Catherine Hernandez’ Professional Success

Architecture/Landscape/Interiors alumna Catherine Hernandez (’13) is a Designer with office42, and is participating in the renovation of Community Coalition’s building in South Los Angeles.

Catherine described herself and her work as follows.

I was born and raised in South Los Angeles where I was inspired to pursue architecture in response to the blight I saw in my community in its vacant lots, abandoned buildings, and neglected spaces.

During junior high school I became involved with Community Coalition, a non-profit organization committed to creating better living environments in South Los Angeles. I joined their youth leadership program, South Central Youth Empowered Through Action (SCYEA), which worked to develop leaders who would impact public policy and make concrete changes in my community. In this program, I participated in multiple campaigns including “Rebuild South LA Without Liquor Stores” in which we were able to prevent the rebuilding of 150 liquor stores (after the 1992 riots) and converted nearly 50 of 200 proposed liquor stores into non-alcohol related businesses. Other campaigns consisted of bringing fresh food markets to the community and providing access to college for high school students (including myself). Community Coalition played many important roles in my life and today I am very excited to be part of Community Coalition’s building renovation.

After 18 years, Community Coalition decided to renovate its building to create a space that appropriately reflects its vision, values, professionalism and connection to the community. In early 2013 the organization reached out to office42, where I am Designer, and I became involved in the project.

The Architecture/Landscape/Interiors program’s History +Theory courses helped me make better assessments of architecture and development and their impact on cities. In the future I plan to further explore cities at both local and global scales through my own architectural practice.

Congratulations Catherine, and Community Coalition as well!

IMAGES
January 23, 2014Ground-Breaking Ceremony for Community Coalition’s Renovation of its building at 8101 South Vermont L.A. CA 90044
top left: Catherine Hernandez, in front, with Community Coalition funders and staff, including Vice President Aurea Montes Rodriguez (in beige suit)
top right: Catherine Hernandez and L.A.City District 8 Councilman-elect Marqueece Harris Dawson holding the Award for “Creating a Landmark in South L.A.,” which was presented to Community Coalition by Councilman-elect Dawson
bottom: Community Coalition staff, members, and supporters, with office42 Principals Ben (in the back, with beard) and Stephanie Ragle (in red sweater, behind Catherine),and Designer Catherine Hernandez

Additional note: In fall 2012, Architecture/Landscape/Interiors juniors, under the direction of Senior Lecturer Ben Ragle, developed a Block Plan for Community Coalition to use as a (successful!) fund-raising tool for this renovation.

Alumnus Elbert Payra’s Professional Success

Architecture/Landscape/Interiors ALUMNI NEWS 06.22.15
Architecture/Landscape/Interiors alumnus Elbert Payra (’13) worked on several successful installations for MIRI CHAIS | STUDIO in the last year.

Elbert described his work as follows.
I started working at MIRI CHAIS | STUDIO in May 2014, after my Otis colleague, Hideyo Kameda, left the studio to move to San Francisco. Given our similar skill set (so grateful for our Class of 2013 Installation!) I immediately found a niche as a Creative Technician and Fabrication Associate. My first big project was the USC Fisher Museum installation, which took five weeks to complete, in September 2014. After the success of the USC installation, I was promoted to a salaried position in November 2014.

Since then I had the opportunity to coordinate two more installations, one at the Shulamit Gallery, Venice Beach, in February 2015 and a booth at Volta, New York, in March 2015.

I facilitated and coordinated technical work on my own for the Shulamit Gallery.
I served as consultant for both fabrication and design of the art pieces, as well as managed crating and produced installation instructions for the pieces at Volta, New York.

Congratulations Elbert!

IMAGES
top left: “Re:Mind,” MIRI CHAIS | STUDIO site specific, solo, sculptural and video-based installation at the USC Fisher Museum of Art, September 17-November 15, 2014
top right: MIRI CHAIS | STUDIO’s ”We Are The Hollow Men” at the Shulamit Gallery: Project Room, January 22-March 7, 2015
bottom left: MIRI CHAIS | STUDIO at Volta, New York, March 2015
bottom right: Elbert Payra

Izzy Savage and Levina Djajadi won Lighting Design Competition Awards!

