Mission
The Los Angeles Forum for Architecture and Urban Design provides a framework for design professionals and members of the general public to explore, evaluate, and impact the development of architecture in Los Angeles. Throughout its 20+ years of operation, the Forum has brought together young designers, seasoned professionals, critics, urban theorists, artists, students, and people interested in their physical environment in a diverse series of activities. The Forum seeks to reach out beyond the confines of professional organizations, schools and established groups and does not limit itself to one approach to design or theory. It provokes discussion, seeks out places and designs unseen or unnoticed by the general public, publicizes architectural investigation and commentary, and promotes the serious exploration of strategies to influence the development of our urban environment.
Financial support for LA Forum projects has been received from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts, the California Arts Council, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, and from many members over the years. The Forum is widely recognized as one of the most active architecture and urban design groups in Southern California.
Organizational & Institutional Co-Sponsorships
History
Founded in January of 1987, the Forum has organized lecture series and site visits to significant buildings and sites throughout Los Angeles and the region; hosted a number of special events, symposia and a theory reading group; held several design competitions; distributed a quarterly newsletter and online articles; produced many publications, including Experimental Architecture in Los Angeles (Rizzoli International) and Everyday Urbanism (Monacelli Press), as well as national-distributed pamphlet-sized books; and has worked with other groups, architects and institutions to understand its community and participate in activities to rebuild it.
Website
The current website was launched in March, 2010. Site Design + Programming by Handbuilt in collaboration with the LA Forum board of directors. This website redesign project is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Credits for Earlier Versions of Website
Board of Directors – 2010
Jason Kerwin, President
Heather Flood, Vice-President
Siobhán Burke, Vice-President of Operations
Thurman Grant, Vice-President of Information
Margaret Griffin, Vice-President of Finance
Yumna Siddiqi, Vice-President of Development
Ewan Branda
Sara Daleiden
Todd Gannon
Gloria Lee
Rick Miller
Emily Morishita
Michael Osman
Iris Anna Regn
John Southern
Francie Stefan
Joshua G. Stein
Ingalill Wahlroos-Ritter
Claudia Ziegler, Development Coordinator
Board of Advisors – 2010
The new Board of Advisors is currently being finalized and will be posted shortly.