The 2018 Design Awards Gala / 2019 Board of Directors Installation took place on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at the Villa del Sol d'Oro in Sierra Madre. It was an evening to celebrate architects and architecture, special honorees and to swear in the 2019 Board. Thanks to Ben Kasdan, AIA for his service as Installing Officer.

Best wishes to the 2019 Board of Directors for a fun and productive year. Congratulations to award winners,  student scholars and the Joseph F. Thomas Award recipient Mr. Harold Bissner!

Jean Roth Driskel and AIA Component Grant Scholarships

• Zoe Malecki, SCI-Arc

• Joshua Amaya, PCC / Calpoly SLO

Design Award Winners (see list here)

People's Choice Award

• ArtCenter Peter and Merle Mullin Gallery, Darin Johnstone Architects
  

Photos courtesy of Dennis Hill

The chapter was thrilled to host the 5th Annual Birdhouse Competition at Arlington Garden on Saturday, October 20! This event occurred simultaneously with "Kids Draw Architecture" organized by AIA California Council where chapters up and down the state hosted the same event for kids and families.

The Birdhouse Competition included more than 25 entries in categories including: kids, architect and student. Our thanks and appreciation to Mitch Sawasy, AIA for chairing and organizing the event. It's pretty amazing that he found time to "make" the awards that were handed out. We also recognize our judges Lance Bird, FAIA, Harry Drake, AIA and Mitch.

It was a fun morning! Thanks to all who entered the competition and who came by to sketch with us.

Birdhouse winners by category:

Kids
Stella Pennacchioli (age 10), rustic log cabin

Architect
Dora Barrientos, Assoc. AIA,

People's Choice
info to come; Michael Graves

The chapter celebrated outstanding design during the Design Awards Gala / Board of Directors Installation event on Saturday, January 27, 2018 at True Food Kitchen in Old Pasadena. It was an honor to have Paul Welch, Hon. AIA serve as Installing Officer; we salute him for his service to the profession and as AIA California Council Ex. Vice President.

Thanks to event chairs Catherine Roussel, AIA and Joseph Catalano, AIA for their time and dedication. We are grateful for our sponsors, board members, volunteers and friends who attended.

Photos courtesy of Dennis Hill

The 4th Annual Birdhouse Competition was awesome! There were outstanding designs by architect members and students from San Bernardino City College. Arlington Garden is a wonderful venue. Families, folks participating in a watercolor class and a couple visiting from Sonoma County were at the garden and invited to view the designs and then cast their vote for the People's Choice Award. Such a good way to connect with our community!

Congratulations to member Dora Barrientos for winning both the Architect and People's Choice Awards. Her birdhouse incorporated Campbell Soup cans and spoons -- making for a fun, colorful and whimsical award-winning design.

Thank you to Betty, Michelle and Coral of Arlington Garden. We appreciate your support! Also, the marmalade made from the sweet navel oranges grown at the garden is superb. It's for sale at local businesses including Julienne, Jones Coffee and the farmers markets. Or contact the garden for more info.

Thanks to event chair Mitch Sawasy for his time and effort. We couldn't do this without him.

The chapter was honored to have Mayor Terry Tornek speak at the October Friday Forum. Architect members and others from the community engaged in lively discussion and had the opportunity to speak with him about a variety of issues including affordable housing, the City's master plan and homelessness. 

Our thanks to IMEG Corp. for hosting the forum!

The chapter held another fun Summer Social on August 24th. This year's event took place on the lawn of the historic Gamble House! Guests were able to tour the house and explore the grounds.

Dinner was provided by local eateries, Rounds Premium Burgers and Fluff Ice, who rolled in with their trucks. They made the evening even sweeter.

Everyone was encouraged to take and share pictures on Instagram. The chapter hijacked AIACC's Instagram account allowing us to share all the event photos, #AIA_PF #AIACC #AIACCTAKEOVER. We got some great photos!

Our thanks and appreciation to Gamble House director Ted Bosley for giving us access to the house and grounds, and to the docents for their time and knowledge.

Thanks also to our architecture product sponsors who were on hand to showcase and talk about their products & services: Sierra Pacific Windows, Koroseal, ASID, Taylor & Syfan, Angelus Block, WH Steele and Omega.

Grassroots 2017 is an exclusive event for leaders of the AIA. The agenda emphasizes component leadership and workshops designed to help component officers become more effective chapter and civic leaders. Members are given the opportunity to provide input on AIA initiatives, share information and ideas, and best practices with their counterparts from around the country. There are also many networking opportunities with one another and AIA national staff.

The Ella Room at Noor in the Paseo Colorado was the perfect venue for the 2016 Design Awards + Board Installation. It was a great evening celebrating outstanding design by firms small and large. We officially welcomed the 2017 Board of Directors and paid tribute to special members including Jean Roth Driskel, FAIA and Raymond Ziegler, FAIA and student scholarship recipients Michael Gonzalez and Graham Jordan.

