These are the 2021 AIALA Presidential Honorees

The AIA Los Angeles chapter has announced its annual list of Presidential Honorees. Fifteen firms, educators, projects, and individual designers were each given the exclusive honor for achievements that share a common thread of improving the city through shared values and commitment to community improvement.

This year's list features a range of high-profile developments and emerging talent. Other honorees were awarded for their commitment to making change in the industry, providing affordable housing, or fight to end homelessness in the city. Recipients will be honored at the 2021 AIALA Design Awards ceremony held in the fall. 

A complete list of honorees can be seen below.

Gold Medal: Lorcan O’Herlihy, FAIA, Founder, Design Principal of Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects [LOHA] (the firm also just won the Architect’s Newspaper Best of Practice 2021 Award)

Game Changer: SoFi Stadium (Architect: HKS, Inc., Landscape Architect: Studio-MLA)

Building Team: Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (Design Team: Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Gensler, Studio Pali Fekete architects (SPF:a))

Emerging Practice: Clay Holden Architects

Emerging Practice: ORA (Oonagh Ryan Architects Inc.)

25-Year Award: Japanese American National Museum

Citizen Architect: Renee Dake Wilson, AIA

Robert Kennard, FAIA Award for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity: Drake Dillard, AIA, NOMAC

Educator: D. Michael Hamner, FAIA, NCARB – Professor, Chair, East Los Angeles College, Department of Architecture

Merry Norris Design Advocate, Developer: People Assisting the Homeless (PATH)

Merry Norris Design Advocate, Developer: Venice Community Housing

Merry Norris Design Advocate, Builder: Bernards

Community Contribution: SoCal NOMA Project Pipeline

Honorary AIALA: Emmanuelle Bourlier, Hon. AIALA

Honorary AIALA: Nabih Youssef, S.E., Hon. AIALA