Floodproofing Lunch & Learn
2025-05-21 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | AIA Santa Barbara, 229 E Victoria St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, United States
Floodplain Design, Construction, and Impacts on Flood Insurance
1 LU/HSW
Lunch Provided! No charge for members
This course provides insight into the importance of proper foundation flood vents and dry floodproofing techniques for buildings located in a flood zone. It will identify FEMA Technical Bulletins 1, 2, and 3, the National Flood Insurance Program, ASCE 24-14, ICC, and Building Code regulations and standards as they relate to sustaining foundations and overall business continuity in flood hazard areas. The course will also analyze the role of building compliance in securing lowering flood insurance rates and what mitigationsolutions are available for both residential and non residential structures. After the course, participants will have a thorough understanding of floodproofing options and the important role they play in designing a sustainable structure.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Describe floods and the potential hazards to buildings.
Explain the differences between wet and dry floodproofing techniques.
Define the differences in engineered and non-engineered flood openings and their ability to ensure resilient structures.
Active vs. passive floodproofing solutions and the overall impact of ownership.

Hard Hat Tour: Romero Canyon Residence
2025-05-22 16:00 - 18:30
Romero Canyon Residence
Nestled into an 11-acre site, this Hacienda style Spanish Colonia Revival residence, which was originally built in 1930, still retains much of the character from its original design. A central courtyard links together a series of 5 bedrooms, a service hall with kitchen and dining, and a living room that steps out to a south-facing terrace with spectacular ocean views. While performing much needed repairs and bringing in elements of modern conveniences, the owners made it clear that they intend to maintain, and in some cases restore, those features that embody the character that enticed them in the first place. In the process of renovating this residence, we were called to embrace the imperfections and subtle details.
Tour will be led by Richard Carney, Erika Kessler, and Paul Rubison

Architect & Landscape Architect: Appleton Partners, LLP
Contractor: DD Ford
Interior Designer: Kathryn Ireland

Watercolor Class with Alex Stypa
2025-06-03 17:30 - 18:45
Tuesday, June 3rd @ 5:30 PM
Watercolor Class with Alexis Stypa
https://www.stypastudio.com/

Emerging Professionals ARE Study Prep
2025-06-10 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-06-24 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-07-08 18:15 - 20:15, 2025-07-22 18:15 - 20:15, 2025-08-05 18:15 - 20:15, 2025-08-19 18:15 - 20:15, 2025-09-02 18:15 - 20:15, 2025-09-16 18:15 - 20:15 and 2 more dates | AIA Santa Barbara, 229 E Victoria St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, United States
Open to all!
Study groups occur every 2 weeks.

Firm Open House at Ashley & Vance Engineering
2025-06-12 17:30 - 19:30 | Ashley and Vance, 210 E Cota St, Santa Barbara, 93101, United States
About Ashley & Vance Engineering
Since 2005, Ashley & Vance Engineering (AV) has helped turn creative ideas into buildable projects by combining real-world construction knowledge with practical engineering. Our project teams are known for delivering cost-effective, on-time designs shaped by the hands-on experience of our principals. We’re good listeners who put ourselves in our clients’ shoes to find the best path forward—together.
With skilled people and the latest tools, we offer the resources of a larger firm with the efficiency of a smaller one. Our strong local presence in each of our office locations helps us build lasting relationships and deliver thoughtful solutions. We provide civil and structural engineering services from entitlements to construction documents, with experience across a wide range of project types, including housing, multifamily, RCFE, hotels, wineries, resorts, public works, infrastructure, industrial, education, OSHPD, DSA, and aerospace.

KBKG Lunch & Learn
2025-06-18 12:00 - 13:00 | AIA Santa Barbara, 229 E Victoria St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, United States
Energy Policy Act (EPACT) and Architecture
1 LU
Lunch Provided! No charge for members
Join us for a discussion of the section 179D Deduction and how it can benefit architectural firms. We will be discussing the background of this powerful green building deduction as well as the recent changes created by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. This will include details about both the expansion and the increased impact of 179D going forward. We will also discuss the alternative qualification path known as the Retrofit Program and what this new path means for Architects, building owners, and other designers of buildings. Attendees will also learn who is eligible to receive these benefits, what is required as part of the qualification calculations, and which green energy strategies are eligible.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

-Overview of the 179D Deduction
-Overview of the Retrofit Program for 179D
-The expansion and the increased impact of 179D in future years
-What the Inflation Reduction Act means for building owners and designers of buildings
-How to qualify for the bonus rate (up to $5.00 per square foot) vs. the base rate (up to $1.00 per square foot)

AIASB General Meeting
2025-06-19 17:30 - 20:00 | Fox Wine Co., 120 Santa Barbara St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, United States
June 19th
5.30PM-8.30PM
Appetizers Provided
Join us for an exciting and relaxed evening at our upcoming general meeting, hosted by Fox Wine Co! Whether you’re a long-time member or new to the chapter, this is a great opportunity to meet and connect with fellow architecture and design professionals.