2015 graduate (and valedictorian) Izzy Savage and rising-senior Levina Djajadi won two of three 2015 Russell Cole Memorial Lighting Design Competition Undergraduate Awards!

The Illuminating Engineering Society, Los Angeles Section (IESLA) established the Russell Cole Lighting Design Competition to honor Russell Cole and preserve the memory and meaning of his attitudes toward lighting, lighting education and assisting everyone in their pursuit of knowledge; encourage education in lighting for college students, undergraduate or graduate, who have given evidence of innovative thought and implementation in their studies of light and lighting; and provide financial support for students in recognition of their accomplishments.

2015 entrants were required to submit one 11’x17” Design Booklet of his or her lighting design and narrative. Finalists presented their projects to judges on May 13, 2015.

Winners were announced at the Lumen West 2015 Award Banquet “Inspired by Downton Abbey” on June 20, at the Avalon Theatre, Hollywood, California.
Architecture/Landscape/Interiors Senior Lecturer Heather Libonati, current President of The Illuminating Engineering Society, Los Angeles Section, presented the Lumen West 2015 awards.

Congratulations Izzy and Levina!

IMAGES
June 20, 2015
Lumen West 2015
top left: Levina Djajadi, left, being presented her 3rd Place award “check” by Heather Libonati
top right: Izzy Savage, left, being presented her 2nd Place award “check” by Heather Libonati
bottom left, left to right: Heather Libonati, Levina Djajadi, and Izzy Savage, just prior to presentation of their “checks”
bottom right: Heather Libonati, Izzy Savage, and Levina Djajadi at the Afterparty

Architecture/Landscape/Interiors is pleased to announce that senior Raymond Tran was selected as one of only fourteen recipients of a 2015 Angelo Donghia Foundation Senior Student Scholarship!

The Angelo Donghia Foundation’s Senior Student Scholarship Program in Interior Design was launched in 2002. Through this program the Foundation awards scholarships to deserving students who are entering their senior year in a Baccalaureate Degree Program in Interior Design. Each student winner receives up to a $30,000.00 scholarship to be applied to his senior year tuition, board, maintenance and books.

Raymond is the twelfth Architecture/Landscape/Interiors student to have won a Donghia Scholarship since the department began participating in the competition in 2005.

Each prior winner received the maximum award of $30,000.00: Diana Gonong and Izzy Savage (2014), Thomas Acosta and Molly Hubley (2013), Case Fleher and Gunawan Wibisono (2011), Sam Tanis (2010), Joem Sanez (2009), Billy Tam (2008), and Asami Tachikawa and Anya Phelps (2005).

Congratulations Raymond, our latest winner!

IMAGES
top right: Raymond Tran (photographed at SoCal IIDA’s Student Design Charette, in which his team won 1st Place)
top left, middle and bottom: views of Raymond’s winning entry, ONE WILSHIRE, a residential renovation of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill’s modern mid-century building at 624 South Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles. Raymond’s design reconnected the building to nature, allowing water, wind, and light to infiltrate and reduce reliance on HVAC systems and the municipal water supply.

Alumna Lori Choi (13’) began her Master of Architecture graduate studies at UCLA Architecture & Urban Design (A.UD) in fall 2014.

Lori’s experience in her first year at UCLA is described (by Lori) and shown below.

My experience at UCLA has been great so far! Upon acceptance I was awarded a fellowship to cover in-state registration fees and full-tuition. I was also offered Advanced Placement (into the second of three years) but made the decision to begin in the first year to take advantage of UCLA’s great first year core studios and reboot at graduate level, after having worked in offices for a year.

