Category: News

AIA Long Beach/South Bay Hosts Conversation with Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor Paul Seo

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AIA Long Beach/South Bay recently welcomed Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor Paul Seo for an engaging evening of discussion focused on leadership, community planning, housing, sustainability, infrastructure, and the future of our coastal communities.

Moderated by AIA Long Beach/South Bay Board Director and Advocacy Committee member Eric Nulman, AIA, the conversation explored the opportunities and challenges facing cities throughout the South Bay region and beyond. Attendees included architects, design professionals, community leaders, and residents interested in the important intersection of public policy and the built environment.

Mayor Seo shared insights drawn from his diverse background in public service, including his experience as a U.S. Army veteran, attorney, prosecutor, and local elected official. The discussion highlighted the critical role that collaboration between government, design professionals, and community stakeholders plays in creating resilient, vibrant, and sustainable communities.

Topics ranged from housing and infrastructure needs to environmental stewardship, public safety, and the importance of thoughtful planning in shaping the future of Southern California’s coastal cities. Mayor Seo also discussed the value of civic engagement and the ways local leadership can work alongside architects and planners to address complex community challenges.

AIA Long Beach/South Bay’s Advocacy Committee is committed to fostering meaningful dialogue between architects and public officials, helping members better understand the policy decisions that influence the communities we serve. Events like this provide valuable opportunities to strengthen relationships, exchange ideas, and promote the role of design in advancing the public good.

We extend our sincere thanks to Mayor Seo for sharing his time and perspective, and to Eric Nulman, AIA, for facilitating a thoughtful and engaging conversation. We also thank everyone who attended and contributed to the evening’s discussion.

Be sure to check out the additional video highlights below, featuring key moments and insights from the conversation.

AIA Long Beach/South Bay Welcomes AIA National Leaders for Advocacy Roundtable

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On June 6, AIA Long Beach/South Bay had the privilege of hosting a special roundtable discussion with AIA National leaders while they were in Long Beach attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting.

Joining the conversation were Illya Azaroff, FAIA, 2025 President of the American Institute of Architects, and Amal Mahrouki, Senior Director of State and Local Affairs at AIA National. They met with AIA Long Beach/South Bay board members and local design leaders to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing the profession and our communities.

The discussion centered on AIA’s key policy priorities, including housing and affordability, climate and sustainability, infrastructure and community investment, business and the profession, and the Chief Architect initiative. Participants explored the important role architects can play in addressing complex challenges through thoughtful design, civic engagement, and collaboration with public officials and community stakeholders.

The roundtable also provided an opportunity to share local perspectives and discuss how architects can help shape healthier, more resilient, and more equitable communities. Topics ranged from housing production and climate action to the evolving role of architects as trusted advisors and civic leaders.

AIA Long Beach/South Bay was especially grateful for the participation of several local firm leaders, including Alan Pullman, AIA, of Studio One Eleven/RDC, and Keith Hempel, FAIA, President and Chief Design Officer of LPA Design Studios, whose insights helped enrich the conversation.

The meeting underscored the value of connecting local, state, and national leadership and highlighted the important role chapters play in advancing advocacy efforts within their communities.

We extend our sincere thanks to Illya Azaroff, FAIA, Amal Mahrouki, and the entire AIA National State and Local Affairs team for their time, leadership, and commitment to strengthening the profession. We also thank Alan Pullman, Dalane Nash, and the Studio One Eleven team for graciously hosting the gathering, and Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson and the City of Long Beach for hosting the U.S. Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting and bringing this important dialogue to our community.

Bike Haus Returns: Park Estates – Mid-Century Modern by Bike

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AIA Long Beach/South Bay Summer Solstice Tour 2026

Saturday, June 20, 2026

Explore one of Long Beach’s most architecturally significant neighborhoods by bicycle,  with rare hosted access to select Mid-Century Modern homes not typically open to the public.

This year’s Bike Haus Summer Solstice Tour heads to Park Estates, where curving streets, generous landscaped setbacks, and architect-designed residences shaped one of Southern California’s most distinctive postwar neighborhoods.

More than simply a neighborhood ride, Bike Haus offers a rare opportunity to step inside select private residences and experience firsthand the stewardship, thoughtful modernization, and lived stories behind Long Beach Modernism.

Join architects, design professionals, students, and architecture enthusiasts for a curated three-hour cycling experience exploring the architecture, planning, and stories behind Park Estates : including homes associated with Richard Neutra, Lloyd Wright, John Lautner, Paul Tay, Kenneth Wing, Hugh Gibbs, and other influential voices of California Modernism.

Along the way, guided discussion will explore:

  • Mid-Century Modern design principles and material strategies
  • Historic preservation and residential adaptation
  • California Modernism and indoor-outdoor living
  • Neighborhood planning and postwar suburban development
  • Sustainability and long-term stewardship of historic homes

Hosted by Vic Nguyen, Maureen Neeley, and Nate Cole, with special participation from Park Estates homeowners and stewards.

Park Estates • Long Beach, California
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Duration: Approximately 3 Hours

Bring your bike, curiosity, and appreciation for great design, and join us for an unforgettable Summer Solstice ride through Long Beach history.

Registration opening soon.

Inspiring Future Designers: AIA Long Beach/South Bay Visits Accelerated Charter Elementary School for Architecture Week

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As part of Architecture Week 2026, AIA Long Beach/South Bay had the pleasure of visiting Accelerated Charter Elementary School (ACES) in Los Angeles—an experience that brought creativity, curiosity, and community together in a truly meaningful way.

The visit was thoughtfully arranged and led by Stephanie Osorio, AIA, Board Director and member of our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee, who also designed our Color Your City architecture coloring book. Stephanie introduced multiple groups of students—from kindergarten through 6th grade—to the profession of architecture, sharing how design shapes the spaces we live, learn, and play in every day.

01 / 03 Arch Week 26 at ACES
02 / 03 The Presentation Materials
03 / 03 Learning about the Profession!

Each student received a copy of Color Your City, along with crayons and colored pencils, inviting them to explore architecture through drawing, color, and imagination. The energy in the classrooms was inspiring, as students engaged with the idea that they, too, can help shape the built environment.

ACES provided an especially meaningful setting for this program. The school’s distinctive dual language immersion model—offering instruction in both Spanish and English—supports not only language development, but also self-expression and multicultural understanding. Through partnerships with organizations such as the American Heart Association, Lorax Teaching Gardens, and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, ACES students are regularly exposed to real-world problem solving and sustainability concepts.

The integration of visual and performing arts into the curriculum, supported by teacher training through Inner-City Arts, further reinforces creativity as a core part of learning—making the introduction to architecture a natural and exciting extension of the students’ educational experience.

We are incredibly grateful to Stephanie Osorio for her leadership and dedication in bringing this program to life, and to the ACES students, faculty, and staff for their warm welcome and enthusiasm. Experiences like this remind us that architecture is not only about buildings—it’s about people, ideas, and the future we build together.

As we continue to share Color Your City throughout the community, we look forward to expanding these connections and inspiring the next generation of designers.

Developed by our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee, the coloring book reflects a core belief: design belongs to everyone. By highlighting a range of building types, cultures, and stories, the project encourages young people from all backgrounds to see themselves in architecture and to recognize their role in shaping the future.

We invite you to download a copy, request a printed version, and share your artwork with us in our online gallery. Whether bold and colorful or thoughtfully detailed, each creation is a reminder that creativity starts early—and that the next generation is already imagining what’s possible.

Learn more here!