Building LA

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May 2026

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A podcast about the buildings and projects shaping Los Angeles, featuring the key individuals driving them forward. Each episode of Building LA features a leading figure in the Los Angeles design, real estate and business sectors. We engage in discussion about the pivotal choices that propelled their professional journey, the driving forces that sustain their motivation, and the untold narratives underlying their most remarkable projects. Subscribe to be inspired by leaders within the real estate industry, learn about the projects impacting Los Angeles, and listen to the insider perspectives on how these projects came to be.

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May 26, 202651 min

Randall Winston: LA's Capital Infrastructure Program, Rebuilding the Palisades, and Preparing for the 2028 Olympics

Randall Winston is the Deputy Mayor of Infrastructure for the City of Los Angeles. His portfolio covers everything in the public right of way, including street services, engineering, street lighting, sanitation, and transportation. Randall is currently doing something no one in his role has done before: building the city's first comprehensive, multi-year capital improvement plan.Randall and I go back almost 20 years to UVA, where he wrote his graduate thesis on LA infrastructure as a master's student. His path since then has included law school, the U.S. Army National Guard (where he still serves as a Lieutenant in the Reserves), and eventually City Hall. In this episode, he makes the case that a disciplined, data-driven capital plan is the foundation LA needs to finally deliver on the potential the city has always had.Of course, we can't talk about LA's infrastructure without addressing the 2025 wildfires and what it will take to make the city more resilient. Randall walks us through the city's five-year plan to underground 45 miles of utilities in the Palisades, and why he's cautiously optimistic about federal funding for that work despite the political headwinds.Plus, we talk about 2028: what pedestrian and bike connections are being built to serve Olympic venues, the fan zone strategy being tested through FIFA this summer, and how the Games are accelerating improvements the city will benefit from long after the closing ceremony.Episode Outline(01:51) How architecture, law school, and the military shaped Randall's approach to public service(13:22) Day-to-day responsibilities of the Deputy Mayor of Infrastructure(15:40) Why LA is the only major U.S. city without a capital improvement plan(18:36) How the new CIP will change the way projects get prioritized and funded(22:44) Why resurfacing a street legally triggers a much larger project(29:31) Inside the infrastructure response to the January 2025 fires(44:40) What's being built to get LA ready for 2028(49:54) Randall's vision for LA in 2035(51:57) Three must-visit places in LAResources MentionedCapital Infrastructure Program (CIP) OverviewLA to seek extension instead of forfeiting $100M in state transportation fundsBreakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future by Dan WangLittle Tokyo Market PlaceLeo's Taco TruckDr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Tree Grove in the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation AreaExposition ParkThe Arts DistrictGuest InfoConnect with Randall on LinkedIn More From Building LA Visit the Building LA websiteConnect with Sam on LinkedInFollow Building LA on LinkedIn

May 11, 202655 min

Alan Pullman: What Does It Take to Make a More Livable LA?