My fall quarter studio project, “Arches in Matrix,” was selected by my instructor, Associate Professor Jason Payne, for A.UD’s Best of Currents exhibit, and my winter quarter studio project, “Transformative Performances,” was also selected by my instructor, Lecturer Narineh Mirzaeian, for A.UD’s Best of Currents.

After spring quarter, at A.UD’s end of the year show RUMBLE, I was awarded The Robert Webster Scholarship ($4,000.00) for the most outstanding quality of work in the first year class, as well as The Dr. Hyman Eugene Oxman & Frieda Dreyer Oxman Fellowship, which is awarded to a graduate student in the School of Arts and Architecture with financial need and academic potential.

IMAGES

left top: Lori Choi presenting Arches in Matrix at UCLA A.UD
left bottom: Lori’s fall quarter project, Arches in Matrix
right top and middle: Lori’s winter quarter project, Transformative Performances
right bottom: Lori Choi presenting Transformative Performances, to A.UD Professor and Vice Chair Neil Denari (gesturing in foreground) and other jurors

See more images of Lori and her projects in the Gallery, below.

[See image gallery at blogs.otis.edu]

2008 Alumnus Jesus Aguilar’s BLOG from Chicago, No. 3

Alumnus Jesus Aguilar (08’) completed the first of two years in his Master of Architecture graduate studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago (with advanced standing) in May 2015.

Jesus’ Architectural Design IV studio project (described and shown below) was selected for exhibit in the 2015 Year End Show.

Jesus Aguilar’s Project Statement
“Preserve-Reserve” is a campus (spa/hotel/hospital) that allows users to preserve themselves through exercise, diet, retreat and medical interventions. It is a marketplace for health, longevity and preservation. The buildings vast open space suspends program within circulation, creating an interior urban condition. The interior aims to promote a blur between each program, creating a hotel within a spa, a spa within a hospital, and hotel within a hospital – or any combination of the sort.

IMAGES
top left: Jesus Aguilar in front of “Cloud Gate,” Anish Kapoor’s public sculpture at Millennium Park, Chicago, 01.11.15
top right: view of downtown Chicago from UIC-Halsted “L” tracks, 02.15.15
bottom left: detail view of Preserve-Reserve model
bottom right: view of Preserve-Reserve, as exhibited in the 2015 Year End Show, 05.08.15

Senior Ryan English interned with Wynn Design and Development in Las Vegas!

Ryan sent this message and the photos shown below.

I am back from Las Vegas and had a great time interning with Wynn Design and Development!

I must say that the program was one of the best experiences an intern could have. During my two months with the company, I had the opportunity to assist numerous designers, assistants and support staff produce work for new national and international construction projects as well as remodels of existing spaces in Las Vegas at The Wynn and Encore hotels.

In March of 2016, Wynn Palace will officially open in Cotai, China. The new 1,700-room resort is the third resort built by the company in China, after Wynn Macau in 2006 and Encore at Wynn Macau in 2010. Built at a cost of over $4.1 billion US dollars, Wynn Palace in Cotai will enchant clients with air-conditioned sky cabs that navigate over an 8-acre lake with fountains larger than those of The Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, a predecessor project by Steve Wynn and the team now comprising Wynn Design and Development. The realization of their vision is an amazing process, and the attention to detail is un-paralleled.

In Las Vegas, I worked on in-house renovations such as The SW Steakhouse at Wynn (where Mr. Wynn has a personal table), which reopens Friday, August 14 with a fresh new look. I attended construction meetings and saw the entire process of a high-end restaurant remodel. I also sat in on meetings for the highly-anticipated remodel of Tryst Nightclub, retail renovations of Prada, Brioni and Dior, preliminary meetings of the up-coming Buffet remodel and a quick and adorable addition of a children’s store called Tiny Treasures. Encore Las Vegas is also undergoing a renovation of its guest rooms; I was able to observe the process and program Lutron systems to create lighting scenes for Encore’s Sky Villas–the most luxurious two-story, four-bedroom guest rooms that are available only to gaming VIPs, diplomats and celebrities.

