiatives, led the 2030 AIA commitment database, and was a mentor for the ACE program. However, due to financial and personal circumstances, after two and a half fulfilling years at Beyer Blinder Belle, I made the difficult decision to return to Los Angeles to be closer to family and friends. While bidding farewell to the bustling streets of New York City was bittersweet, I am grateful for the invaluable experiences and knowledge gained during my time there. My passion for architecture lies in creating spaces that transcend mere structures, elevating human experiences and positively shaping our future. Collaboration, communication, and sustainability are at the core of my values, guiding my interactions with colleagues and clients alike. Inspired by architects like Tadao Ando, I am drawn to the idea of using architecture to evoke emotions and create meaningful experiences for occupants.
My favorite project is my most challenging project through my work experience, Lighthouse Point - a Retail and Residential Development in St. Geroge, Staten Island. This is a mixed is a mixed-use development that includes 115 residential units (affordable housing for qualified residents), 26,000 SF of office space, 50,000 SF of retail space, and parking that serves all its users.
The project capitalizes on the urban relationships of uses and the collection of historic buildings; it provides an integrated public courtyard with an overlook to the water and the Manhattan skyline beyond. The project was very complicated, it was on a very steep sloped site, with historic lighthouse buildings known as the Staten Island Lighthouse Depot, and the subway line ran through the site below ground. Many authorities were involved in the design and approval of this master plan including Metropolitan Transit Authority, NY Department of Buildings, New York City Economic Development Corporation, NYC Housing Authority, and USGBC for LEED Certification.
I started as an Intern Architect on this project in 2013, when the project was in it's master planning visioning phase, and through the years, I grew in knowledge as the project became more and more real. It took several years to start its construction in 2018 and through the many challenges the project faced, I learned and collaborated with others to solve the issues.
The project is now scheduled to complete Fall of this year, and although I am not in NY anymore, I feel that I a part of me remains within this project and positively impacts the community of State Island. The reason why this is my favorite project is not only the amount of time and effort I spent making my ideas and my designs a reality, but the project was a true culmination of collaboration between different agencies, different ideas, and different people to create a place that will be sustainable to our environment, and provide affordable housing to the community.
Collaborating with others and working towards the creation of a place, a destination, and a strong collaborative relationship with the team are things I enjoy doing and this project is a prime example of that. From this project, I did other larger projects that enjoyed working on, especially those that were thoughtful in their design and intent.
Eddy Santosa, AIA, LEED Fellow, BEMP, CBCP, LEED AP BD+C, ENV SP
Professional Highlights: Now at Mott MacDonald as the Building Performance and Climate Responsive Design Leader - North America, Eddy is a global leader in sustainable building strategies and design. With over 24 years of experience, he has delivered high-performance sustainable designs for over 300 building projects across the US and worldwide. His expertise spans the full remit of sustainable design including regenerative design, net zero planning and design, energy performance optimization, embodied and life-cycle carbon, and alternative low-carbon material uses.
Eddy’s journey began in architecture firms, where he worked in design and production. However, his passion for sustainability led him to focus exclusively on this field starting in 2007. He obtained his architectural license in California in 2018 and has been an AIA member since 2019.
Within the AIA National community, Eddy has played pivotal roles. He previously chaired the Building Performance Knowledge Community in 2023 and co-chaired the Energy and Water subcommittee for Sustainability’s LFRT from 2015 to 2017. Recently, he served as a juror for the National COTE Top Ten Award 2024 and was previously a juror for the Embodied Environmental Impact Contest during the Solar Decathlon 2023 Build Challenge.
Eddy’s contributions extend beyond the AIA. He provides technical leadership to several professional bodies, including the International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA) US, where he serves as a board director. Additionally, he is a voting member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) SPC 209-2018R committee and a LEED Pro-Reviewer.
Eddy’s outstanding contributions to sustainability have earned him the prestigious LEED Fellow designation from the US Green Building Council (USGBC). His expertise in sustainable design, energy performance, and building science has led him to speak at numerous conferences, including the recent AIA 24.
Fariba S. Shantiyai, AIA, is based in Diamond Bar, is an AIAPF Past President (2012) and has been on the Board for AIA California as well.
Specialties: Commercial, Retail, Mixed Use, Residential with focus on Educational projects.
Professional Highlights: Now at LA Design Group (founded in 2011), a family-oriented boutique design firm dedicated to providing the highest level of personal service to our clients. All of our projects have a special place in my mind and my heart as we aspire to bring a fresh, innovative perspective to all of our projects.
