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press release Twenty-two projects are honored for their capacity to enhance lives through design excellence. Whether contributing innovative ground-up work or respectful renovations that extend the lives of buildings, California members continue to demonstrate possibilities for the field. //for immediate release For images of winning projects, click here.Or use this URL: https://aiacalifornia.org/design-awardscontact: trothman@aiacalifornia.org (July 9, 2026. Sacramento, CA) Twenty-two unique projects: from a restrained distilled barn to enriching affordable housing, from a temple that fuses old and new as it offers up community to a high school that establishes a presence on a major city artery that matches its reputation academically—each, individual; collectively, the work is the recipients of the 2026 AIA California Design Awards program. This year the jury often recognized the value of saving and reconsidering existing buildings through adaptive reuse, renovation, or historic preservation work, as it did with its first Honor Award recipient, Hangar One, HDR Architecture. While the second Honor Award, Malibu High School, by KoningEizenberg Architecture, generated innovation in a typology that is challenging to rethink. “What is meaningful to our organization, AIA California, is the rigorousness of our membership, the constant leaning forward. The determination to embed the sustainable so deeply into design excellence it disappears.” said 2026 President Ginger Thompson, AIA, “Congratulations to the 2026 AIA California Design Awards recipients, and all members, throughout the state who strive, daily, to produce meaningful work for the communities we serve.” The 2026 AIA California Design Awards recipients, along with their jury notes, are: HONORHangar OneHDR Architecture, Inc. Jury Notes: An incredible and iconic structure, beautifully handled, retaining the best of the historic fabric and legacy while introducing modern uses and structural upgrades that feel worthy of what came before. Malibu High SchoolKoningEizenberg Architecture and NAC ArchitectureJury Notes: A very ambitious project that was successfully realized and treads lightly on the land. The jury commends the integration of sustainable and NZE strategies and that these strategies are put on display for students. The casualness of the groupings and the creating of moments through them is impressive. It is really hard to do something that forges new territory in this typology, it does: it’s a kit of parts but extremely site specific, with indoor outdoor learning drilled into it. Absolutely California. MERITAlma Rosa Vineyard BarnClayton KorteJury Notes: It’s beautifully executed. The simplicity and restraint makes it exactly what it should be. Beautiful, simple, honest. The architects took everything away that wasn’t necessary. Cocopah Museum ExpansionEhrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects Jury Notes: A museum expansion that earns its place through cultural specificity, a deep responsiveness to the desert environment, and inventive use of structure and materials. It adds to the larger campus while standing apart as something distinct, organized around Indigenous perspectives in both program and spatial experience. The jury appreciates that the intent of the project is not only to look at artifacts but serves a purpose in the community as a ceremonial space. Congregation Emanu-ElMark Cavagnero AssociatesJury Notes: A clever blending of old and new that is respectful of the original symmetry and history while introducing a contemporary sensibility and new social spaces that genuinely enhance community life. They masterfully found space, dropping the mezzanine down behind the central arches. The introduction of modern systems and materials successfully contrasts and enhances the historic temple. Contemplative Commons at the University of VirginiaAidlin Darling DesignJury Notes: A thoughtful solution, with unexpected clarity and complexity, blends a number of influences including Jeffersonian classical architecture and a natural setting for the benefit of student well-being. Natural materials are used to great effect to develop spaces that feel warm and inviting. This impressive academic and civic building brings warmth, vibrancy and connection to the Dell and surrounding landscape. Santa Monica Vermont ApartmentsKoningEizenberg ArchitectureThe project excels with exuberant and sensitive compositions of form, texture, and color. The jury is impressed by the well-proportioned massing, simply, but carefully detailed surfaces, and richly integrated into the urban context. It integrates affordable housing with neighborhood retail, outdoor space, and transit access. The distributed approach to shared amenities is quite successful, and the decision to break from the closed courtyard model opens the project up in ways that feel generous and connected to the street. University High SchoolLeddy Maytum Stacy ArchitectsA very rare programmatic opportunity, well executed, that delivers identity and heart to a prominent high school on major artery of the city—giving it a presence to match its reputation academically. A building that adds density while reuniting STEM classrooms and offices. The introduction of porosity, landscape, warmth, and light, transforms what could have been purely utilitarian into something genuinely inviting. Cleanly designed and executed, the project integrates a high level of sustainability and decarbonization strategies. University of California, Berkeley — Grimes Engineering CenterSkidmore, Owings, and MerrillA thoughtful reimagining of a 1980s Brutalist structure into an inviting student hub—delicate and scaled so as not to overwhelm adjacent historic context that bookends it; the right building in the right place. The front porch material, proportion, and positioning, both contrast and complement the existing campus core, striking a balance that feels considered and fresh. The pioneering use of shape memory alloy for seismic resilience is perhaps the project’s most distinctive move, made visible and legible as a physical teaching tool in the building itself. The jury appreciates that the existing building was not torn down. Vineyard ResidenceClayton KorteJury Notes: The jury appreciates the simple massing that is exceptionally drawn into the landscape with the structurally and materially expressive roof. Handsome finish material pallet and deft detailing provide an enriching backdrop to the primary experience of extending into the hills beyond the reach of the roof plane. It intentionally feels like it has been in place for a long time. Weathered, streaked, lived in, honest and of the place. CITATIONBarrington1503Lorcan O’Herlihy ArchitectsThis project introduces density while carving volumes to allow for light, air, openness and community gathering. The layering and orientation of private social spaces with public ones is particularly compelling. The courtyard core community zone does The post Recipients of 2026 AIA California Design Awards Announced appeared first on AIA California.