1925 Earthquake Symposium
2025-06-29 17:00 - 20:00

Women in Architecture with Stephanie Campbell
2025-07-01 17:30 - 18:45
Tuesday, July 1st @ 5:30 PM
Location: La Lieff Winery
Stephanie Campbell, Project Manager of Projects General Construction
Stephanie is a native of Santa Barbara and a graduate of UCSB. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Cultural Anthropology and Environmental Studies, she moved to Vail, Colorado, where she designed interior spaces and cabinetry for high-end homes and resorts. Fifteen years later she made her way back to Santa Barbara and brought her talent and experience to Projects. She’ll be sharing about her career path and her experience working in construction.

Global Design Series: From Andalusia to Santa Barbara
2025-07-09 18:00 - 19:30 | AIA Santa Barbara, 229 E Victoria St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, United States
Join us for a compelling presentation where Emerging Professionals share their perspectives on architectural trends shaping the U.S. and the world. Each session features a presentation by one of our Emerging Professionals, followed by an open discussion exploring the architectural trend through the lens of Santa Barbara, California. This is an opportunity to foster dialogue between young voices and the broader architectural community on the global influences that shape our built environment. Our goal is to get everyone involved and participating in the conversation.

Please join us as Raphael Wendt discusses how Andalusia integrates modern design with its historic architectural style. He looks forward to exploring with you how we can once again learn from Andalusia.

Women in Architecture
2025-08-05 17:30 - 19:00 | Santa Barbara Courthouse, 1100 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, United States
Join us for a watercolor class at the Sunken Gardens at the Santa Barbara Courthouse for our August WIA gathering with Alexis Stypa, architectural designer at Harrison Design and founder of Stypa Studio. Alexis is experienced in architectural and landscape watercolors and has led workshops across the world. We will meet at the Sunken Gardens at 5:30pm. We will have extra blankets and supplies but encourage you to bring any personal painting supplies and folding chair to be comfortable. In case of inclement weather, we will email the registrants with an alternate interior location.

Global Design Series: Singapore's Progressive Urban Planning
2025-08-13 18:00 - 19:30 | Mission Audio Video, 1910 De La Vina St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, United States
Join us for a compelling presentation where Emerging Professionals share their perspectives on architectural trends shaping the U.S. and the world. Each session features a presentation by one of our Emerging Professionals, followed by an open discussion exploring the architectural trend through the lens of Santa Barbara, California. This is an opportunity to foster dialogue between young voices and the broader architectural community on the global influences that shape our built environment. Our goal is to get everyone involved and participating in the conversation.

Please, join us on August 13th as Sreypich Ly dives into Singapore’s architectural history and its progressive urban planning, with a focus on the innovative public housing, HDB model. We invite you to share your ideas, insights, and input on how Singapore’s creative policies, mixed-use planning, and transit-oriented development can inspire a more inclusive and vibrant future for Santa Barbara. Come connect, discuss, and help shape our community’s vision!

Lunch & Learn: Designed to Disappear
2025-08-20 12:00 - 13:00 | AIA Santa Barbara, 229 E Victoria St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, United States
Designed to Disappear
Presented by Sonance
This course will introduce the builder, designer, or architect to the benefits of hiding technology into the design and architecture of a project. The course will begin by defining the luxury experience in residential design. It will then dive deeper into audio and lighting as elements that influence the luxury experience. Finally, the course will present solutions for hiding these and other technologies into design and architecture.
Learning Objectives
-To define the luxury experience in the residential space.
-To draw parallels between lighting and audio design.
-To establish audio as a benefit to the way people experience their homes.
-To explore solutions and ways to hide technology into architecture and interior design.

Emerging Professionals Firm Open House with Studio 7
2025-08-21 17:30 - 19:30 | Studio 7 Architecture & Allied Arts, 112 East De La Guerra Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, United States
About Studio 7
Studio 7 was established to provide a collaborative design environment with a focus on local residential projects . Architectural solutions are enriched through experiences in allied arts including furniture, hardware and lighting. A technical and artistic compliment to each project is assembled from established partnerships. We maintain a small staff of balanced and complimentary skills. The single team model allows us to provide intimate personal service to carefully selected projects.

