Category: News

AIA Long Beach / South Bay Architects Advocate for Housing and Climate Solutions During State Senate Visit

Posted on by lbsbadmin

By Casey Chapin, AIA, and Lance Collins, AIA

August 1, 2025

Photo - Lance-Casey-State-Sen-Gonzalez-staff

Today we had the opportunity to represent our chapter and the Architectural profession during a legislative visit with staff for California State Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez.

Held as part of AIA California’s annual Legislative Day, the meeting provided a valuable forum to discuss how Architects are uniquely positioned to contribute to critical policy areas, particularly around housing production, adaptive reuse, and climate resilience.

We shared AIA California’s key 2025 legislative priorities, which included support for:

  • AB 1341 (Hoover) – Tackling unlicensed practice of architecture by transferring enforcement responsibility to the Contractors’ State License Board.
  • AB 1265 (Haney) – Extending the Historic Tax Credit to encourage adaptive reuse projects and affordable housing.
  • AB 507 (Haney) – Streamlining adaptive reuse approvals to help increase California’s housing supply.
  • AB 368 (Ward) – Promoting energy-efficient building design through the adoption of Passive House standards.
  • AB 1, AB 818, AB 888 – A suite of bills supporting climate-smart disaster recovery and rebuilding efforts.

The discussion emphasized what many of us know firsthand: that Architects are not just designers – we are problem solvers. From affordable housing to sustainable design, we bring practical, implementable solutions rooted in real-world experience.

We extend our sincere thanks to Senator Gonzalez’s team for their time, and we look forward to continuing the conversation. As local architects and community members, we are eager to support policies that build a more resilient, equitable, and vibrant California.

Casey Chapin, AIA
Vice-President/President-Elect

Lance Collins, AIA

Director and AIA California Representative
The American Institute of Architects – Long Beach/South Bay Chapter

Accepting Nominations to the 2026 Board of Directors

Posted on by lbsbadmin

Accepting nominations through August 8, 2025

There are five seats open for election on the 2026 Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may consist of up to twelve (12) total members, each serving for two years unless otherwise noted. Refer to the AIA LBSB Chapter Bylaws, section 6.1 Election of Officers and Directors, 6.2 Terms of Officers and Directors, and 6.3 Officers and Directors for Board position descriptions.

Nomination Form

AIA LBSB members in good standing may nominate themselves or nominate another chapter member. Members interested in serving on a committee or knowledge community may also use the Nomination Form.

Please contact our office with questions on obligations as a member of the Board of Directors and time commitment.

Timeline:

  • Call for Nominations: July 8 – August 8, 2025
  • Slate presented: The Nominating Committee will present a slate of candidates to the membership on or about September 5, 2025, via email and website posting
  • Annual Election: October 9, 2025, in conjunction with the AIA LBSB Annual Town Hall – a special edition of BARchitecture*
  • Additional nominations may be made from the floor at the election by members in good standing

Officers:

  • President (succeeds to the Immediate Past President director position)
  • Vice President/President-Elect (succeeds to the President in the subsequent year)
  • Treasurer (a one-year officer position)
  • Secretary (a one-year officer position)

Directors:

  • Past President
  • Associate Director
  • Two (2) California Council Representatives (may also serve in another capacity on the Board)
  • Four (4) Directors

* In observance of Yom Kippur, BARchitecture, which normally occurs on the first Thursday of each month, will be held on October 9.

Help Shape California’s Building Decarbonization Strategy

Posted on by lbsbadmin

The California Energy Commission (CEC) is working on a plan to cut carbon emissions from large buildings across the state, as required by the Building Energy Savings Act (SB 48, 2023). This plan will include a statewide building performance standard (BPS) that aims to be fair and inclusive.

To help shape this strategy, the CEC is partnering with the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT), and they want to hear directly from professionals like you who work in residential and commercial construction or building operations.

Your input will help make sure this strategy reflects the real-world experiences of people in the field—and supports both businesses and workers in the industry. Participate in a 30–60 minute interview to share your perspective on:

  • How a building performance standard or other decarbonization policies could affect your business, workforce, or growth opportunities
  • What challenges or possibilities you see around energy efficiency, electrification, and building performance
  • What your current workforce needs look like, including job quality and retention

If you’re interested, please reach out to Alyssa Moore at amoore@emeraldcities.org by July 21 to participate.

AIA LBSB COTE