Alan Pullman founded Studio One Eleven 25 years ago with a theory that ran against how most architecture firms operated: that the most important work in urban environments was not designing the next signature building, but the space in-between. His firm embraces the messiness of cities and finds opportunities in spaces large and small.At the core of every Studio One Eleven project is a dedication to enhancing city life and a curiosity about its messiness. In our conversation, Alan shares how his team has been leading urban design on West Harbor — nearly a mile of waterfront now under construction — and working with LA Metro on strategies to transform Union Station from a pass-through into a destination.In addition to walking us through large-scale projects, Alan also gets into the nuances of what it means to build a more liveable, equitable city. Plus, we talk about Long Beach versus Los Angeles as a place to build, Union Station's potential as a World Cup fan zone, and how Alan thinks the city's "hardware" (i.e. its physical spaces) can improve through better "software" like activation and programming.Episode Outline(01:50) Reflecting on LA’s evolution over the past two decades(09:00) Tactical urbanism in practice: parklets, closing a street to traffic, and using downtown Long Beach as an urban lab(11:26) The core problem with how LA builds housing(21:16) Adaptive reuse and the Santa Ana Arts Collective(22:01) What makes an office-to-residential conversion work(25:21) The current status of West Harbor and the vision for the final build(31:06) The Bloc DTLA and what comes next after Macy's closing(38:07) The uncomfortable truth about neighborhood improvements in underserved areas(50:53) Hidden gems in LAResources MentionedWest Harbor Fourth and Central Union Station The Bloc 400 Oceangate Westside Gateway Santa Ana Arts Collective Sidewalk and Transit Amenities Program JOEY DTLA LACMACraft Contemporary Museum Guest InfoConnect with Alan on LinkedIn Studio One ElevenStudio One Eleven podcast: We've Never Done This Before — on Spotify and AppleMore From Building LA Visit the Building LA websiteConnect with Sam on LinkedInFollow Building LA on LinkedInLearn more about Lincoln Property CompanyFollow Lincoln Property Company on LinkedInDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast represent the views of the individual speakers, interviewers, or guests alone, and do not necessarily reflect the official positions, views, or opinions of Lincoln Property Company or any of its affiliates.

March 19, 202637 min

Leon Rost: The Arts District, Claremont McKenna, and BIG's Vision for LA

Leon Rost is a Partner at Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the firm behind some of the most talked-about projects in architecture today. He leads BIG's Los Angeles office, which opened three years ago in a 1928 Paul Williams building in Santa Monica. Before that, he spent 12 years running major West Coast and international projects, including Google's next-generation campus in Mountain View and Toyota's Woven City prototype in Japan. His diverse portfolio is the backdrop for our conversation about what it takes to innovate in Los Angeles. Leon walks us through BIG's recently completed Robert Day Science Center at Claremont McKenna College, a stacked, cantilevered structure designed to anchor the college's campus expansion. We also talk about the long road to entitlement for a mixed-use project in the Arts District — ten years in the making — and what it could mean for the neighborhood's revitalization. Plus, we touch on the LA River, the tension between LA's individualist culture and the density it needs, and what Copenhagen's development culture can teach us.Episode Outline(01:14) Leon’s non-linear path to BIG’s LA office (07:26) The question Leon’s team asks on every project: what's the unexpected gift we're offering? (10:51) Why BIG chose LA over San Francisco, and whether the city's ambition still matches its potential(16:45) What LA's approval process is costing developers(19:40) Setting up shop in a Paul Williams building in Santa Monica(22:32) Inside the Robert Day Science Center at Claremont McKenna(27:03) BIG's Arts District project: what happened and what's next(32:33) Favorite buildings and spaces in Los AngelesResources MentionedCopenHillGoogle Mountain View CampusToyota Woven CitySecond Home Hollywood Office / SelgasCanoGuest InfoConnect with Leon on LinkedIn Learn more about BIG More From Building LA Visit the Building LA websiteConnect with Sam on LinkedInFollow Building LA on LinkedInLearn more about Lincoln Property CompanyFollow Lincoln Property Company on LinkedInDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast represent the views of the individual speakers, interviewers, or guests alone, and do not necessarily reflect the official positions, views, or opinions of Lincoln Property Company or any of its affiliates.