I obtained the paid internship when I met Roger Thomas, the famous designer to whom Steve Wynn credits much of his success, during a hospitality design trade show in Las Vegas in June of 2014. Impressed and absorbing every word he said, I quickly asked if there were internship opportunities. The rest, as they say, is history.

It is a mind-blowing process to create and maintain the world’s only 5-star gaming resort. I could not have asked for a better experience. The Wynn is top-notch and makes you feel as if you have joined a family. I also experienced two days of corporate training that helped me realize how important the customer experience is, which is elevated through the space they are allowed to exist in, if only for a day. – Ryan English, August 10, 2015

IMAGES
top left: Ryan English in front of Tryst Nightclub’s entrance
top right: Ryan English in front of Mizumi’s entrance
bottom left: view of Tryst Nightclub
bottom right: view of the recently renovated Bartalotta Ristorante, at Wynn, Las Vegas

Architecture/Landscape/Interiors Class of 2004 Installation is now on YouTube. See it HERE.

Architecture/Landscape/Interiors Class of 2004 Installation was a continuous vertical surface of back-lit acrylic panels alternating, like a bar code, with matte black panels, plus a “lounge” with seating and hot pink pillows. The installation was designed, fabricated and installed by 2004 seniors Trong Bui, Jinnie Choi, Hue Ling Le, Chika Ito, Yunghee Kim, David Orkand, John Shearer and Ghazal Shokoufandeh.

The Architecture/Landscape/Interiors Department at OTIS College of Art and Design is pleased to announce a lecture by
Gerdo P. Aquino, CEO of SWA Group, on Thursday, September 17, 2015.

The lecture will begin at 7:00pm in the Forum, Ground Floor, Kathleen Ahmanson Hall, Elaine and Bram Goldsmith Campus,
OTIS College of Art and Design, 9045 Lincoln Boulevard, Los Angeles, 90045.

The lecture and parking are free and open to the public. Call 310.665.6867 or email ArchitectureLandscapeInteriors@otis.edu for more information.
Gerdo P. Aquino, RLA, FASLA, Assoc. AIA, is CEO of SWA Group. SWA Group (SWA) is one of the nation’s leading landscape architecture, planning and urban design firms. Throughout its 55+ year history, SWA has embraced the idea that planning and design can shape the environment in fundamental ways. Our practice is a constant search for a better approach, or more interesting and informed response, to the wide array of urban and regional challenges brought to us by our clients.

Gerdo P. Aquino is an urban designer and landscape architect with 20 years of experience in the planning, design and construction of public and private projects throughout the United States, and internationally. Since joining SWA in 1996, he has had much success in solving a wide range of environmental landscape design problems for projects where open space, density, and place-making are key issues.

Aquino is also Adjunct Associate Professor in the Landscape Architecture Master’s Degree Program at the University of Southern California where his design studios focus on landscape infrastructure and its application to urban areas challenged by issues related to density, environmental degradation, health and accessibility. In January of 2011 Birkhauser released a new book entitled, “Landscape Infrastructure: Case Studies by SWA,” co-authored by Gerdo, that encompasses much of his current thinking in landscape architecture professionally and academically.

IMAGES
top left: Gerdo P. Aquino (Photo by: Bill Tatham)
top right: Giant Interactive Group, Shanghai, China (Photo by: Tom Fox)
bottom: Gubei Gold Street, Shanghai, China (Photo by: Tom Fox)

Stefanie Cheng’s and Brooke Walker’s project at Rottet Studio was featured by “Interior Design” Magazine.

Alumni Stefanie Cheng (’12) and Brooke Walker (’12) were part of the Rottet Studio Project Team for the newly completed Viking Star Cruiseliner, which was featured in the July 2015 issue of Interior Design.

See the article, Shore to Ship: Welcome Aboard the Viking Star Cruise Liner by Rottet Studio, online HERE.

