Building LA

Today, I'm joined by Patricia Rhee, FAIA, DBIA, a partner at Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects (EYRC), to discuss The Culver Steps project. The once underutilized triangular site in Culver City was transformed into an open-air gathering place for the community with fully leased creative office and retail space. In our conversation, we dive into the challenges faced during the design process, th...

As Angelenos, we're all too familiar with the challenges of navigating the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). But, with the LAX Airport Metro Connector Project, we are set to experience a game-changing transformation in how people travel to and from one of the world's busiest airports. In this episode, I'm joined by Andrew Byrne, the managing partner at Grimshaw, an architecture firm known f...

In this episode, I’m joined by Haley Nelson, Design Principal at HGA, to discuss her recent collaboration with Vallarta Supermarkets on their new headquarters space. Vallarta is a family-owned Latin American grocery store chain with a significant presence in Southern California. After immigrating from Mexico to the US in the 1960s, the Gonzalez brothers founded Vallarta as a full-service grocery s...

The population of Southern California surged by 52% in the 1940s and 1950s, prompting the initiation of the Huntington Beach energy project in response to the region's increasing energy demands. Fast forward to 2020, my guest Sean Madden's company, SPM Design, had the incredible opportunity to transform the power plant into a work of art. This massive effort was in collaboration with the AES Corpo...

I've always been fascinated by the transformative power of lighting in architecture. Lighting can change the mood and feel of a space, yet it's often an under-appreciated element in design. Today, I'm joined by Brian Orter, a renowned lighting designer and the founder of Brian Orter Lighting Design (BOLD). Brian shares his passion for storytelling through lighting and his perspective on converting...

I sat down with Shawn Gehle and Christian Robert, Co-Founders and Principals of Office Untitled or "OU," to discuss the inner workings of their growing company and their exciting 6000 Hollywood development project. I've collaborated with Shawn and Christian since 2020 and can attest to their commitment to collaboration and taking on diverse projects. 6000 Hollywood is the type of project LA needs,...

In this episode, Ryan Lovett, the Head of Design for the Americas at Lendlease, joins me to discuss his project at 3401 South La Cienega. The project showcases the exciting potential for future development at the intersection of urbanism and architecture. We dive into Ryan’s background in architecture, the key individuals that inspired him along the way, and his job responsibilities at Lendlease....

Today, I'm joined by James Woolum, partner at ZGF Architects and Fellow of the AIA, to discuss the design of the California State LA Student Services Building. This design encapsulates the core values of sustainability, community, and accessibility, which will leave you optimistic about the potential of architecture to shape a better world. Throughout our conversation, James reminds us to leave so...

Tune into Building LA every week, hosted by me, Sam Pepper. In each episode, I will interview the developers, architects, and decision-makers behind impactful projects. Our distinguished guests will share the specific challenges they overcame to realize a project, and lessons learned from all phases of the acquisition, entitlements, permitting, design, and construction process. Plus, what continue...