January 29, 202643 min

Giancarlo Pagani: The New Era of Hollywood and Downtown Dining

In Los Angeles, the ground floor is often where the identity of a neighborhood is established. In this episode, I sit down with Giancarlo Pagani, founder of Pagani Hospitality and Managing Partner of Mother Wolf Group, to discuss the mechanics of hospitality and his approach to creating local institutions that build community.Giancarlo is a second-generation LA restaurateur, practically growing up at the Beverly Wilshire and celebrating milestones at iconic establishments like Mr. Chow. His early exposure to fine dining shaped his focus on creating the next generation of iconic Los Angeles restaurants. He describes his philosophy on sustainable restaurant growth, specifically through the lens of licensing deals. He’s currently partnering with international brands like Maximal Concepts Group and The Good People Group, bringing world-class dining to Los Angeles while utilizing existing operational support and infrastructure.We also discuss the realities of the LA real estate market from a tenant's perspective. Giancarlo outlines his firm stance on lease negotiations, including why he considers personal guarantees a hard stop for his group. Plus, he shares his vision for the future of the city center and his optimism for Hollywood and Downtown revitalization.Episode Outline(02:24) Lessons in longevity and building restaurants that stand the test of time(08:01) The strategic value of licensing international brands versus developing original IP(11:31) Raising capital and the current state of the hospitality investment landscape(18:55) Quick Fire Round: The most overrated menu items in LA and local favorites(27:32) Giancarlo’s perspective on lease negotiation and tenant curation(32:36) Navigating the current policy environment and labor cost increases in Los Angeles(34:28) Upcoming projects: The expansion of Miznon and the LA debut of MalkaResources MentionedMother WolfMott 32MiznonMalkaMr. ChowMusso and FrankSpagoFelixFunkeGenghis CohenKa’TeenHorses The BenjaminLAMILL Coffee25 DegreesIslandsGuest InfoConnect with Giancarlo on LinkedInMore From Building LA Visit the Building LA websiteConnect with Sam on LinkedInFollow Building LA on LinkedInLearn more about Lincoln Property CompanyFollow Lincoln Property Company on LinkedInDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast represent the views of the individual speakers, interviewers, or guests alone, and do not necessarily reflect the official positions, views, or opinions of Lincoln Property Company or any of its affiliates.

December 18, 202545 min

Dan Meis: Everton FC’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, The Staples Center, and Building For The Fan Base

Few architects ever achieve name recognition among the general public; fewer still become local heroes in northern English cities. Dan Meis, Managing/Design Partner at MEIS+ and SVP, Director of Global Sports Design at AECOM, is the exception. In this episode, I sit down with him to discuss the vision behind the new Everton football stadium and the unique challenge of designing venues that define entire cities.We begin in an unlikely place: Kansas City, Missouri. Dan explains how a quirk of architectural history, specifically the separation of baseball and football stadiums in the 1970s, turned this midwestern city into the global epicenter of sports architecture.But the heart of our conversation lies in Liverpool. Dan recounts his approach to the Everton project: Build a brick-and-steel bowl that honors the club's history. He also reflects on his unorthodox decision to engage directly with fans on social media, debating everything from seat capacity to sightlines—a gamble that ultimately paid off.From there, we pivot to Los Angeles, where Dan shares the origin story of the Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena). He reveals how a study of the Disneyland model, namely the strategy of keeping visitors engaged outside the main attractions, directly inspired the creation of LA Live and transformed a commuter city’s downtown into a destination.Finally, we look at the future of Los Angeles. We touch on the tragedy of teams abandoning their home markets (in particular, The Chargers leaving San Diego) and discuss Dan’s vision for stadiums not just as a venue, but as public squares akin to the Palio di Siena.Episode Outline(02:53) Dan’s non-linear journey into Global Sports Design(06:48) Responding to the Everton FC design prompt and preserving the club's identity(20:19) The Staples Center and using the Disney model for LA Live(32:37) What Dan would change about the Staples Center today(36:00) The future of stadiums and optimism for LAResources MentionedHill Dickinson Stadium Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center) LA Live Goodison ParkGuest InfoConnect with Dan Meis on LinkedInMEIS+More From Building LA Visit the Building LA websiteConnect with Sam on LinkedInFollow Building LA on LinkedInLearn more about Lincoln Property CompanyFollow Lincoln Property Company on LinkedInDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast represent the views of the individual speakers, interviewers, or guests alone, and do not necessarily reflect the official positions, views, or opinions of Lincoln Property Company or any of its affiliates.

