Design and Disney: Upcoming Lecture at UCLA

The digitized Little Mermaid attraction at Disney's California AdventureThis Thursday, August 19, UCLA Architecture and Urban Design will host a lecture on digital design and the Walt Disney Imagineering's methods and innovations in the transformation from virtual to reality. The event is part of the Digital Practice Series, put on by The Los Angeles Design Technology Forum, in association with the AIA Technology in Architectural Practice Committee. Walt Disney Imagineering is the creative and digital mastermind behind the theme park attractions such as "The Pirates of the Caribbean" ride as well as hotels, cruise ships, water parks and more. 

Duane McLeod, Director of Architecture at Disney Imagineering, will speak at 7 p.m. after a wine and cheese reception at 6 p.m. The lecture will focus on the methodology and presentation of Walt Disney Imagineering, including BIM, Virtual Design and Construction, and alternative project procurement models. McLeod will also speak about upcoming projects for the California Adventure theme park, and how such projects are realized from the computer screen to a material realization. Interested parties should RSVP to general@ladesigntech.org.

2010 Los Angeles Fall Home Tour Series

The Oberfeld Residence, designed by Studio Pali Fekete architects

This fall, the houses of Los Angeles will be open to the public. On September 19 and October 17, The American Institute of Architects will host their annual home tour series, The Hills: From East to West, and Off Sunset: Brentwood to Palisades.

The Carrillo Residence, designed by Erlich Architects

In the first series, homes featured include the Oberfeld Residence in West Hollywood, designed by Studio Pali Fekete Architects. The Oberfeld Residence is a 10,000-square foot home with sweeping views of the Los Angeles Basin, two main levels and a basement. In the second series, the Carrillo Residence in Pacific Palisades will open its doors, designed by Erlich Architects. The Carrillo house sits on the rim of the Santa Monica Canyon and has a glass living room that maximizes the home's ocean views. Both houses will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. At each house, docents or members of the design team will be available to guide tourists through. Tours are self-driven, and tickets are available through AIA. 

2010 ASLA Annual Meeting & Expo: Washington DC, September 10-13

More than 6,000 landscape architecture professionals from across the U.S. and around the world will gather in Washington, D.C., September 10–13, to earn up to 21 professional development hours, to enjoy the fellowship of the profession, and to reconnect with the fundamental elements of design.

With more than 400 exhibitors, the ASLA EXPO is the largest trade show in the industry. The average attendee spends four to six hours test-driving products in the EXPO. Explore hundreds of new products, services, technology applications, and design solutions — all under one roof. Full registrants will receive a $10 voucher to be used at EXPO concession stands on Sunday. For your convenience, a number of popular activities will be located in the EXPO.

For more information and to register for the Meeting and Expo, visit the ASLA Annual Meeting Website.



St. Jerome Parish Hall Achieves LEED Silver Certification

International design firm Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A. (Cuningham Group) announces that the St. Jerome Parish Hall remodeling project has achieved LEED® Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The St. Jerome Parish Hall project is the first project with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to become LEED® certified. It was certified Silver per the USBGC “New Construction and Major Renovation” Category, Version 2.2.

Following the Church’s teachings that the environment is God’s gift to everyone, the Parish made a commitment to create a “green” hall within the remodeling project. Sustainable goals were in place from the outset as Cuningham Group, Stonemark Construction Management and the client collaborated on making sustainability a visible priority in the design. Features include innovative mechanical system controls; new skylights to boost and equalize ambient lighting in the gym; water-conserving restroom fixtures; new glazing; new lighting and lighting control systems; reused or selected materials with significant recycledcontent; and better metering of electrical power.

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Cuban Modernism Lecture at MOLAA, August 22

The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) is proud to present a series of architecture and design lectures. Experts in these fields will speak about the various architectural and design styles present in Latin America, particularly Cuba, while providing a historical context for the different style movements which have influenced that country’s architecture. The next lecture will be about Cuban Modernism on August 22, presented by Rosa Lowinger, a recognized international expert in the conservation of built heritage.

Spare, geometric, and light as air, Cuban architecture of the 1940s and 1950s arose directly out of the international modernist style. By looking at buildings such as Max Borges’ Tropicana Cabaret as well as examples of domestic architecture, we will see how Cuba’s use of the international style was directly related to its political and social milieu at the time.

For more information, visit MOLAA's website.