Practice Advisory //byline AIA California Staff Excerpted from California Architects Board (CAB) CommunicationsLicense renewals for the 2027-2029 cycle start this November. As with the 2025-2027 renewal cycle, licensees may choose to renew their license online using our Connect online application portal. Commencing the 2027-2029 renewal cycle, the California Architects Board (CAB) will no longer be mailing renewal license documentation. Architects may visit the DCA Search tool available on the CAB website and view official licensure documentation under their respective license search results. CAB has notified California planning agencies of this policy change. CAB will continue to mail the Architect Wall Certificate when someone is first licensed in California. For those already licensed, access your certificate, which may be printed on your office printer for posting, on the CAB website. Historically, CAB mailed paper wall licenses and pocket receipts (also known as wallet licenses) to architects when they were first licensed and again at renewal. The latter will no longer occur. CAB is now moving to a fully paperless licensing system to help reduce environmental impacts and modernize state services. CAB recently notified California planning agencies that they may verify current licensure status via the Department of Consumer Affairs’ (DCA) DCA Search license verification tool, which is updated in real-time. Architects will also be able generate and electronically send a copy of their license details to their local planning agency. The post CAB Moves to All Digital for 2027-2029 Cycle for Renewal License Documentation appeared first on AIA California.

Awards Sponsored by the Concrete Masonry Association of California and Nevada (CMACN) and co-sponsored by AIA California (AIA California), the Concrete Masonry Design Awards Program recognizes and encourages outstanding architectural design in California and Nevada that incorporates the use of at least 30% concrete masonry block within the building envelope. View the 2026 Concrete Masonry Design Awards Recipients here.  Projects are awarded by category: 25 Year, Commercial, Education, Public/Civic, Residential – Single-Family Residential and Multi-Family Residential, and Retail. All projects awarded were built in California or Nevada within the last five years (with the exception of the 25 Year Award), were completed, and inherently sustainable. The program also recognizes the Designers, Builders, Structural Engineering Firms, Concrete Masonry Suppliers, and project Owners. All of the 2026 Design Awards will be presented in September 2026 at the Langham in Pasadena, CA. 2026 Jury Chair: Marc Mondor, FAIA, LEED Fellow Jury: Paul McDonnell, AIA Maria A. Gomez, AIA, LEED AP The post 2026 Concrete Masonry Design Awards Announced appeared first on AIA California.

