A Message From AIACV's Latest Emeritus Member

5 days ago
3 min read

May 20, 2026

My architecture journey began 51 years ago, when at 17 I left my beloved San Francisco for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to become an architect. At the time, only 20% of architects were women, and only three of us in a sea of men when I started classes. I transferred two years later to SciArc and was part of the first accredited class to earn a bachelor’s degree just 3 months shy of my 20th birthday. By doubling up on coursework to save money, my hard work paid off. A scholarship from the small Women in Architecture LA Chapter was a lifesaver in making my dream come true.

I interned with numerous architects, including Frank Gehry, with whom I learned the most. A large woodshop occupied the north side of his warehouse space, as building mockups of the odd angles and exposed structure underlying his designs were often necessary. With no HVAC, we wore parkas and gloves while drafting in the winter, and snuck swimsuits under our clothes for welcomed afternoon beach trips to escape the summertime heat. At the time I was an active member of the Minorities in Architecture Association. As a woman, I qualified for membership...

After an MA at UCLA and California license in 1983, I focused on medical facilities, and developed a skill set for large, complex projects. I caught the eye of the engineering team at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) who recruited me for subway and light rail projects. As engineers, they saw the value of having an architect to help them implement increasing complex design, art and urban planning challenges. After getting custom built mining boots for my tiny feet, I was immersed in heavy civil construction, including classes at Colorado School of Mines. In addition to great station design and art, our team developed LA parking reduction standards for new multifamily housing within a 15 minute subway walk. In 1996, it was a revolutionary concept, but its sensibility survived to become a statewide standard.

MTA hooked me into a public service career. In my later roles with City of Los Angeles, LA Unified School District and Calabasas, I oversaw billions of dollars in projects, including parks, child care centers, and new schools. The work included restorations of Griffith Park Observatory and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Barnsdall house, the Hanson Dam Aquatic Center 1.5 acre public pool (largest in the USA) and Calabasas Civic Center, designed by Robert A.M Stern for a 100 year life. Later in my career I focused planning and community development, overseeing divisions in Calabasas, Oxnard and Malibu. My architecture background was ideally suited to the position responsibilities.

As a public servant, I also served during emergencies and disasters, including the Northridge earthquake, 9/11 and the Woolsey/Palisades fires. Did you know that as a licensed California architect, you can be certified in the State’s Safety and Assessment Program (SAP) to serve in an emergency? I encourage you to do so (https://www.caloes.ca.gov), as a day will come when you are needed…

Finally, my public career included odd and fun challenges too - like improving urination clean up in public elevators (BTW some cities line floors with grates and kitty litter trays), engineering a hoist system for a tipped over zoo elephant (have you ever tried measuring girth and estimating its weight for a crane operator while it is wiggling?), and buying/converting a notorious nude strip club into a community park, where I learned that booze, disco lights and pole disposal is a challenge to get rid of under public contracting rules…

When filling out my request for emerita status, I noted that AIA asked about the last “firm” I worked for. It shocked me a bit, as I had no way of answering. I also felt disappointed in the limited question as I know our skill set spans a far broader spectrum of possible work experiences and contributions than those that are traditionally thought of, or pursued. By sharing my journey with you, I hope that we, as a profession, don’t narrow expectations for the current and next generation of architects, but instead broaden, highlight and celebrate “unconventional” career pathways. It’s a necessary step for us to take, and quickly too….

Thanks for listening… Be excellent. 💕