November 24, 202553 min

Jake Heller: The AI Tools Reshaping Real Estate Development

For most real estate professionals, using AI might look like asking ChatGPT to tidy up grammar on an email, but that’s just scratching the surface of what’s possible. Jake Heller, co-founder of AI for CRE Collective, argues that the true utility of these tools lies in automating tedious tasks, freeing up valuable resources to build relationships and strategies that actually get deals across the finish line. Jake is a third-generation builder navigating the complex realities of Los Angeles development. He’s experienced firsthand how AI tools have become a necessary partner for developers as expenses rise and rental growth stagnates. Crucially, we discuss the friction of AI adoption within large institutions and how successful integration doesn't mean forcing teams to learn entirely new software, but rather deploying tools that seamlessly fit into the workflows we already rely on.We also touch on the nuanced regulatory landscape of LA and how Jake is utilizing specific machine learning models to mitigate inefficiencies that usually kill deals. He details his personal toolkit, walking us through platforms like Gamma for instant investor decks and Endex AI that streamlines institutional-level underwriting. Episode Outline(01:05) Creating a hub for AI and technology in real estate(05:39) LADWP, offsite improvements, and the "LA Regulatory Risk"(23:11) AI essentials: Gamma, Claude, Endex AI, and Shortcut AI(31:37) The implementation gap and the reality of data infrastructure (34:53) Why prompt engineering is the new essential skill for analysts (38:20) Will General Contractors benefit the most from AI? (44:40) The roadmap for non-technical professionals to get started Resources MentionedAI for CRE Collective Gamma - AI Deck CreatorEndex AI - Excel AI Super AgentShortcut AI - Excel AI Super AgentClaude - Large Language ModelChatGPT - Large Language ModelPerplexity - AI Research ToolManus - Autonomous AI AgentGuest InfoConnect with Jake on LinkedIn Learn more about AI for CRE Collective More From Building LA Visit the Building LA websiteConnect with Sam on LinkedInFollow Building LA on LinkedInLearn more about Lincoln Property CompanyFollow Lincoln Property Company on LinkedInDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast represent the views of the individual speakers, interviewers, or guests alone, and do not necessarily reflect the official positions, views, or opinions of Lincoln Property Company or any of its affiliates.

November 11, 202553 min

Nella McOsker: Central City Association’s 90-Day Plan to Revive DTLA

Downtown LA generates 30% of the city's business, parking, and transient occupancy tax revenues despite occupying just 1% of its land mass. Despite this, the neighborhood faces serious challenges: office vacancy rates have risen significantly, major convention bookings have been turned away for a decade, and the graffiti-covered Oceanwide towers remain a stark symbol of neglect.In this conversation, Nella McOsker, President & CEO of Central City Association (CCA), details CCA's "Revive DTLA" plan. This 90-day roadmap was developed with input from over 100 stakeholders ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses, homeless service providers, and cultural institutions. The plan outlines how DTLA can achieve the basics: concentrated foot patrols, consistent street cleaning, and prioritized implementation of existing programs like CARE Court and Inside Safe, all without requiring massive new funding.Nella also addresses the structural governance challenges that hinders progress, from LA's 15 council districts to the division of responsibilities between city and county. Plus, she highlights the practical solutions already showing results, including new bike patrols and foot beats announced shortly after the plan's release. Episode Outline(03:07) Why Downtown LA's success is tied to the entire city's budget(05:24) Nella's background and path to leading CCA(08:34) CCA's mission and 300-member coalition(14:02) The convention center expansion: why it matters and what took so long(18:22) Oceanwide towers and the role of public-private partnership(25:36) Breaking down the four pillars of the Revive DTLA plan(36:00) Making the pitch for Downtown LA office space(39:41) What the private sector and city employees should be doing to support the success of DTLA(47:46) The overlooked power dynamics between city and county leadershipResources MentionedRevive Downtown LA PlanGuest InfoConnect with Nella on LinkedInVisit CCA's websiteFollow CCA on LinkedInMore From Building LA Visit the Building LA websiteConnect with Sam on LinkedInFollow Building LA on LinkedInLearn more about Lincoln Property CompanyFollow Lincoln Property Company on LinkedInDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast represent the views of the individual speakers, interviewers, or guests alone, and do not necessarily reflect the official positions, views, or opinions of Lincoln Property Company or any of its affiliates.