In Memoriam (Tuesday, June 16, 2026) It is with tremendous sadness that we write of the loss of Lorcan O’Herlihy, FAIA—the celebrated designer and founder of LOHA who passed away over the weekend, at the age of 66, of cancer. As an architect, O’Herlihy began with small but signature projects that set his path: formal clarity punctuated by aperture, striking color, or both. From his earliest works that started his lifelong exploration of connecting outer world to inner space in the context of the urban environment—such as a tiny, white-tile-clad cube aligning the busy thoroughfare of Main Street in Santa Monica, to Vertical House, a residence on a non-residential street—to his breakthrough project—Habitat825, which answered the challenge of being adjacent to Schindler’s Kings Road House—and on, O’Herlihy offered clients, users, residents: unforgettable place. Though distilled to a definitive palette, the projects were never as simple as they appeared. Beautiful design belying their inventiveness. For the multifamily housing project Formosa1140, O’Herlihy convinced the project’s developer to push the density to a band on the edge of the property, transforming the remaining open space to a public park.  While on Granville1500 a 320,000-square-foot, 153-unit mixed-use project, an AIA California jury noted the design was so deft the podium disappeared. “O’Herlihy brings a continuous source of inventiveness… How do we make a world where we can celebrate/make it a worthwhile place to be?”, noted an AIA California jury in awarding him the organization’s most prestigious award for designers – the Maybeck. “He is a practitioner others learn from.” It was 2023, and the world that O’Herlihy was working in embraced a commitment to affordable housing and shelter that delivered social justice. It extended beyond the bounds of his adopted city, Los Angeles, to Detroit; and beyond his adopted country, the United States, to his much-cherished homeland, Ireland. Where he was born, lived in again as he grew up, and returned again – an adulthood, an architect. By now he was leading a mature and celebrated firm recognized with over 200 national and international design awards. His name was on AIA California’s Maybeck Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, and Distinguished Practice Award. In mid-2025, we reached out to him. He’s lost a house in the fires—would he do a video for the AIA California social media feed directly connecting with fire victims and giving them an actionable piece of information? He told us that he had been fortunate. His family was alright. He had insurance. They had living accommodations. He wouldn’t speak of his own experience, but he would be happy to share his expertise on rebuilding with others less fortunate. When the roadblock at the PCH turned us away, preventing us from reaching him, we tossed around solutions together. Deliberating alternatives to connect that day became time for us to catch-up. In the end, the best solution, and the one O’Herlihy was delighted with was: he had one of his sons, who was learning about video production in school, tape it. His family was our last conversation with us. Lorcan was driven. But his love of kin was his most precious. In a speech on the occasion of his AIA Los Angeles Gold Medal, he talked extensively about his father, the Irish actor, Dan O’Herlihy. One of the last days we saw him in person, he was in the midst of being a carpool dad—he had sons, Daire and Darcy. The adoration he had for his ethereal wife Leila was always evident to us. Lorcan made an indelible mark on the spaces he designed, the places he created, and the people he touched in the profession. AIA California sends our condolences and compassion to those he touched the most Leila, Daire, and Darcy. The post Architect, Irishman—AIA California Mourns the Passage of Acclaimed Designer Lorcan O’Herlihy, FAIA appeared first on AIA California.

In Memoriam AIA California joins AIA San Diego and our entire community in mourning the passing of Philip John Bona, FAIA, a respected architect, planner, educator, advocate, and cherished member of our architectural community. Phil dedicated nearly five decades to advancing the profession and improving the communities we serve. As AIA San Diego President in 2017, a member of the AIA California Board, a National Strategic Council representative, and recipient of AIA San Diego’s 2019 Robert Mosher Lifetime Achievement Award, he led with vision, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to housing, urban design, sustainability, and equity. He was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows in 2021 in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to architecture and society. “He was such a gentleman and so well informed on his position on any issue–that was something I appreciated: he always was prepared to discuss the topic at hand in great depth,” said Scott Gaudineer, AIA, a former AIA California president who served on the organization’s board of directors with Bona. “And, he continued to share his passion to make sure the profession was elevated in the eyes of members and the public. He was so committed to it.” Bona’s diligence and passion is echoed again and again. “One of my earliest experiences with AIA San Diego was serving alongside Phil Bona on the Regional Design Advisory Council,” said 2025 AIA San Diego President Katee Chard, AIA. “I remember being struck not only by the depth of his knowledge, but by how generously he shared it. His passion for Housing the Next One Million was contagious, and he challenged all of us to think more deeply about our responsibility to the communities we serve. When I began my term as AIA San Diego President, Phil reached out with encouragement and offered his guidance whenever I might need it, a gesture that reflected the kind of person he was. He was a dedicated citizen architect, mentor, and advocate whose presence strengthened our profession. His passing is a tremendous loss to the San Diego architecture community.” Phil’s legacy lives on through the countless architects, civic leaders, students, and communities he inspired. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife Letrice, his family, friends, colleagues, and all who had the privilege of working alongside him. His voice, leadership, and dedication to creating a better built environment will be deeply missed and long remembered. There will be services onThursday June 18th in San DiegoLa Mesa at Saint Martin’s church at 10:30 AM.7710 El Cajon Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942Followed by a reception at the American Legion VFW818 University Ave. La Mesa 91942 Wednesday June 24th in San MateoThe service in the Bay Area will be at St. Bartholomew’s at 10 AM300 Alameda De las Pulgas. San Mateo 94402 The post Honoring Philip John Bona, FAIA, Who Leaves Significant Contributions to AIA, Architecture, Society with Us appeared first on AIA California.