Hard Hat Tour: Park Hill Lane
2025-08-27 17:00 - 18:00
Park Hill Lane
Experience an exclusive behind-the-walls tour of a hillside custom residence by Studio William Hefner. Featuring 18’ retaining walls, butterfly roof framing, extensive structural steel, solar power, a backup generator, and a ¼-mile driveway, this project offers a masterclass in modern hillside construction. Attendees will gain firsthand insight into advanced MEP installations, review detailed framing inspections, and explore the strategic positioning of a home on challenging terrain.

Eric Johnson with Allen Construction and Karl Kraus with SWH

Architect: Studio William Hefner, Karl Kraus, AIA
Construction Company: Allen Contruction

Women in Architecture
2025-09-09 17:30 - 19:00 | Mission Audio Video, 1910 De La Vina St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, United States
Join us for our monthly Women in Architecture gathering. This month we will be hearing from Shanar Moslehy, Senior Project Manager at Cearnal Collective Architects and Santa Barbara Single-Family Design Board Member.
Before relocating to the U.S. in 2019, She was a practicing architect and partner at the Transformative Architectural Office (TAO) in Tehran, Iran. Passionate about mentorship, she also taught at the Tehran University of Art. She holds a Master’s in Architectural Engineering from Iran University of Science and Technology (2011) and a Bachelor’s of Architecture from Tehran University (2008).
In Los Angeles, she pursued her dream of studying under Thom Mayne at SCI-Arc’s postgraduate Design of Cities program. She later moved to Santa Barbara in 2021 while working at Anacapa Architects.
Shanar’s diverse architectural career—spanning roles, contexts, and scales—has shaped her journey through intercultural settings. She believes in the social responsibility of architects and urban designers to help transform communities through design and collaboration.

General Meeting
2025-09-11 17:30 - 20:00 | Arnoldi’s Cafe, 600 Olive Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, United States
Join us for an exciting and relaxed evening at our upcoming general meeting, hosted by Arnoldi’s Cafe. Whether you’re a long-time member or new to the chapter, this is a great opportunity to meet and connect with fellow architecture and design professionals.
This meeting will focus on a panel discussion on the state of housing in Santa Barbara County.
Panelists
Rosie Dyste
Interim Principal Planner
CITY OF SANTA BARBARA, Community Development
Beth Collins
Lawyer with BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK
Allison DeBusk
Interim Community Development Director
CITY OF SANTA BARBARA, Community Development

Lunch & Learn: How to Become a Tesla Certified Architect
2025-09-17 12:00 - 13:00 | AIA Santa Barbara, 229 E Victoria St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, United States
How to Become a Tesla Certified Architect
Presented by Jeff Riley, Solarponics (Tesla Certified Installer)
Join our Lunch and Learn session hosted by Jeff Riley from Solarponics in Atascadero. Solarponics is a certified Tesla Solar, Battery, and Solar Roof Installer, and Jeff will run through a deck designed by Tesla for architects that explores Tesla’s energy ecosystem, covering how solar works, key components, and the design and safety features of Solar Roof and Solar Panels. Learn about Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), energy storage benefits, home storage solutions, and monitoring via Tesla’s mobile app. Key learnings include product insights, photos of installations, and information on incentives.
What You’ll Learn:

Understand Tesla’s energy ecosystem and its applications for architectural projects.
Gain knowledge of the components, design, and safety features of Tesla Solar Roofs and Panels.
Explore the benefits of Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) and home energy storage.
Identify available incentives and monitoring tools for clients adopting Tesla’s solar solutions.

Many Hands Make Light Work - Panel Discussion
2025-09-17 17:30 - 19:30 | SBCC West Campus Center, 721 Cliff Drive, Room 216, Santa Barbara, 93109, United States
About the Event
Whether you’re a builder, architect, or designer—if lighting matters to you, this is a conversation worth being part of.
Not every project, new construction or renovation, ends with the lighting it deserves. Some start with good intentions but fall short by the time the switch gets flipped. So where’s the disconnect? More importantly—what happens when it all goes right?
Join us for a candid conversation with experienced professionals who know what it takes to get lighting right—by working together from the start. Whether you’re planning, building, or retrofitting, this panel pulls back the curtain on what makes the difference between “just good enough” and exceptional.
Reception at 5:30PM with the panel conversation starting at 6:00PM—7:30PM
Pizza and non-alcoholic refreshments will be served.

Panelists

Architect | Robert Kupiec, AIA
Lighting Designer | Vince Tarango, IALD
Electrical Engineer | John Maloney, PE
Electrical Contractor | Garrett Powell
System Integrator | Chris Wilson
Manufacturers’ Rep | Ian Clements

Moderator
Norman Russell, LC, IES | Principal Lighting Designer, NV5

Click here for more information about the panelists and a full parking map.

Firm Open House at MN Studio
2025-09-18 17:30 - 19:30

ArchitecTours
2025-10-04 10:00 - 16:00