August 18, 20251 hr 13 min

Chris Torres and Eli Lipmen: Building LA's Olympic Legacy

Can LA still build things that serve everyday people? Chris Torres and Eli Lipmen think so, and their Festival Trail project is putting that belief to the test.Festival Trail is a bold 28-mile mobility and culture corridor connecting neighborhoods from Downtown through Inglewood. Chris, founder of Agency Artifact, brings urban design expertise, while Eli, Executive Director of Move LA, has a track record of passing transformative ballot measures worth $120 billion over 40 years.Their timing isn't coincidental. With 15 million Olympic tickets sold and LA's commitment to a "transit-first Olympics," the city faces what Chris calls "seven Super Bowls happening simultaneously every day for six weeks." The infrastructure challenge is massive, but so is the opportunity.What makes Festival Trail different is its opportunistic approach—following existing transportation corridors and activating projects already funded rather than starting from scratch. The plan includes 28 new resiliency hubs along the trail featuring large screens for Olympic viewing, food, music, and local culture. These become seeds for future development and community investment.The conversation reveals LA's fundamental challenge: a diffuse power structure where no single lever creates change. Instead of waiting for top-down coordination, Festival Trail builds on coalitions and momentum. The project also confronts LA's inequity head-on. Rather than concentrate investment in wealthy neighborhoods, Festival Trail intentionally follows corridors serving traditionally underserved communities. The goal isn't just throwing a party for the Olympics, but creating generational uplift and economic opportunity.Episode Outline(02:02) The spark that created Festival Trail from Olympic planning work(06:36) Why LA is the right place for these big infrastructure projects(12:17) What Festival Trail looks like on the ground(19:24) Who's actually in charge of moving 15 million Olympic ticket holders?(25:17) Building coalitions without centralized power structures(33:43) How Olympic investment typically fails communities(39:44) Lessons from passing $120 billion in ballot measures(42:19) The unintended consequences of Measure ULA on multifamily development(54:33) Why American cities no longer pencil—and what to do about it(1:04:52) Festival Trail milestones and how to get involvedResources MentionedThe Festival Trail LA River Path Project About Measure M Zev's Los Angeles: From Boyle Heights to the Halls of Power by Zev Yaroslavsky United to House LA (ULA) The California Tomorrow Plan by Alfred HellerGuest InfoConnect with Chris on LinkedIn Learn more about Agency Artifact Connect with Eli on LinkedIn Learn more about Move LA More From Building LA Visit the Building LA websiteConnect with Sam on LinkedInFollow Building LA on LinkedInLearn more about Lincoln Property CompanyFollow Lincoln Property Company on LinkedInDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast represent the views of the individual speakers, interviewers, or guests alone, and do not necessarily reflect the official positions, views, or opinions of Lincoln Property Company or any of its affiliates.

July 14, 20251 hr 6 min

Vishaan Chakrabarti: Is LA’s Future Dense or Doomed?