Action Alert //byline Scott Terrell – Director of Government Relations, AIA California California’s historic buildings are more than landmarks—they are important resources for housing, economic development, and community revitalization. AB 1265 (Haney) renews and strengthens California’s Historic Preservation Tax Credit, helping make the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of historic buildings financially feasible. By encouraging investment in historic properties, including projects that create housing and preserve existing affordable homes, AB 1265 supports housing production, sustainability, and local economic growth. For architects, the bill creates new opportunities to transform underutilized buildings into housing, workplaces, and community assets while preserving neighborhood character and reducing environmental impacts. AIA California is proud to co-sponsor AB 1265 alongside the California Preservation Foundation and a broad coalition of advocates. As the bill heads to the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee, now is the time for architects and design professionals to make their voices heard. We encourage members to contact their State Senator and express support for AB 1265. Together, we can help expand opportunities for adaptive reuse, support housing production, strengthen local economies, and preserve California’s historic places for future generations. How to Take Action Find your State Senator here. Visit your Senator’s website and click on the “Contact” link. Copy and paste the sample message below or personalize it with your own experience. Sample Message to Your State Senator Subject: Please Support AB 1265 (Haney) Dear Senator, As a constituent and member of the architectural profession, I am writing to respectfully urge your support for AB 1265 (Haney), which renews and strengthens California’s Historic Preservation Tax Credit. Historic rehabilitation and adaptive reuse projects are an important part of California’s housing, economic development, and sustainability strategies. These projects often face significant financial and regulatory challenges despite their ability to create housing, revitalize communities, preserve cultural resources, and reduce environmental impacts by reusing existing structures. AB 1265 will help make these projects more feasible by encouraging investment in historic buildings throughout California. By supporting adaptive reuse and preservation, this legislation will create new opportunities for housing production, economic revitalization, and climate-responsive development. As an architect, I see firsthand how historic buildings can be transformed into housing, workplaces, and community assets that continue to serve Californians for generations. AB 1265 will help unlock these opportunities while preserving the character and history that make California’s communities unique. I respectfully ask for your support of AB 1265. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, [Name] [Firm/Organization] [City] The post Support AB 1265 and Help Preserve California’s Historic Building appeared first on AIA California.

Fire Recovery //byline AIA California Staff In the wake of the Los Angeles fires in January 2025, AIAs in California collaborated to produce a roadmap to rebuilding for neighbors, clients, and communities who had lost their homes. The resulting guide–authored, compiled, and edited by licensed architects, and other industry professionals in Southern California–the “Disaster Recovery Guide: How to Approach Rebuilding”–collects what we know, and what we have learned, to support the public recovering after a major disaster. The guide is primarily intended to help homeowners and residential property owners understand the rebuilding process. While some information may also apply to businesses or commercial properties, the examples and resources included focus mainly on residential rebuilding. For our neighbors and our communities, we hope that the “Disaster Recovery Guide: How to Approach Rebuilding” offers easy-to-use documentation of the process ahead. Click here to download The post AIAs in California Issue “Disaster Recovery Guide: How to Approach Rebuilding” appeared first on AIA California.

