Episodes

In conversations with local industry experts and thought leaders, each episode of Building LA explores a specific project in Los Angeles, providing you with insights into how it progressed, challenges that were overcome, and what makes the project successful.

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EP.16 / John K Chan, AIA on Atwater Canyon and Creating Great Retail Spaces

John K Chan, AIA, LEED AP is the Co-Founder and Design Director at Formation Association. We discuss how to create a great retail experience, as exemplified by his firm’s design of the Atwater Canyon retail complex. Atwater Canyon is an adaptive reuse project located in the Atwater Village neighborhood of Los Angeles.

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EP.15 / Babak Ziai on BrandView and Transforming Underutilized Properties

Babak Ziai is the Founder and Managing Principal at BrandView, Inc. His commercial real estate investment management firm focuses on acquiring underutilized properties in exceptional locations and transforming them into high-performing mixed-use developments. We discuss his investment on Windward Avenue in Venice.

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EP.08 / Patricia Rhee, FAIA, DBIA, EYRC Architects on The Culver Steps

The once underutilized triangular site in Downtown Culver City was transformed into an open-air gathering place for the community, and is a commercial success for owners Hackman Capital. We dive into the design process, the future of Culver City, and Patricia's role as a founding co-chair of the AIA Los Angeles Women in Architecture Committee.

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EP.06 / Haley Nelson, HGA on the Vallarta Supermarkets HQ

Vallarta Supermarkets is a Los Angeles success story, owned by the same family since it was founded in 1985. In their new corporate office, Haley Nelson was tasked with telling the story of the company, and reflecting their values through the workplace design.

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EP.05 / Sean Madden, SPMD on the Kaleidoscope Mural

Kaleidoscope Mural situated on a power station a stones throw from the ocean, is the largest mural in California. We speak with Sean Madden, CEO of SPMD about how it was created. We also discuss in detail how he has grown his business, the joys and challenges of entrepreneurship, and what he means by being a servant leader.

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EP.04 / Brian Orter, BOLD on The Press

The Press is a transformational 450,000 SF re-development of the old LA Times Printing Facility. In collaboration with the architects EYRC, BOLD brought this space back to life, celebrating its previous use.

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EP.02 / Ryan Lovett, Lendlease on 3401 South La Cienega

Situated adjacent to the La Cienega / Jefferson Light Rail Station on a 3.5 acre site, this project includes a 260-Unit residential building, ground floor retail and a 250,000 SF office building constructed of carbon sequestering mass timber.

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EP.01 / James Woolum FAIA, ZGF on the Cal State LA Student Services Building

Originally built in 1972, the building was left damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake and sat vacant for nearly 20 years until ZGF was tasked with renovating it. Cal State LA initially asked for the 50-year-old structure to be converted into swing space while a new building was being constructed. But ZGF had a different vision.

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