IMAGES
top left: Viking Star’s Bar, photography by Eric Laignel
top right: Viking Star’s Infinity Pool, photography by Eric Laignel
bottom left: Stefanie Cheng, summer 2015
bottom right: Brooke Walker, September 2015

Architecture/Landscape/Interiors Class of 2002 Installation is now on YouTube. See it HERE.

Architecture/Landscape/Interiors Class of 2002 Installation was a continuous eight-foot-high, sky-blue, vertical surface, with niches for display of student work. The surface surrounded the entire fifth floor central core and corridor of Otis’ Ahmanson Hall to produce an immersive environment.

The installation was designed, fabricated and installed by 2002 seniors Eiko Hamada-Ano, Greg Haynes, Brandon Hogg, James Huynh, Jade Lai, Yurim Lee, Gia Lim, Felicia Martin, Jan Nebgen, Maya Nishimura, Danny Schapker, Yoshiko Tojo, Jean Yun, and Jason Zaza.

IMAGES
Views of the Class of 2002 Installation and Seniors

Architecture/Landscape/Interiors Class of 2013 Installation, “The HIVE,” is now on YouTube. See it HERE.

Architecture/Landscape/Interiors Class of 2013 Installation, The HIVE, was a three-dimensional field of 76 hexagonal cells in 4 colors that produced a gradient from east to west. Student work was displayed within the cells.

The HIVE was designed, fabricated, assembled, and installed by 2013 seniors Lori Choi, Jonathan Figueroa, Michelle Han, Catherine Hernandez, Molly Hubley, Hideyo Michael Kameda, Sho Kato, Steven Katz, Dami Kim, Chris Kono, Theresa Lee, Ashley Lim, XinXin Annie Lin, DaiJavette McOvery, Rameel Nissan, Elbert Payra, Stephanie Robbins, Maureen Suryali, Derek Yi, and Rodrigo Zayas.

IMAGES
top: 2013 seniors DaiJavette McOvery and Rameel Nissan in The HIVE
bottom left, left to right: Construction Technician (“contractor” for the project) David Reddy (blue shirt), Classroom Assistant Matthew Gilio-Tenan (on ladder), and 2013 seniors Ashley Lim, Stephanie Robbins, Derek Yi, Chris Kono, and Steven Katz installing The HIVE
bottom right, left to right: 2013 seniors Steven Katz, Lori Choi, Molly Hubley, Derek Yi, Theresa Lee, and Rodrigo Zayas assembling HIVE cells

Architecture/Landscape/Interiors alumnus Rodrigo Zayas (’13) has been working at Nakada + Associates since graduation.

Rodrigo described his experience after graduation as follows.

I was hired at Nakada + Associates in Downtown Los Angeles just one month after graduating from Otis. My first assignment at Nakada was Construction Administration for Barker Block (high-end lofts in the Arts District). A few months later my work shifted to a mixed-use development in downtown Long Beach, in which I have been able to experience all phases of architectural services. This adaptive re-use, 12-story building will be completed in November.

For the past year most of my efforts have been on a new 54-unit high-end condo in West LA, as lead project-designer. I have been in charge of coordinating all the different design disciplines and providing the client with design solutions. We are expecting to start construction at the beginning of 2016.
So, for the past two years, I have been focusing on Nakada projects and gaining great experience in all aspects of design and construction!
My goal is to complete the Intern Development Program (IDP) experience hours and continue working on gaining architectural licensure in California.

Congratulations Rodrigo!

IMAGES
top: Rodrigo Zayas
middle left: model of Long Beach project, model and photograph by Rodrigo Zayas
middle right: facade of Long Beach project under construction, photograph by Rodrigo Zayas
bottom left: Barker Block breezeway
bottom right: Barker Block patio

The Architecture/Landscape/Interiors Department at OTIS College of Art and Design is pleased to announce a lecture by
Nick Seierup, Principal | Design Director of Perkins+Will, Los Angeles, on Thursday, November 12, 2015.

The lecture will begin at 7:00 pm in the Forum, Ground Floor, Kathleen Ahmanson Hall, Elaine and Bram Goldsmith Campus,
OTIS College of Art and Design, 9045 Lincoln Boulevard, Los Angeles, 90045.

