Los Angeles: Issues

Proposals

Our City Discussion

Our Future
How do we create and sustain a livable, socially
and environmentally-conscious Los Angeles?   
  

As a professional organization of over 3200 members, the mission

of AIA Los Angeles is to provide leadership in improving the built
environment.   We believe that the ideas outlined in this document will
improve the built and un-built environments of our city and the lives of the
citizens of Los Angeles.  These ideas are intended to improve our future
by:

• creating a more attractive and livable city.

• creating a healthier and more sustainable environment.

• creating more effective and understandable administrative processes.

• creating a more competitive and attractive business environment.

• creating greater value and benefit for the citizens of Los Angeles.

As a world-class city, we are at a crossroads.  Even though our region is

withstanding unprecedented fiscal challenges, Los Angeles is a city with
many emergent opportunities.  Now is the time to make changes that will
benefit us tomorrow and for generations to come.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is the voice of the architecture

profession, dedicated to serving and empowering its members through
advocacy, educational and outreach programs as well as educating the
public on the value and importance of architecture and urban design. 
Members of the AIA include architects, associates working towards
licensure, and affiliate members who work in a variety of allied fields. 
OBJECTIVE:
STREAMLINE THE CITY’S PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT FUNCTIONS
ISSUE
City planning functions occur not only within the Department of City
Planning but across several City agencies and Council Offices who often
plan with differing and sometimes conflicting objectives. Policy makers,
agencies and the communities they serve rarely communicate effectively
to envision and create focused, widely agreed-upon and implementable
long-range land use development plans. Further, most case processing
activities for specific development projects require the involvement of
several City departments who neither communicate effectively with each
other nor agree on development regulations. Without any framework for
integrating these efforts, the burden is placed on the project applicant to
navigate the variety of specialized disciplines that regulate every aspect
of a development project from zoning administration through building and
safety. This burden is routinely cited as a key factor resulting in the delay
or diversion of quality developments to competing cities in the region or
nation, and thus depriving the City of Los Angeles of necessary economic
activity and urban revitalization.

PROPOSAL
AIA|LA proposes the creation of a uniform process for coordination of
efforts by those agencies and officials engaged in long-range planning,
such as the Departments of City Planning, Transportation and the
Community Redevelopment Agency, as well as the Mayor’s Office and
fifteen City Council Offices. With respect to individual development
projects, the City should adopt a customer service point of view and
assign a single case manager responsible for coordination of all regulatory
approvals necessary for that project. Case managers should specialize in
communities and neighborhoods, but also have the necessary regulatory
expertise to assist the applicant through the entire regulatory review and
permitting process, across all disciplines, from beginning to end.

DISCUSSION
AIA|LA’s proposal expands upon the City’s laudable efforts to improve its
planning and development functions, including the revision of outdated
community plans, implementation of new design guidelines and standards,
and facilitation of inter-departmental coordination through the efforts of
the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. . By coordinating the long-
range planning initiatives of the Department of City Planning, other City
agencies, the Mayor’s Office and the fifteen City Council Offices, a more
coherent vision of the City can come into focus. Neighborhoods and
communities would more clearly understand their position at a regional
scale, resulting in more predictable conditions for developers, their design
teams and the communities in which they work. Further, streamlining the
approval and permitting process for individual development projects will
result in cost savings for the City and its taxpayers while developers will
benefit from increased efficiency and greater predictability of outcomes. As
demonstrated in other cities around the region and nation, these savings
in time and resources encourage development teams to engage in better
community outreach and pursue higher quality design.
OBJECTIVE:
CREATE AN OFFICE OF ARCHITECTURE
AND URBAN DESIGN

Millennium Park, Anoush Kapoor’s Cloud Gate

ISSUE
To remain competitive globally, nationally and regionally as well as to
improve the quality of life of its inhabitants, the City of Los Angeles
must prioritize and deliver world-class design in its architecture, urban
design and capital improvement projects. Although Los Angeles enjoys
a geographic setting that rivals any major city in the world, much of the
City’s built environment is historically overlooked and under-designed.
High quality architecture in the public realm is essential if Los Angeles is
to continue to be considered as one of the world’s great cities in which
to live, work and visit. Cities such as London, Paris, Barcelona, New
York City and Chicago seek design excellence in prominent projects as
a matter of course.

PROPOSAL
AIA|LA proposes that the City establish an Office of Architecture and
Urban Design to ensure design and construction excellence in its capital
improvements projects. The Office would act as the client on behalf
of the taxpayers of the city of Los Angeles. In general terms it would
assist in the management of capital projects that will have significant
presence in the public realm. This would include the selection of
design professionals as well as oversight of the design review process,
including community outreach and coordinating the requirements of
other regulatory agencies. For projects that are partly subsidized by the
City, such as privately-developed CRA projects, the Office would have
voting representation on the project selection committee, ensuring that
design excellence is prioritized. AIA|LA proposes that the Office be first
established in a limited manner, taking the lead in implementing three
case study projects. This will serve as both a test and a demonstration
of the process by which the value of design can be maximized to its full
potential.