Urban Design Awards Five transformative projects rekindle former baseball stadiums, reconceive civic space bifurcated by vehicular transportation, and more are recognized. Student work is honored for the fourth year. //for immediate release Tibby Rothman, Hon. AIA|LACommunications Director, AIA California For images and more informationcontact: trothman@aiacalifornia.org (June 9, 2026. Sacramento, California)  Against the background of an era in which the built environment and civic space is more precious, and the need for a sense of community through urban design is heightened, the American Institute of Architects California (AIA California) announced the recipients of its 2026 Urban Design Awards.  Recipients offered thoughtful solutions to the challenges of rekindling an abandoned stadium; bay side space once assaulted by a busy motorway; a neighborhood adjacent to an industrialized port; a new community originating from a mass transit station; and, what once seemed impossible – mass transit in Los Angeles. “Each of the projects honored by AIA California, demonstrates the value architects can bring to the communities they serve,” said 2026 AIA California President Ginger Thompson, AIA. “Delivering opportunities for connection in highly complex, large-scale programs, through big ideas and the understanding of the human element of space.” 2026 also sees the continuation of AIA California’s Student Awards division in the Urban Design Awards Program, an opportunity to enrich the experience of students and initiate pathways within the profession. //professional honor award Ballpark NEXT Community Design PlanPerkins&WillA surprise, that’s both very creative and very sensitive in the way it involves and engages with the community, including meeting community needs. The jury admires the way it deals in a very innovative way with an existing stadium, which are becoming underutilized and mostly demolished. Preserving a portion of the stadium keeps an important piece of neighborhood identity intact while giving it new purpose as an anchor for further development. The decision to daylight historic creeks alongside the redevelopment speaks to a holistic approach that repairs ecological and neighborhood fabric simultaneously. The community-led process shows—this feels like a neighborhood people actually want to live in. //professional honor award Port of Los Angeles Wilmington Waterfront Promenade  SasakiIt’s a jewel in the middle of the port which is beautiful on its own but a catalyst for further projects. The project is an effective implementation of an overall master plan that stands on its own as a contributing venue for the community and neighborhood, and will be critical in the eventual completion of the plan’s implementation. It brings back to Wilmington residents a part of their community that has been taken over by industrialization for generations with a beautiful installation that works within exacting site and locational constraints while creating its own destinational character and experience. //professional merit award North Berkeley BART Transit-Oriented Development PlanDavid Baker Architects, Einwiller Kuehl, and Yes Community ArchitectsAn inspiring, human-centered design. The jury applauds the reuse of the transit structure. At the same time, the project creates a sense of place—a neighborhood which is engaged—through a wonderfully expressive design that reconciles the Transit Oriented program with the existing surroundings in a way that not only receives the BART users but also establishes a strong connective corridor to the neighborhoods and Ohlone Greenway. It demonstrates a robust community engagement process and use of an accelerated planning model that sounds novel and innovative. Clients: EBALDC (lead developer) with Avalon Bay and Insight Housing (co-developers) //professional merit award Presidio Tunnel TopsField OperationsIt’s a remarkable example of infrastructure redeemed and landscape that feels both inventive and inevitable. Urban design at its best! It resolves a larger community issue that is being seen in cities: how do we green and connect urban spaces which vehicular transportation has bifurcated. You don’t even realize you are on top of the tunnel; the reconnection to the Bay is seamless and engaging. The community is drastically improved and expanded. //professional citation award LAX/Metro Transit Center StationGruen Associates/GrimshawQuite an admirable accomplishment for Los Angeles, which has been a long time in the coming, the fact that it’s not only designed in a pedestrian-oriented way, but it’s actually built. This project successfully transforms what is typically a hostile infrastructure condition into a civic space that is immediately legible. Getting mobility to LAX will have a drastic positive impact on the entire city. //student merit award From Ashes to Belonging – Altadena through a Neuro-Urban Lens Vedant Acharya (University of California, Berkeley [College of Environmental Design])The project addresses a critical issue in terms of how to heal damaged landscapes. The jury admires how it fully embraces design and urban scale, including its complexity and relationship with the context. There’s a sincere attempt to express the intangible, to embed the psychological impact in the physical—and they executed it really well. It’s thoughtful on all levels, not a one-liner. //student merit award DAYLIT SAUSAL CREEK SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTUREDaniel Junyoung Choi (Academy of Art University)The jury admires how the designers used very strategic interventions to improve the usability of small urban open spaces that are critical to communities. The design is eloquently intentional, specific to and forming from all of the sustainability and resiliency goals, and it addresses human comfort and the importance of shade in an interesting and compelling way. They did a great job at listening to the site and existing buildings, expressing innovative ideas on integrating community, equity and sustainability with long term resiliency. About the American Institute of Architects California (AIA CA)AIA California is dedicated to serving its members, and uniting all architecture professionals in the design of a more just, equitable, and resilient future through advocacy, education, and political action. The organization represents the interests of more than 11,000 architects and allied professionals in California. Founded in 1944, the AIA CA is the largest component of the national AIA organization. For more information, visit www.aiacalifornia.org The post 2026 Urban Design Awards Recipients Announced by AIA California appeared first on AIA California.