The lecture and parking are free and open to the public. Call 310.665.6867 or email ArchitectureLandscapeInteriors@otis.edu for more information.

Nick Seierup, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, as a Principal and the Design Director of Perkins+Will, Los Angeles oversees a wide range of commissions throughout the world, including education, civic, mixed-use, research and healthcare typologies. Nick designs architecture that celebrates the modern public realm through his committed focus on the fundamental issues of community, context, and culture. Prior to joining Perkins+Will, Nick worked in the studio of Eric Owen Moss FAIA and was a partner with Steven Ehrlich FAIA for 6 years. His work has been recognized with over 100 design awards, including 70 from the American Institute of Architects. He has taught at UCLA, USC, SCI-ARC and Woodbury University, and studied at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design and SCI-ARC, where he serves on the Board of Trustees. – Nick Seierup

Perkins+Will is an interdisciplinary, research-based architecture and design firm established in 1935 and founded on the belief that design has the power to transform lives and enhance communities. Each of the firm’s 24 offices focuses on local, regional, and global work in a variety of practice areas. The firm’s 1,800 professionals are thought leaders in developing 21st century solutions to inspire the creation of spaces in which clients and their communities work, heal, live, and learn.

In 2015, Fast Company ranked Perkins+Will among “The World’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Architecture.”

IMAGES
top left: San Jose State University Student Union, design by Perkins+Will, photograph – copyright James Steinkamp
top right: Nick Seierup
bottom: San Jose State University Student Union, design by Perkins+Will, photograph – copyright James Steinkamp

Alumnus Jesus Aguilar (08) directed eleven students in Architecture/Landscape/Interiors’ 2015 Summer of Art studio. Students ranged in age from 14 to 17, and traveled from as far as Ancara, Turkey to participate in the course.

Between July 6th and 31st, 2015 Summer of Art students Vanessa Aquiles, Julia Badesim, Claire Chenn, Lindsey Hageman, Edward Hsu, Natasha Longmuir, Abel Rosi, Michael Segal, Serena Sun, Sophie Ungless, and Ben Weinman learned to draft and construct physical models, after which they designed a house and landscape for a “Neighborhood” consisting of their classmates’ houses.

IMAGES
top left: a portion of the Neighborhood, with houses by (clockwise from left) Julia Badesim, Edward Hsu, Natasha Longmuir, Vanessa Aquinas, Lindsey Hageman, and Serena Sun
top right: students, their families, and guests enjoying the Summer of Art Exhibit on July 31st
middle left: study model of Lindsey Hageman’s house, on her desk
bottom left: Jesus Aquilar working with Julia Badesim; Ben Weinman and Serena Sun behind Jesus
bottom right, from left to right: students Edward Hsu, Sophie Ungless, Vanessa Aquiles, and Lindsey Hageman working on their houses

See additional images in the Gallery below.

[See image gallery at blogs.otis.edu]

Architecture/Landscape/Interiors alumnus Qasem Baouni (’06) received a Master of Architecture degree and has been working professionally as well as teaching since graduating from Otis.

Qasem described his experience after graduation as follows.

Immediately after graduating from Otis, I began pursuing a Master of Architecture degree at UCLA’s Department of Architecture & Urban Planning. I was voted class representative by my classmates and received a department fellowship in my first year, and I graduated in 2009.

After receiving the M.Arch, I started working at Malibu Home Boutique, a residential design firm, where I designed custom kitchens, furniture, and small additions. I also became an Architecture Technician & Teaching Assistant for advanced, second-year architecture studios in Pasadena City College’s (PCC) Architecture Program. I also taught Visual Communications at PCC from fall 2012 to spring 2015. In addition, I have been teaching Digital Media II-A: Digital Translations (AutoCad) since fall 2011 in the Architecture/Landscape/Interiors Department at the Otis College of Art and Design, where I am now a Senior Lecturer.

