FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AIA/LA ANNOUNCES THE FINALISTS FOR THE 2009 RESTAURANT DESIGNAWARDS

Projects From Around the World In the Running for the First Nationwide RDAs

Los Angeles, CA (May 27, 2009) –

The American Institute of Architects Los Angeles(AIA/LA) is pleased to announce the list of finalists for the 2009 Restaurant Design Awards(RDAs). For the first time since the RDAs inception in 2005, AIA/LA has extended thereach of one of its most popular awards programs by accepting projects from any US-based firm or venue for consideration. This year, the list of finalists includes restaurants,cafés/bars, and lounges/nightclubs from California, Texas, and Colorado. Internationalentries from Brazil and China also made the list, making this a truly global competition. The winners will be announced at the 5

Annual Restaurant Design Awards Ceremony atMobius LA hosted during the Dwell on Design conference on Friday, June 26.“We’re thrilled to make the RDAs a global program that looks throughout the UnitedStates and beyond to recognize excellence in restaurant design,” said Carlo Caccavale,Hon. AIA/LA, Associate Director of AIA/LA. “Good design and great food are universallyexciting subjects and we’re happy to bring them together in this special awards program.” The panel of distinguished jurors, composed of JONATHAN GOLD (Restaurant Critic,

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), CEDD MOSES (Founder/CEO, 213), MICHAEL PALLADINO, FAIA (Design Partner,Richard Meier & Partners Architects), LOUISE (LU) SANDHAUS (Graphic Designer, LSD:Louise Sandhaus Design) convened and designated the following projects for recognitionas finalists in each category:

RESTAURANT FINALISTS

AK Restaurant + Bar | architect: PADesign | designer: Dn/A (Venice, CA)Bottega Louie | designer: view design studi0 (Los Angeles, CA)Chaya Downtown | architect & designer: Poon Design Inc. (Los Angeles, CA)Drago Centro | designer: Felderman Keatinge + Associates (Los Angeles, CA)Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck | architect: McCall Design Group | designer: EDG InteriorArchitecture + Design (Dallas, TX)Gingko Bacchus Restaurant | designer: Graft (Chengdu, China)Houston's Restaurant | architect & designer: Frederick Fisher & Partners (Denver, CO)KAA Restaurant Studio | architect & designer: Studio Arthur Casas NY (Sao Paulo, Brazil)La Condesa | architect: Michael Hsu Design Office | designer: Joel Mozersky (Austin, TX)Luau | architect: Kelly Architects | designer: Loree Rodkin (Beverly Hills, CA)Rivera Restaurant | architect: Osvaldo Maiozzi | designer: Sotto Studios (Los Angeles, CA)

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