Shantiyai has been fascinated with buildings and their impact on our lives since a very early age and has successfully pursued her vision and has a remarkable experience working with significant education architectural firms in California. She became the president and co-founder of LA Design Group, a full service architectural and planning firm, in 2011. Fariba is a licensed architect in California, Arizona and Texas, as well as LEED Accredited professional and CSI certified, with 40 years of experience in a variety of building types. These include educational facilities, institutional, retail & commercial, Mixed-use, and single and multi-family residential projects. Though varied, she has focused the majority of her architectural practice on educational facilities.
Her professional goal is to shape environments that create inspiring places and consider the unique cultural and social context of the community through results-oriented approach to design. Her professional work over the years include gymnasiums, libraries, science labs, and multimedia centers for higher education campuses as well as a brand new high school for 3200 students.
Ms. Shantiyai has been a member of AIA since 1995 and served on the Board for AIAPF as well as AIA California.
Highlighted project: The School of Art + Enterprise in downtown Pomona. A California State Accredited, non-profit Charter School for ART + DANCE + DESIGN + MUSIC + PHOTOGRAPHY + THEATRE. Transformation of an existing office building to a unique art school for grades 6-12 with a finishing touch of the whole building murals by a local graffiti artist. A Pomona Landmark.
Joe Catalano, AIA, is based in Sierra Madre and is an AIAPF Past President (2008) as well as an award-winning Historic Architect.
Specialty: Historic preservation
Pictured: An example of his work is the Historic Reconstruction of the previously-demolished wing of the Pio Pico Mansion in Whittier, using authentic adobe construction of the period (circa 1830-1880). It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is also a California Landmark, and is open to the public as an Interpretive Museum.
Professional Highlights: As a qualified Historic Architect, whose consulting practice is a combination of research and craft in the service of restoring or reconstructing historic buildings.
Recognition of his work includes the California Preservation Foundation Design Awards and the Governor’s Historic Preservation Awards, as well as a number of awards from the cities of Pasadena and Los Angeles. His research includes studies and reports, and also the studied drawing development of very accurate, and beautifully drawn, historic reconstruction work. He works as an architect of record himself, and as a consultant to contractors and other architects. Most of his work is for National Register or State Landmark buildings. though he believes that many of the same principles apply to sustainable adaptive reuse of other older buildings. Joe is also an AIA Citizen Architect. He has served on Sierra Madre’s Planning and Cultural Heritage Commissions, two General Plan committees, the board of the local historical society, and the facilities masterplanning committee for a major Pasadena Unified School District bond issue. He is also a Lecturer in Urban and Regional Planning at Cal Poly Pomona.
Why are you a member of AIAPF? The collegiality of the Chapter is very important to me as a sole practitioner.
Current Firm: Precision Property Measurements (PPM)
Specialties: As-Built Surveying, Drafting and Modeling
Professional Highlights: Cameron has diligently served his clients in the Southern California AEC community for over 15 years. With PPM’s headquarters in Long Beach, he has been instrumental in expanding our services across the region, while leading an ever-growing team of Surveyors and Project Managers to support the hundreds of projects he has managed. When you work with Cameron, you can expect a true partner on your project. He is committed to fulfilling PPM’s Worry-Free Promise – to deliver your As-Built Plans with accuracy, timeliness, and strong communication.
In his spare time, Cameron enjoys country music concerts, LA Kings games, and traveling with his wife and their newborn daughter.
Education: George Mason University
Current Firm: Roof Resources
Professional Highlights: I have been in the roofing & waterproofing industry for 7 years. I started with a major in Biology but quickly realized my passion is in the construction industry. My family has a construction background so this industry felt natural.
This industry is evolving and I enjoy constantly learning and honing my craft. I thoroughly enjoy and excel in helping the design community obtain the best information to help them with their project delivery. With extensive experience in roofing, waterproofing (below grade/above grade), and plaza decks, I am your go-to resource. The journey to a successful project is rewarding!
Why I Joined AIAPF: To foster meaningful professional connections, it is essential to actively participate in advocacy efforts, contribute to policy discussions, and make a positive impact within the local community. As a designer, I relish the chance to connect with peers, stay informed about industry trends, and engage in initiatives that shape our profession while benefiting the community.
Education: Master of Architecture, University of Massachusetts
Current Firm & Position: Golden Sun Enterprises, AIA Associate, LEED AP BD+C, General Contractor B License
Favorite Project: My master's thesis project on humanity in a children's cancer hospital, which I completed in 2017, continues to hold a special place in my heart. It served as a profound inspiration, driving me to pursue a career that focuses specifically on designing spaces for children, especially those in need, such as hospitals and orphanages. I firmly believe that my purpose in this world is to utilize design as a catalyst for change and to aid children in need. Building upon my academic background and recent work experiences in a construction company, where I was involved in projects related to schools and playgrounds, I have decided to embark on a new journey. Alongside my current job, I am committed to dedicating my efforts to designing spaces for children, aiming to prepare our future creators for a better world through the transformative power of play.