While at PCC I advised several students on their winning competition entries, including Gabriella Colmenares (2nd Place, 2011 AIA|LA 2×8 Competition); Paul Tuason (2nd Place, 2012 AIA|LA 2×8 Competition); Sevana Alexander and Wana Boghozian (Honorable Mention, 2013 ACSA Fabric in Architecture Competition); and Luke Ravanelle, Myint Tun, and Arvin Tanu (Honorable Mention, 2014 AIA|LA 2×8 Competition).

In 2011 I began working at DSH || Architecture, an office where I interned while studying at Otis. At DSH, I design and manage projects throughout the construction and permitting process, as well as coordinate drawings for the office. I have spent most of my time working on the following award-winning DSH projects thus far: Para Los Niños Family Center, Los Angeles (2013 Spark Awards Finalist); Larchmont Charter, Lafayette Park (2014 Spark Awards Finalist); Villa Tangente, Jinhai China (Honorable Mention, Re-Thinking The Future, 2014).

Congratulations Qasem!

IMAGES
top left: Qasem Baouni
top right: Para Los Niños Family Center, design by DSH || Architecture, photographed by fotoworks
bottom: Allure Resort, award-winning project by Qasem’s students Sevana Alexander and Wana Boghozian, rendering by Sevana Alexander and Wana Boghozian

Architecture/Landscape/Interiors alumna Boo Jang (’07) is a Senior Associate at Bennitt Design Group | landscape architecture, Long Beach.

Boo described her experience, since senior year, as follows.

I started as an intern at Bennitt Design Group during my senior year at Otis (2006) and continued as a Full Time Employee/Staff upon graduation (2007). As years passed, my responsibilities in the office increased. I was promoted to Senior Associate and have managed multiple Domestic and International projects from Concept through Construction Administration, assisting our Principal Designer Todd Bennitt. Projects I worked on varied from Luxury Estates, Retail/Mixed-use, Resorts/Hospitality, Commercial, Institutional, and High-end Residential.

Working at a mid-sized firm such as Bennitt Design Group truly helps one gain an extensive amount of knowledge and provides insights on how a business actually is maintained and regulated. There is an endless amount of knowledge still to be learned and I’m always excited by the next adventure/project that awaits me!

Congratulations Boo!

IMAGES
left top: Boo Jang
left middle and bottom: Telkom Landmark Tower, Jakarta, Indonesia; landscape architecture by Bennitt Design Group; construction administration in progress by Boo Jang
right top, middle and bottom: Huafa Four Seasons, Guangzhou, China; landscape architecture by Bennitt Design Group; construction administration in progress by Boo Jang

One group of Architecture/Landscape/Interiors (A/L/I) Seniors, under the direction of Matias Creimer, began Studio 5: Public/Urban Architecture with a warm up exercise, “Fun Ride.”

A/L/I Seniors Ghadeer Alburaiki, Paulina Benavides, Nayungkhumla Chang, Levina Djajadi, Khadijah Miralam, Darien Noguchi, Teobista Seifu, Raymond Tran, and Kelvin Tseng presented their components of “Fun Ride” to jurors Thomas Mahler (Production Designer, ANIMUS STUDIOS, M.Arch GSD ’94), Andrew Ratzsch (AIA, Principal, Ratzsch Architects, M.Arch UCLA ’96), and their instructor, A/L/I Senior Lecturer, Matias Creimer.

The “Fun Ride“ exercise focuses on strategies of non-mechanical vertical circulation. It is a collective structure made up of nine interchangeable modules designed by nine students. Each student was required to design an interior space with a system of stairs and/or ramps that move people up or down on a continuous path through all the levels. Each student is responsible for one module but all nine modules connect taking the path into unexpected conditions.

