Chapter History

In 1948, nine tenacious charter architects broke off from the Southern California Chapter of AIA to become incorporated and subsequently granted a charter at the 80th AIA National Convention in Salt Lake City on June 25, 1948.  World War II had been over for three years and Southern California was a place of exuberance, expansion and what seemed to be limitless possibilities. The first "freeway" in the country, The Pasadena, was nearly complete and sleepy towns amid fragrant orange groves were resounding to the echo of hammers, saws and an accelerated communal heartbeat. The population was burgeoning and the architects and builders of Southern California were responding to an unprecedented building boom.

With a proclaimed focus on service and the goal of "handling problems in zoning, civic buildings [and] schools" the Chapter began its existence. Since then, this Chapter has consistently honored these early goals by continuing to:

• Honor our own with Design Awards for the best architectural design accomplished by AIAPF members. 
• Sponsor community service programs in support of the schools in our Communities.
• Sponsor members as Fellows, FAIA, in recognition of outstanding service to the profession and the Community. 
• Honor architectural students for significant and creative student work and foster close relationships with architecture schools.
• Award student scholarships in the name of Jean Roth Driskel, FAIA. (Ms Driskel began her practice in Pasadena in 1949 and was influential throughout the State in affairs of the profession and particularly in the development of the role of the woman architect. Her legacy lives on in the scholarship founded in her name.)
• Create effective avenues of public outreach by fostering a network of connections among the AIA and industry, business and potential client referrals 
• Participate in civic partnerships through participation in workshops and task forces organized to address planning and design issues
• Present programs, seminars and workshops on topics that advance the knowledge and skills of our members
• Be recognized by AIA California’s Academy of Emerging Professionals for the development of superb programming and fostering the highest qualities of leadership within the emerging professional membership
• The Chapter continues to honor its mandated responsibility to our members, the community, the profession and to nurturing the architects of the future. This commitment continues to forge the future trajectory of this dynamic group of architects.