Most architects spend their careers talking to other architects. Vishaan Chakrabarti, FAIA took a different path, and it's made him one of the most influential voices in urban planning today.From his role as Manhattan Director of Planning under Mayor Bloomberg to founding Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU), Vishaan has spent decades working across scales. His non-linear career path has given him a rare ability to speak different languages: government, development, academia, and design.In his latest book, "The Architecture of Urbanity," Vishaan argues that the abundance agenda isn't enough. Yes, we need to build more housing, but if most of what gets built is poor quality, communities will continue to fight development. The solution isn't just quantity—it's quality.The conversation takes on new urgency as we discuss the recent LA fires and what they reveal about sprawl, climate resilience, and the true cost of horizontal growth. Vishaan is direct: rebuilding exactly what was there is "suspended disbelief," and cities like LA need to confront difficult questions about density and fire buffers.From Singapore's world-class infrastructure to Paris’s reduction in car dependency, Vishaan shares lessons from cities that are getting urbanism right. These examples prove that investing in quality development and density creates virtuous cycles. More tax revenue funds better transit, housing, and public services. For cities like LA facing housing shortages and climate crisis, the path forward isn't choosing between growth and quality, but rather investing in both simultaneously.Episode Outline(04:33) Vishaan’s early influences and unconventional path to architecture (11:36) Takeaways from the Bloomberg administration (16:24) Why the commodity approach to housing development creates community resistance(25:34) Cities becoming self-sufficient as federal funding disappears(36:07) LA's infrastructure challenges and cultural barriers to gentle density(48:41) Mayor for a day: How Vishaan would approach zoning in LA (50:42) Notes from Singapore, Tokyo, Venice, Vienna, and ParisResources MentionedThe Architecture of Urbanity A Country of CitiesNYT Article: The Big City Where Housing Is Still Affordable Movie: Perfect DaysPalisades Architect with Fire Resistant Home: ABC7 Guest InfoConnect with Vishaan on LinkedIn Follow PAU on LinkedInMore From Building LA Visit the Building LA websiteConnect with Sam on LinkedInFollow Building LA on LinkedInLearn more about Lincoln Property CompanyFollow Lincoln Property Company on LinkedInDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast represent the views of the individual speakers, interviewers, or guests alone, and do not necessarily reflect the official positions, views, or opinions of Lincoln Property Company or any of its affiliates.

July 9, 202538 min

Spencer Kallick: Is The CEQA Rollback Enough?

Governor Newsom recently signed a significant rollback to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), creating a new statutory exemption for urban infill housing projects, effective immediately. Spencer Kallick, a land use attorney who's guided everyone from Blackstone to AvalonBay through California's regulatory maze, breaks down what this actually means for developers reassessing their pipelines.It's not the free-for-all some headlines make it out to be, but it is a major shift for urban infill housing development. Cities still have discretion and the need for a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment and tribal consultation remains. But traffic studies and air quality analyses have gotten significantly easier to navigate.Spencer walks through the fine print: projects under 85 feet avoid prevailing wage requirements, sites up to 20 acres qualify, and residential density has to be at least 50% of the minimum density in that jurisdiction. The catch is it only works if you're building on land already zoned for residential use and staying within existing height limits. High-rise towers on industrial land still need full CEQA review.The conversation digs into the political motivation behind this decision and why Governor Newsom is now championing CEQA reform when it was considered untouchable just years ago. The result is a gradual, but accelerating shift toward abundance policies that Democrats hope will demonstrate they can actually get things done.Spencer also reveals the practical challenges ahead: planning departments are understaffed and unprepared for immediate implementation, some provisions won't take effect until 2026, and environmental groups are considering lawsuits. But, he's optimistic that momentum is building if construction costs moderate and capital markets improve. Episode Outline(02:21) Why CEQA reform is happening now (11:25) Details of the urban infill statutory exemption requirements(22:49) Understaffed planning departments struggling with immediate implementation(28:13) Delayed provisions and political vulnerability of the new law(30:15) Is this the beginning of broader CEQA reform? (33:44) Development pipeline outlook and LA's building future Resources MentionedNYT Article: California Rolls Back Its Landmark Environmental LawGuest InfoConnect with Spencer on LinkedIn More From Building LA Visit the Building LA websiteConnect with Sam on LinkedInFollow Building LA on LinkedInLearn more about Lincoln Property CompanyFollow Lincoln Property Company on LinkedInDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast represent the views of the individual speakers, interviewers, or guests alone, and do not necessarily reflect the official positions, views, or opinions of Lincoln Property Company or any of its affiliates.