“Fun Ride” was a two-week warm-up for their Studio 5 urban infill-building project for which vertical circulation will be a critical component. The program this year is a multi-use urban campus for “Made in Los Angeles School of Arts and Crafts,” sited in DTLA. – Matias Creimer

IMAGES
September 19, 2015
“Fun Ride” Jury
left: senior Ghadeer Alburaiki presenting her “Fun Ride” component to jurors Andrew Ratzsch (seated) and Thomas Mahler (standing)
right: senior Nayungkhumla Chang presenting her “Fun Ride” component to (left to right) jurors Andrew Ratzsch and Thomas Mahler, and instructor Matias Creimer

Studio 3: Interior/Display/Exchange Instructor David Reddy and his students, A/L/I juniors Adel Aleali, William Altpeter, Erim Ayhan, Michael Chen, Tanner Geertsen, Ibrahim Ghulam, Adam Harris, Maegan Iamjan, Sarah Ng, and Tommy Peng visited and documented the site (an existing building on a vestigial corner of old Venice, CA) for their first, of two, studio projects, Designing the Workplace.

Project One – Designing the Workplace
The first project, spanning eight weeks, is the design of a mechanism for the production of value.

We live in times of massive change. The ways that we live and work are transforming. The nature of the workplace is increasingly disrupted. Individuals are becoming responsible for the creation of their own jobs, and value, without benefit of established companies or corporations. This emerging economic space values initiative, innovation, and autonomy.

Space sharing environments, where private contractors or entrepreneurs may pursue their businesses without the encumbrance of sustaining fixed overheads, are common. Some examples of this new kind of workspace are Kleverdog Coworking, Nextspace Coworking, WeWork, O-Pods, and Cross Campus.

Each student will design a temporary popup in an existing urban storefront that provides a flexible work environment for startups and independent contractors. – David Reddy, Studio 3 Instructor

IMAGES
September 14, 2015
Studio 3 Site Visit
top left, left to right: A/L/I juniors William Altpeter, Tanner Geertsen, Michael Chen, Ibrahim Ghulam, Adam Harris, Erim Ayhan, Sarah Ng, and Tommy Peng on the rooftop of R&D architects
top right, left to right: A/L/I juniors Tommy Peng, Adam Harris, Michael Chen, Sarah Ng, Ibrahim Ghulam, Maegan Iamjan, and Tanner Geertsen in front of their project site
bottom left, left to right: A/L/I juniors Ibrahim Ghulam, Adam Harris, Erim Ayhan, Tommy Peng, Sarah Ng, Maegan Iamjan, Tanner Geertsen, and William Altpeter behind their project site
bottom right, left to right: A/L/I juniors Maegan Iamjan, Tanner Geertsen, Adam Harris, Erim Ayhan, and Ibrahim Ghulam at the studio of R&D architects, in Venice, where the class reviewed concept models immediately following the site visit

On September 23, 2015, Architecture/Landscape/Interiors alumni Merve Onur (’15) and Jusung Park (’15), and senior Raymond Tran each presented one of their studio projects in the 6th Annual IIDA Los Angeles Student Design Expo, at the Steelcase Showroom, Downtown Los Angeles.

Merve’s, Jusung’s, and Raymond’s projects were chosen by studio faculty for this exhibit, which was limited to three projects produced in 2014-2015 from each of eight exhibiting schools.

Congratulations Merve, Jusung, and Raymond!
IMAGES
6th Annual IIDA Los Angeles Student Design Expo
September 23, 2015
top left: Merve Onur, next to her project at the exhibit
top right, left to right: Raymond Tran, Merve Onur, and Jusung Park at the exhibit
middle left: Raymond Tran, next to his project at the exhibit
middle right: Jusung Park, next to his project at the exhibit
bottom left: view from Jusung Park’s project, “The Boston Promenade 2024” (produced in Studio 6, spring 2015)
bottom middle: view from Merve Onur’s project, “Perforated Mass” (produced in Studio 5, fall 2014)bottom right: view from Raymond Tran’s project, “One Wilshire” (produced in Studio 4, spring 2015, and which also won a 2015 Angelo Donghia Foundation Senior Student Scholarship)