Trio from Woodbury Receives Julius Shulman Emerging Talent Award; Third Time for School of Architecture in the Last Four Years

LOS ANGELES (July 11, 2016)  -- For the third time in the last four years, a student team from Woodbury University has received top honors at the Los Angeles Architectural Awards, hosted by the Los Angeles Business Council (LABC) .

Held on June 16 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, the 46th annual event, which drew an audience of 500 leading design and building professionals along with top city officials, recognized 35 architectural and design projects for setting new standards of design excellence, innovation and sustainability.

For its program to repurpose the Los Angeles City Mall in the Civic Center, the Woodbury team -- Breeanna Garcia (BArch program), Nicholas Rados (BArch program) and Eric Eaken (MArch program) -- took home the Julius Shulman Emerging Talent Award and scholarship.  Six participating schools competed to redesign the site with additional city office space and community amenities. 

The team’s project, entitled “Threading the Diamond in Downtown Los Angeles,” suggests the redevelopment of the “10 Minute Diamond” urban plan for the Los Angeles City Mall by establishing the next urban way point.  That urban way point may finally thread the lifeblood of Downtown Los Angeles through the Pueblo and beyond to Montecito Heights and eastward towards the developing Industrial District.

“The winners of this year’s Architectural Awards demonstrate how exceptional architectural designs can inspire our community and invigorate our city while also addressing critical policy needs,” said Mary Leslie, President of the Los Angeles Business Council.

“This prestigious award showcases talent today and points to enormous potential for tomorrow -- we’re thrilled for Breeanna, Nicholas and Eric, and for our institution,” said Ingalill Wahlroos-Ritter, AIA, Interim Dean of the School of Architecture.  “We strive to cultivate leadership in disciplines like architecture, through projects that transform our students and the world in which they live.”

More than 200 projects competing in categories ranging from education and healthcare to housing and commercial office space vied for this year’s Architectural Awards.   Juries representing a cross section of industry experts selected the winners, recognizing the entire team of architects, contractors, project managers and developers who collaborated to create and build the visionary project.

“The Architectural Awards are about much more than beautiful design,” said Ron Galperin, Los Angeles City Controller, who helped honor the design jury.  “These awards reflect how design innovation can have a meaningful impact on the lives of Angelenos and help lead our city to a more sustainable, productive future.”

This year’s Grand Prize went to The Broad, which is widely recognized for its striking design as well as its LEED Gold certification. The Chairman’s Award, presented by LABC Chair Nadine Watt, went to three L.A.-area buildings — CBRE, the Bloc, and the Haworth Showroom — that are early-adopters of the WELL Building Standard, the world’s first building standard focused on human health and wellness.

Beijing-born architect Ma Yansong, who is regarded as an important leader in the new generation of architects, delivered the keynote address. Yansong, founder of MAD architects, is known for cultivating a sense of community and nature through architecture.

A full list of honorees as well as pictures of the winning projects is available at labusinesscouncil.org.

About Woodbury University

Founded in 1884, Woodbury University is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Southern California.  The university ranks 15th among the nation’s “25 Colleges That Add the Most Value,” according to Money Magazine, and is a 2014-2015 College of Distinction.. With campuses in Burbank/Los Angeles and San Diego, the university offers bachelor's degrees from the School of Architecture, School of Business, School of Media, Culture & Design, and College of Liberal Arts, along with a Master of Business Administration, Master of Architecture (MArch), Master of Interior Architecture (MIA), Master of Science in Architecture (MSArch), and Master of Leadership. The San Diego campus offers Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture, Master of Interior Architecture and Master of Landscape Architecture degrees, as well as an MSArch degree with a concentration in Real Estate Development. Visit woodbury.edu for more information.

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