advocacy update //byline AIA California Staff Action Alert: Support AB 306 – Building Code Appeals Reform AIA California is proud to sponsor AB 306 (Schultz, Wicks, and Hadwick), a newly introduced bill that would improve consistency, transparency, and accountability in California’s building code system. The bill was recently amended into print and will soon be heard in the Legislature. As lawmakers begin considering this proposal, we encourage AIA California members to contact their State Senator and express support for AB 306. Take action using the two easy steps below or scroll down for more information: 1. Find your State Senator Here 2. Click to Download a form support letter. Why AB 306 Matters California has statewide building standards, yet those standards are interpreted and applied independently by more than 540 local jurisdictions. As a result, identical code provisions can be interpreted differently from city to city, innovative materials and construction methods often require separate approvals in multiple jurisdictions, and local code amendments can create unintended barriers to housing production and adaptive reuse. These inconsistencies create uncertainty, increase project costs, delay housing delivery, and make it more difficult to scale innovation across California. AB 306 addresses this challenge by creating a more practical statewide framework for resolving significant building code disputes, code interpretations, and code equivalency determinations while improving transparency in code administration. A Long-Developing Proposal The concepts behind AB 306 have been discussed for years by housing, construction, and design stakeholders and is modeled after similar successful programs at the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Division of the State Architect. The issue was highlighted through discussions convened by the Terner Center for Housing Innovation, which identified inconsistent code interpretations as a barrier to housing production and innovation. More recently, the proposal was included among the recommendations of the Assembly Select Committee on Housing Construction Innovation. Learn more: Terner Center report: https://ternercenter.berkeley.edu/blog/californias-building-code-appeals-process-a-quiet-but-crucial-lever-for-housing/ Assembly Select Committee on Housing Construction Innovation report: https://ternercenter.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/PathwaystoScaleInnovativeConstruction2026.pdf What AB 306 Would Do AB 306 would: Create a practical state-level process for reviewing building code issues with statewide significance. Establish a pathway for statewide code interpretations of recurring technical questions. Create a process for statewide code equivalency determinations for innovative materials, methods, and housing solutions that meet California’s existing safety standards. Improve transparency by requiring local code interpretations and amendments to be publicly available online. Allow certain decisions to serve as precedent, helping improve consistency across jurisdictions. Preserving Local Authority AB 306 does not eliminate local control or weaken California’s building safety standards. Local governments would continue to retain authority to adopt more restrictive standards where authorized by law and supported by required findings, while local building officials would maintain project-specific authority regarding alternative materials and methods. Rather than replacing local authority, the bill creates a statewide framework for addressing issues whose impacts extend beyond a single project or jurisdiction. Take Action As AB 306 will soon be heard in the California State Senate, now is the time for architects and design professionals to make their voices heard. We encourage members to contact their State Senator, share examples of inconsistent code interpretations that have created unnecessary project delays or costs, and express support for AB 306. Together, we can help create a more transparent, predictable, and efficient building code system that supports housing delivery, adaptive reuse, and innovation while maintaining California’s commitment to public health, safety, and welfare. 1. Find your State Senator here. 2. Click to Download a Form Support Letter. The post Support AB 306 – Building Code Appeals Reform appeared first on AIA California.