DISCUSSION
To remain competitive among the great cities of the world, Los Angeles
can no longer rely merely on its climate, geography or the entertainment
industry. In today’s world, the City’s ability to design and grow its cultural
capital, as well as to improve and enhance the quality of life of its
inhabitants, will determine its ability to compete globally. Good design of
a city’s buildings and open spaces not only contributes to making a place
healthier, safer, more livable and delightful, it also engenders marketing
and brand value that accrues prestige and prosperity. Excellence in
architecture and urban design does not come without effort — it must
be attended to and cultivated. As the City restructures itself to address
new economic realities, AIA|LA strongly believes that an office dedicated
to design excellence will be a cost-effective way to maximize the value
of the City’s investment in its physical assets. An Office of Architecture
and Urban Design with the ability and authority to coordinate with all
City departments involved in development will assure that the City better
plans, invests in, participates in, and executes capital projects with an
eye toward growing Los Angeles’ cultural capital, attractiveness as a
residence and destination, and consequent economic vitality.
OBJECTIVE:
PRIORITIZE DESIGN EXCELLENCE
IN CITY PROJECTS

La Defense, Paris
ISSUE
To remain competitive globally, nationally and regionally as well as to
improve the quality of life of its inhabitants, the City of Los Angeles
must prioritize and deliver world-class design in its architecture, urban
design and capital improvement projects. Although Los Angeles enjoys
a geographic setting that rivals any major city in the world, much of the
City’s built environment is historically overlooked and under-designed.
High quality architecture in the public realm is essential if Los Angeles is
to continue to be considered as one of the world’s great cities. Cities such
as London, Paris, Barcelona, New York City and Chicago seek design
excellence in prominent projects as a matter of course.

PROPOSAL
As the economy recovers and development activity within the
City resumes, AIA|LA recommends that the City hire talented and
knowledgeable architects with demonstrated design ability to review as
well as design public projects. AIA|LA also recommends that the City
hire licensed architects to manage the design process during project
procurement and delivery. These architects should be involved throughout
the life of the project, from the selection of the architecture firm and other
consultants through the design and construction process. AIA|LA also
encourages the City to make peer reviews by licensed architects an
integral part of the City’s selection process for developer-led or design/
build proposals for any projects receiving significant public subsidy, such
as projects commonly administered by the CRA. These reviews should
pertain to design quality and be performed by architects, independent from
the City or interested parties.

DISCUSSION
Enhanced emphasis on design in the selection of architects for
City projects will help ensure improvement in the quality of the built
environment. It is also critical that architects with the City are in position
throughout the life of the project, to help lead and facilitate the search
for best value for the citizens of Los Angeles. Currently, not enough
architects within City agencies and proprietary departments are involved
in the selection process or in project leadership positions to fully optimize
the value that design excellence can create. Architects can also provide
valuable insights in the assessment and selection of development
proposals. They have the vision to foresee the comparative impacts of
one design over another. New York recently instituted a design excellence
program similar to the above proposal; on a national level, the General
Services Administration implemented a design excellence program
applicable to all federal projects. Despite the wealth of talented architects
for which Los Angeles is known, the legacy of architecture in the public
realm compares poorly to other world-class cities. While progress has
been made, Los Angeles has been slow to realize that design is a key
ingredient in attracting investment, businesses, residents and visitors.
Only by hiring talented firms, filling vacant City project leadership positions
with trained design professionals and enlisting the opinions and expertise
of the architectural community can the City enhance its ability to realize
projects that contribute to Los Angeles’ cultural capital and consequent
economic vitality. AIA|LA applauds the City’s reinstatement of the Mayor’s
Design Advisory Panel as recognition of the value of design excellence in
City projects.
OBJECTIVE:
EXPAND PROJECT DELIVERY
OPTIONS FOR CITY PROJECTS
ISSUE
The City of Los Angeles has consistently used the design, low-bid,
build, method of delivery for new building projects. By limiting the use
of alternative delivery methods, the City is missing an opportunity to
maximize the value of public funds and the projects they fund. The City
should instead assert its ability to select a delivery method based on the
needs and goals of a project, allowing the City to achieve greater value,
return on taxpayers’ investment and predictability of results.

PROPOSAL
Project delivery processes must enhance the quality, cost-effectiveness
and sustainability of our built environment. This can best be achieved
through industry-wide adoption of integrated approaches to project
delivery characterized by early and regular involvement of owners,
architects, constructors, fabricators and end user/operators in an
environment of effective collaboration, mutually defined goals and open
information sharing. Working towards this goal, AIA|LA requests that the
City:

• Address legislative barriers that hinder the City’s ability to freely

utilize a wider range of delivery methods.
• Work with AIA|LA and other organizations to achieve state-wide
change of those legislative barriers.
• Explore a pilot-program to test alternative delivery methods.
• Adopt measures to allow a broader range of project delivery
methods.
• Adopt measures to allow qualifications and past performance to
be used as criteria in the selection of contractors.

