Support from the architecture community for candidate Thomas Small continues to grow as more architects become aware of his bid for a seat on the City Council on April 12.
To date, nearly 40 influential architects, designers, and engineers from Culver City and across the Los Angeles region have announced their support of Mr. Small’s candidacy.
The renowned architect Clive Wilkinson, who has designed spaces for some of the most creative companies in the world, is among them. Mr. Wilkinson hosted a recent fundraiser for Mr. Small, an unprecedented, exuberant gathering of architectural and creative Culver City talent, at the offices of Clive Wilkinson Architects on Washington Boulevard.
“I am so grateful to Clive and the other accomplished members of the design community who have endorsed me,” Mr. Small said.
Said the architectural journalist Michael Webb:
“One of Thomas’s chief goals is to promote excellence– in architecture, in urban planning, and in creative transportation initiatives. He wants to make Culver City a model of sustainability, walkability and affordable housing.”
Mr. Webb believes in Mr. Small’s potential not only to improve Culver City but to affect the entire region. “Other enlightened communities have had an impact on the metropolis at large,” Mr. Webb said. “Culver City has an abundance of creative talent living and working there, and could have an even greater influence. Los Angeles needs committed advocates of design, and Thomas will fill that role.”
Since becoming a Cultural Affairs Commissioner three years ago, Mr. Small has made it his mission to raise awareness about the significant role architecture and design play in this city by bringing together Culver City residents, civic leaders and business leaders to take part in a series he’s moderated entitled Architecture Talks.
“When architectural projects achieve true design excellence, their impact on others is wide ranging,” Mr. Small said. “These projects can be vibrant, appealing, and profitable. And they enhance the environment around them.
“They bring joy and functionality to their occupants, visitors and neighbors. And they improve, serve and enrich their communities.
“As a member of the City Council, I will bring to bear my relationships and my experience in the architecture and design community. I will do everything I can to ensure that all Culver City development projects will be excellent.”
Mr. Small said that “brilliant planning and design stimulate a vibrant economy. Together they will create a higher quality of life for all of us here in Culver City.”
More than half the architects, designers and engineers who have endorsed Mr. Small to date are working on or have completed Culver City projects:
- Craig Hodgetts, FAIA (architect of the Frost Theatre at Culver City High School)
- Hsin-Ming Fung, FAIA (Aarchitect of the Frost Theater at Culver City High School)
- Steven Ehrlich, FAIA, RIBA (Architect of The Culver Steps at Parcel B)
- Eric Owen Moss, FAIA (architect of Conjunctive Points/the Hayden Tract)
- Jonathan Watts, AIA (architect of the Ivy Station TOD at the Expo Rail Station)
- Patricia Rhee, AIA (architect of the Ivy Station offices at the Expo Rail Station)
- Trevor Abramson, FAIA (architect of the Platform)
- Doug Teiger, AIA (architect of the Platform)
- Zoltan Pali, FAIA (architect of the SPF/MODAA Lofts building)
- Michael Rachlin, AIA (architect for the School District bond projects)
- Michael Enomoto, FAIA (architect for Expo Line Railway)
- Debra Gerod, FAIA, AIA/LA President (architect for Expo Line Railway)
- Clive Wilkinson, FAIA (architect of Clive Wilkinson Architects Bldg.)
- Russel Shubin, AIA (architect of The Beacon, 9950 Jefferson Blvd.)
- Andrea Cohen Gehring, FAIA (architect/artist for Helms Bakery public art)
- Anurag Jain, PhD, PE (engineer for Jefferson Biotech Research building)
- Scott Johnson, FAIA (architect for original Expo Station TOD Master Plan)
- Dane Twitchell, AIA (Culver City residential and commercial projects)
- Whitney Sander (architect for Culver City Residence for a Briard)
- Lisa Gimmy, ASLA, LEED AP (Culver City-based landscape architect)
- Lisa Sachs, FAIA (construction management for West L.A. College)
Other prominent architects and design professionals from Greater Los Angeles who have endorsed Mr. Small are:
- Chester A. Widom, FAIA, California state architect
- Ronald A. Altoon, FAIA, past AIA National President
- Kelly Sutherlin McLeod, FAIA, 2015 USC Distinguished Alumni
- Robert Harris, FAIA, ACSA Distinguished Professor
- Michael Lehrer, FAIA
- Mia Lehrer, FASLA
- Gabrielle Bullock, FAIA, NOMA
- G. Michael Gehring, FAIA
- Frank Gruber, urbanist/former Santa Monica Planning Commissioner
- Michael Webb, architectural journalist
- Will Wright, Hon. AIA/LA, director of Government/Public Affairs AIA/LA
- Mark Susser, ASLA, CLIA, landscape architect
- Randall Michelson, architectural photographer
- James Weiner, AIA, LEED Fellow
- Angela Brooks, AIA
- Alex Ward, AIA
- Gerdo Aquino, FASLA
Mr. Small, a graduate of Yale University, serves on the Cultural Affairs Commission. He is an expert in the fields of architecture and historic preservation, urban and sustainable design and conscientious development, and an architectural writer and consultant. He collaborates with architects, designers, engineers, developers and communities to create and enhance architectural projects, neighborhoods and developments.
He has worked on a wide range of projects, competitions, and awards programs in urban design and development, sustainable design, and historic preservation in North America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
This year he will travel to Rome to present his paper “Notes from the Urbanist Front: Urban Development in Culver City” at the 53rd annual Livable Cities Conference.
Last year he was a delegate from Culver City to The New York Times 2015 Cities of the Future Conference in New York.
At UCLA, he taught Sustainability for Organizational Change in the business division of the Global Sustainability Certificate Program.
For more information about Mr. Small and his campaign for a City Council seat, go to
http://www.thomas4culvercity.org
https://www.facebook.com/thomas4culvercity
https://twitter.com/_Thomas4Council
Ms. Rona Tuttle may be contacted at Rebecca.rona@hotmail.com
