UCLA - University of California - Los Angeles

06/11/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/11/2025 14:29

June 17: UCLA’s cityLAB celebrates Small Lots, Big Impacts design competition at AIA Los Angeles

June 17: UCLA's cityLAB celebrates Small Lots, Big Impacts design competition at AIA Los Angeles

UCLA MEDIA ADVISORY
UCLA Newsroom
June 11, 2025
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UCLA's cityLAB, a research center within the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture, will host a reception and exhibition celebrating the Small Lots, Big Impacts design competition on Tuesday, June 17, at the American Institutes of Architects (AIA) Los Angeles.

Small Lots, Big Impacts, a first-of-its-kind initiative to turn vacant small lots into new starter homes, announced the winners of its design competition on Thursday, May 29. The competition drew submissions from more than 350 designers and architects from 36 countries.

All 356 submissions will be on display at this celebration. The 41 winning submissions will be specifically highlighted to celebrate their work. Collectively, they offer a groundbreaking repository of high-quality, buildable solutions, each one exploring how small, overlooked parcels of land can be transformed into meaningful, attainable homes for Angelenos.

The evening will also feature formal remarks from the initiative's organizing partners and opportunities to connect with forward-looking designers, practitioners from across the building industry, committed Angelenos and housing advocates.

Small Lots, Big Impacts is a collaboration between UCLA's cityLAB, the City of Los Angeles, and LA4LA. This team is committed to building demonstration projects on City-owned land that make use of the innovative ideas from the competition.

UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk says:

"UCLA exists to serve the public, and that means helping solve the most pressing problems facing our communities. By reimagining how we use space in our city, UCLA scholars and our partners are advancing bold solutions to one of the region's most entrenched challenges: affordable housing for all."

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass says:

"The city's architectural community heard and responded to the call, as they came together to produce affordable, high-quality, and sustainable design ideas for new first-time homes in L.A. Together, by harnessing the creativity and expertise of the private sector, we are creating new types of housing on city-owned land in L.A. that will benefit generations to come."

cityLAB Founding Director Dana Cuff says:

"The last time we had popular starter homes was after WWII, when affordable subdivisions were built all over Southern California. The winning architects and designers are showing us what multifamily, attainable homeownership looks like on small lots in contemporary, post-fire Los Angeles."

Casual dinner will be offered, along with beverages for purchase at the bar. The event is free, but capacity is limited. R.S.V.P. is requested.

WHEN

Tuesday, June 17, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

WHERE

American Institutes of Architects (AIA) Los Angeles, 4450 West Adams Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90016 (map)

WHO

  • Karen Bass, Los Angeles mayor
  • Dana Cuff, cityLAB founding director
  • Eric Claros, director of housing at the Los Angeles Housing Department
  • Kevin Keller, chief executive of Los Angeles City Planning
  • Tricia Keane, executive officer at the Los Angeles Housing Department
  • Sarah Dusseault, lead strategist at LA4LA
  • Tom De Simone, president and CEO of Genesis LA
  • Alfred Fraijo, founder and CEO of Somos Law Group
  • Mariana Ibanez, chair of UCLA Architecture and Urban Design
  • Award-winning architects and developers
  • UCLA alumni and students

VISUALS

  • Display of all submitted proposals
  • Special exhibition of the 41 winning proposals
  • 30-minute presentation on the initiative, its goals and what comes next
  • Remarks by Los Angeles leadership and UCLA alumni and leadership

ON-SITE POINT OF CONTACT

Manos Proussaloglou, cityLAB co-director
630-697-4102 |
[email protected]

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