advocacy update //byline Scott Terrell – Director of Government Relations In Part 1, we explored how AIA California is advancing legislation to unlock housing production and improve project feasibility. Part 2 focuses on another critical dimension of practice: risk, liability, contracts, professional regulation, and system performance—issues that directly shape how architects operate and deliver projects. You can find the full list of bills AIA CA took positions on here. Professional Practice and Regulatory Frameworks AB 1796 (Jackson) — Interior Design Licensure Framework (Oppose) AIA California opposes AB 1796 due to concerns about the structure and implementation of the proposed licensure framework and the potential unintended consequences for California’s built environment regulatory system. While architects deeply value the important role interior designers play in shaping functional and user-centered spaces, AIA California believes the bill creates a confusing and overlapping regulatory structure by establishing new titles and oversight entities for a very small segment of the industry while simultaneously maintaining the existing certification system under the California Council for Interior Design Certification (CCIDC). Under this framework, both CCIDC-certified interior designers and newly licensed interior designers would retain the ability to submit plans on many of the same projects, creating potential confusion for consumers, jurisdictions, and project teams regarding authority, responsibility, and accountability. AIA California is also concerned that the bill has not demonstrated a clear public health, safety, or welfare issue necessitating a major expansion of California’s professional licensure framework. Significant questions remain regarding liability, responsible control, project coordination, insurability, and alignment with California’s uniquely rigorous seismic and building code environment. Given the complexity and long-term implications of these issues, AIA California believes any changes of this magnitude should emerge from a broader, more collaborative stakeholder process involving all affected professions, regulators, and industry groups. AIA California has participated extensively in discussions on this issue over several years and remains open to continued collaboration to identify thoughtful solutions that protect public safety while supporting all members of the design community. You can read AIA California’s full opposition letter here. Rebalancing Risk in the Built Environment AB 1903 (Wicks) — Construction Defect Reform (Support) AB 1903 addresses one of the most significant barriers to for-sale housing: construction defect litigation. The bill restores balance to California’s Right to Repair framework by shifting the system back toward a repair-first approach. It requires completion of the pre-litigation repair process before a lawsuit can be filed, ensuring project teams have a meaningful opportunity to address issues early. It also strengthens notice requirements so claims clearly identify the location and observable evidence of alleged defects, enabling more effective evaluation and response. Importantly, AB 1903 requires that claims demonstrate actual, nonspeculative damage, rather than allowing lawsuits based solely on technical violations. It limits speculative claims by restricting recovery of investigative costs where no damage is proven, and encourages higher construction quality by allowing developers to utilize third-party inspections during construction. For projects that receive third-party certification and where repairs are completed, the bill provides a pathway for builders to obtain a release from further claims—bringing greater certainty to the process. The bill also increases transparency by requiring HOA member awareness and approval before litigation is initiated. For architects, the stakes are high. Architects across California consistently report that on condominium projects, insurance requirements can reach tens of millions of dollars relative to total construction costs, with an expectation that litigation is highly likely regardless of project quality. This environment has significantly constrained condo development—one of the most important pathways to homeownership in California. A recent Terner Center report suggests that the number of new condominium units in both the Bay Area and Southern California has dropped by approximately 90 percent from peak production levels in 2005–2006. Condominiums were once foundational to workforce and “missing middle” housing, and their decline has had a significant impact on these critical market segments. Importantly, the framework proposed in AB 1903 is not theoretical. It draws on lessons learned from similar systems successfully implemented in jurisdictions such as Canada and the state of New Jersey, demonstrating that a more balanced, repair-focused system can both protect homeowners and support housing production. By reducing unnecessary litigation and creating a more predictable, repair-focused system, AB 1903 helps improve project feasibility, stabilize risk, and support the delivery of much-needed for-sale housing. AB 2106 (Patel) — Certificate of Merit Reform (Support) AB 2106 strengthens protections for design professionals by ensuring claims are reviewed by qualified, California-licensed experts in the same discipline. For architects, this: Reduces exposure to speculative or uninformed claims Aligns legal review with professional standards Promotes fairness and consistency Modernizing Retention Practices SB 1205 (Valladares) — Retention Reform for Design Professionals (Sponsor) Sponsored by AIA California, SB 1205 addresses the misuse of retention in design services contracts—particularly in design-bid-build public projects, where these practices are most prevalent. As amended, the bill: Applies a 5% cap on retention for design professionals; and Requires retention to be released within 60 days of completion of services, regardless of overall project completion For architects, this: Improves cash flow and predictability Reduces disproportionate withholding Aligns payment practices with professional services While not a full elimination of retention, it represents a significant step toward fairness. AB 1885 (Carrillo) — Public Works Retention Reduction (Support) AB 1885 reduces retention on certain public projects to 3.5%, and importantly, applies throughout the project delivery chain—including architects. For architects, this means: Less revenue withheld over the life of a project Improved cash flow across multiple projects Greater alignment with broader retention reform efforts Designing for a Clean and Reliable Future AB 2464 (Wicks) — Firm Zero-Carbon Energy (Support) AB 2464 evaluates how California will integrate firm, reliable zero-carbon energy into the grid. For architects, this is foundational: Supports all-electric building design Enables true zero-carbon performance Reduces reliance on fossil backup systems Why This Matters These bills reflect a broader truth: Architectural practice is shaped not just by design—but by policy, risk, regulation, and systems. AIA California’s advocates to ensure architects can: Operate in a more predictable The post Advocacy in Action (Part 2): Rebalancing Risk, Strengthening Practice, and Supporting Delivery appeared first on AIA California.