The 3rd Annual Birdhouse Competition at Arlington Gardens on October 15, 2016 was great fun! There were many Architecture student entries alongside those from the community.

Thanks again to past president Mitch Sawasy, AIA for leading the effort and to our judges Harry Drake, AIA, Michele Acost, AIA, TJ Gardner, Associate AIA and Terry Drake.

It was a great day at the Pasadena Community Gardens! Check out all the awesome birdhouses.

Photos courtesy of Dennis Hill

Everyone enjoyed the Design Awards Gala at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on 9.24.15. It was a lovely evening.

Photos courtesy of Dennis Hill

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE DESIGN AWARD WINNERS!

Student Awards
*21st Century High School, Julio Rodriguez, Cal Poly Pomona
*Creating a Fragile Forest of Light, Shweta Joshi, Woodbury University

Citation Award
*University of Southern California Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute,
Alek Zarifian, AIA, SmithGroupJJR

Sustainability Award
*University of Southern California Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute,
Alek Zarifian, AIA, SmithGroupJJR

Merit Awards
*French Ranch, Michael Burch, AIA, Michael Burch Architects
*Cal Poly Pomona Student Recreation Center, Glenn Carels, FAIA, LPA Inc.

Honor Awards
*Ganahl Lumber Retail Store, Douglas Joyce, III, AIA, Onyx Architects
*Los Angeles County Hall of Justice, Carey McCleod AIA, AC Martin

People's Choice Award
*Hale House, Douglas Ewing, FAIA, Ewing Architects

The chapter enjoyed the tour of the newly completed Huntington Library Education & Visitor Center on March, 28, 2015. This is a beautiful project and wonderful addition to the historic Huntington Library & Gardens.

Thanks to Jim McLane and the team from Architectural Resources Group for their time -- and their great design work!

Photos courtesy of David Gaines

This was a great evening! The chapter was able to connect with a number of new friends and colleagues. Pres. Mitch Sawasy, VP Michelle Acosta and board members Farzin Torbai and Erica Im provided an informative presentation on the value of AIA. We hope those eligible to join will register soon so that we can all stay connected. Our thanks to HDR for hosting the mixer.

Photos courtesy of Dennis Hill.

Photos courtesy of Nazanin Zarkesh

The chapter held its Annual Business meeting at the historic Gamble House on 11/13. The evening program included recognition of sponsors and new members.

Photos courtesy of Dennis Hill

A special small group was allowed to tour the new Education & Visitor Center (EVC) at the Huntington Library. Much has been completed since the tour of Phase 1 back in 2013. The EVC is scheduled to open to the public in April 2015.

Our thanks to James McLane and Ashley Ashley Powell of Architectural Resources Group and Drew Wesling of MATT Construction for leading the tour.

Photos courtesy of David Gaines.

It was indeed Tweet Treats and all that Jazz at the Pasadena Community Gardens! Thanks to all who attended the event and most especially to those who built and entered their birdhouse in the competition. The design and creativity that went into each house was incredible! There are soon to be some very happy birds in our community enjoying life in an adobe or Mid-Century duplex. Chapter VP and Event Chair Mitch Sawasy is already thinking about how to make next year's event even better.

Photography by Dennis Hill

Thursday, September 18, 2014 at the Pasadena Civic Center

Photos by Dennis Hill

AIA National Convention, Chicago, June 26-28

At the Convention: AIA CEO/EVP Robert Ivy, FAIA; Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, "Cool Spaces" producer Stephen Chung, AIA

At USC Reception hosted by SOM; group photo L-R: Karen Kensek, Michael Gehring, Andrea Cohen Gehring, Nazanin Zarkesh, Li Shouning, Qingyun Ma, Dean of USC School of Architecture, Alek Zarifian and Doug Noble

66th Anniversary / Forum Event, June 6, 2014 @ Brookside Country Club

The chapter celebrated its 66th Anniversary with Ray Girvigian and many others at Brookside! The Past and Present Leaders Forum provided a glimpse into the chapter's proud past and generated a wealth of ideas and discussion points that are sure to be continued in the near future. It was an honor to be in the company of chapter champions Ray, Lance Bird, John Tegtmeyer, Doug Ewing, John Luttrell, et al.

Photos courtesy of Nazanin Zarkesh

YWCA Tour, May 22, 2014

Christopher Smith of Architectural Resources Group for leading the tour and discussing the client's vision for the YWCA as a boutique hotel.  Getting inside to explore the building provided a very unique opportunity.  Those on the tour will be able to recall Julia Morgan's original design for a "then and now" perspective.  We look forward to possibly touring the YWCA again upon its completion as a hotel.

Photos courtesy of Nazanin Zarkesh, Olga Bogdan

Photos courtesy of David Gaines and Esteban Lopez

Newly renovated Rose Bowl Tour, December 6, 2013

Tour led by Margo Mavridis and Peyton Hall

Photos courtesy of David Gaines