In Focus
LADWP and American Institute of Architects Team Up on Affordable Housing and Infrastructure
by Kalei Munoz
LADWP and the American Institute of Architects Los Angeles (AIA LA) are working together and setting the bar high to better support L.A.’s building industry. Staff from both organizations are working together to improve processes that support important city initiatives including affordable housing, building electrification, EV adoption, and infrastructure modernization.
AIA LA and LADWP began working together in November 2020, when AIA LA reached out to LADWP to discuss ways to improve day-to-day business operations centered around affordable housing and enhancing relationships with the local architectural community. AIA LA submitted a letter recommending best practices in September 2021 to LADWP’s Board of Water and Power Commissioners. The Department reviewed and responded to all the issues raised in the letter and also decided to set up ongoing meaningful dialogue between both sides.
"The letter AIA LA provided allowed us to take a moment to reflect and strategize on how we were going to improve processes within LADWP, and also better partner with our local architectural community."
Emil Abdelshehid, Assistant Director of LADWP’s Power New Business and Electrification Division
LADWP’s Power New Business and Electrification Division continues to meet with AIA LA representatives quarterly to discuss ways to improve and align with Mayor Karen Bass’ goals to create a “New L.A.” One of these top priorities is the Mayor’s Executive Directive No. 1, which aims to dramatically accelerate and lower the cost of building affordable housing and temporary housing to address L.A.’s homelessness crisis. LADWP and AIA LA are currently working towards making improvements to better optimize safety, environmental performance, constructability, efficiency, and accessibility to affordable housing.
"Our collaboration with LADWP is essential for creating a more efficient and sustainable Los Angeles. By streamlining development services, we can accelerate housing production and improve the quality of life for our residents. We commend LADWP's leadership for prioritizing these meetings and urge other City departments to adopt similar practices."
Will Wright, AIA LA Director, Government & Public Affairs
What initially began with a written correspondence has now developed into an impactful and co-beneficial partnership facilitated by open dialogue, transparency and collaboration. This relationship impacts multiple projects across the Department, including Project PowerHouse, which is an initiative LADWP launched to streamline access to electrical services for 100 percent affordable and permanent supportive housing developments in Los Angeles by working with other City departments. The two parties are consistently engaging in discussions on process improvement, such as reforming on-site staging area standards for transformers, improving service planning design procedures, resolving overhead power line clearance reviews earlier, improving the process to confirm circuit sources for new or upgraded service requests, encouraging adaptive reuse, and improving development services. These have resulted in improved project timelines and design progress.
AIA LA and LADWP make each meeting productive and are working to identify code-related obstacles, share best practices, and find resources to help implement pilot programs. Some victories thus far include improved staffing levels, implementing pre-submittal meetings with customers, standardizing the review of the transformer staging areas and overhead clearance reviews, and streamlining processing timelines for affordable housing projects. Most importantly, these meetings help build trust and empathy among LADWP development staff and AIA LA members.
"It has been amazing to see the growing collaboration and understanding between both organizations. This regular dialogue has benefited both parties and created a solid framework that we hope will form a long-lasting public-private partnership."
Paul Habib, LADWP Director of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs
This ongoing dialogue is a vital key win of the partnership and continues to provide a candid, solution-oriented space where concerns can be addressed. With these frank and open conversations, both LADWP and AIA LA will continue to work together to set a model for how City departments can enhance their relationships with the private sector, as well as deepen trust among stakeholders at all levels. LADWP and AIA LA are excited to continue their partnership to work together to build a stronger Los Angeles so that generations to come may benefit from robust, reliable and humanistic infrastructure.