DISCUSSION
The quality and economy of architecture and urban design projects
benefit from integrated, coordinated and cooperative teams of
architects, engineers, and builders. The design, low-bid, build, method
prohibits builders from assisting design teams in the planning and
design of projects. Low-bid selection also negates consideration of
contractor’s qualifications and past performance. This method has often
led to adversarial relationships between owners, design professionals,
and builders which in turn have led to added project costs in the
form of excessive change orders, schedule overruns and legal costs.
Both private and government sectors are increasingly utilizing project
delivery methods other than design, low-bid, build with positive results.
Methods such as Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), design-assist,
design-build, CM multiple-prime and CM-at-risk are being used to
reduce change orders, improve budget and schedule conformance,
and realize improved quality and predictability of results. This past
April, with the leadership of the Office of Controller Wendy Greuel,
AIA|LA coordinated a presentation and discussion on alternative project
delivery methods and their benefits in achieving well-designed, best
value, projects. As a result of that event, a task force led by the City of
Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering has been formed to explore the use
of other project delivery methods for City projects.
OBJECTIVE:
EXPAND ARCHITECTS SERVING ON
CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
ISSUE
Design must be a critical factor in the consideration of projects that will
significantly affect and shape the future of the City of Los Angeles. There
are many commissions, boards, and committees empowered to review
development projects and to create and implement policies that have a
significant impact on the built environment of our City.

PROPOSAL
AIA|LA requests that the City expand the appointment of design
professionals in general and architects in particular to sit on
commissions, boards and committees with authority to review and
approve projects affecting the environment of our city. The list of such
entities includes but is not limited to:

• Affordable Housing Commission

• Area Planning Commissions of Central, East LA, Harbor,
North Valley, South LA, South Valley, and West LA
• Board of Airport Commissioners
• Board of Building and Safety Commissioners
• Board of Harbor Commissioners
• Board of Library Commissioners
• Board of Los Angeles Export Terminal
• Board of Neighborhood Commissioners
• Board of Public Works Commissioners
• Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners
• Board of Transportation Commissioners
• Board of Water and Power Commissioners
• Community Redevelopment Agency
• Cultural Heritage Commission
• El Pueblo De Los Angeles Historical Monument Authority
• Environmental Affairs Commission
• Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles
• Industrial Development Authority
• Metropolitan Transportation Authority
• Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

DISCUSSION
Architects, landscape architects and other design professionals are
trained to understand and think critically and creatively about issues
involving the physical environment. Architects and design professionals
are necessary on appointed bodies that review projects and develop
and implement design policies in Los Angeles. AIA|LA maintains a list
of architects interested in serving as members of the above mentioned
commissions, boards and committees; these names are available to the
City upon request. The City will benefit greatly by inclusion of architects
in the decision-making process concerning the built environment.
OBJECTIVE:
REMOVE HURDLES TO
RENEWABLE ENERGY
ISSUE
To meet the challenges of global warming and the mandates of
AB 32, and to meet the City’s aggressive renewable energy goals,
the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) should create
new opportunities to expand the available methods of generating
renewable energy.

PROPOSAL
AIA|LA requests the City of Los Angeles, through the DWP, take the
following actions:

• Create a feed-in-tariff to spur independent renewable energy

power generation close to the source of power consumption.
A feed-in-tariff encourages private property owners to install
renewable energy in excess of their on-site needs by offering
a guaranteed rate that the property owner will be paid for
power sold to the utility.

• Support the California Public Utilities Commission directive to

launch a new renewable incentive program encouraging mid-
sized renewable energy development by creating a similar
DWP-run program.

• Continue the aggressive water conservation and use

restriction policies currently in place as the use of water
requires a tremendous amount of power. Reductions in
water consumption would lead directly to reductions in
power consumption. As one example, approximately 20%
of the State’s electricity use is to move water from Northern
California to Southern California.

DISCUSSION
Efforts in the City of Los Angeles to move power generation forward
must incorporate open and level access from all aspects of the
Los Angeles economy. Limiting the location and source of power
generation only drives up the cost of electricity without creating any
concurrent environmental or social benefit. If the City is to meet its
aggressive renewable energy goals, it should encourage any power
provider that can meet the State’s and the City’s requirements. The
other challenge for DWP is to accept small scale power producers,
including distributed solar energy systems. Small systems easily
installed on typical commercial or residential rooftops or within the
confines of the average residential lot multiplied across the Los
Angeles Basin could have a significant impact on the power grid.
As current City code prevents the DWP from paying for power, an
individual producer has no incentive or ability to provide excess power
capacity for other users. A feed-in-tariff mechanism creates a strong
incentive to the public to do their part to power the City, and recent
studies have demonstrated that even a modest distributed solar
program would have direct economic benefits to ratepayers and the
City over the next decade.
AIA Los Angeles
A Chapter of the American Institute of Architects

For more information:

Will Wright, Director of Government & Public Affairs
AIA Los Angeles
3780 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 800
Los Angeles, CA  90010
tel.: 1.213.639.0777
email: will@aialosangeles.org