Have you heard? Los Angeles has a housing problem! We’re over 450,000 housing units short based on the latest RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Allocation) assessment. Need a recap on why? Check out our short history lesson on housing and how we got here: Part 1 and Part 2, and then read up on the latest...Read More

You know it’s bad when we get an email from a fellow architect, developer or client with the subject line “Please help!” and find they are attempting to navigate the convoluted City of Los Angeles’ permitting process. While COVID has rendered many business processes more difficult or even obsolete, residents are questioning how to get...Read More

UPDATE: Since writing and posting this blog back in January 2022, Los Angeles City Planning has created an info page and implementation memo. Check it out! —– There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding the recent Senate Bill 9 (SB9) that just went into effect earlier this month. It is California’s most recent attempt to...Read More

Since our last check-in during this lingering pandemic, we’ve implemented a few different office schedules, varying from having employees work from home (WFH) full-time to offering a hybrid-WFH schedule. In this current check-in, Abbi Naylor (AN) interviews Anette Zakarian (AZ). Anette is back in the office while also working through graduate school. We catch up...Read More

This blog is part two of the latest in our “Architecture in Practice” Series. If you didn’t catch the first part of this post, start here. Why houses cost so much in Los Angeles We were SO excited to officially own the lot, and somehow, we came up with a design approach almost immediately. (Fun...Read More

First comes ownership, then comes design. I know what you’re all thinking. What ever happened to that spec house you guys were doing? Well, package a really strange pandemic that keeps going on and on and on with a very busy practice and next thing you know, the spec house got moved to the back...Read More

If you follow Tracy A. Stone Architect on Instagram, you may have noticed that we recently got to visit John Lautner’s Tyler House. Tucked away in L.A.’s Laurel Canyon, this lesser-known work was built in 1953 and then restored in 1995, with the help of our very own Tracy Stone. The owner, Peter Tangen, was...Read More

The building sector is a major polluter. In fact, in 2018, if we include energy consumption and emissions from the manufacture of building construction materials, our industry accounted for the largest share of energy use and emissions, globally. Following on the heels of the American Institute of Architects’ recent symposium on climate change, Tracy A....Read More

As you may have noticed from our previous newsletters, we have signed on to the “Architects Declare” manifesto demanding urgent climate action within the design and building sectors. For more information on the manifesto and the movement, visit: us.architectsdeclare.com. Our last blog article reviewed 6 Simple Ways to Reduce Your Home’s Carbon Footprint. Next stop...Read More

Last month, nearly 150 U.S. architects and over 4,000 architects from other countries announced their support of an international movement called “Architects Declare,” adding their names to the growing list of firms supporting a manifesto demanding urgent climate action within the design and building sectors. We’re happy to announce that we are among the signatories...Read More

by Abbi Naylor Note: WFH = Work From Home… Darn Millennials The current pandemic has flipped the working world on its head. As many of you have experienced firsthand, many offices have turned to remote working conditions to keep the virus spread at bay. Our office in particular is reducing direct contact by shifting some...Read More

We love it when our clients are as committed (or more!) to the design as we are. One of these amazing clients, Roger, is utilizing his engineering knowledge (normally applied to his work in the aerospace industry) to act as General Contractor for the remodel of his residence in La Canada. Frustrated by the inability...Read More

I know what you’re thinking…enough with all this general information on architecture and development. Now that you’re all on the edges of your seats in anticipation, we’re finally ready to show off our new development project. As we pondered the best way to share about our process, Tracy suggested, “Why don’t we expose the ‘making...Read More

About three years ago, our team started looking for properties to develop in-house. If you haven’t noticed, there isn’t a ton of vacant land in Los Angeles. Finding something affordable with decent building opportunities is even harder. To evaluate each lot that came up in our land search, we had a mental checklist to see...Read More

Tracy A. Stone Architect was recently featured on a list of “Best Residential Architects in Santa Monica, California” by Home Builder Digest.  As the new year of 2020 begins, we’re especially thankful for our amazing clients and colleagues who make projects like this happen! Thanks to Home Builder Digest for showcasing why we love what...Read More

We’re putting our Architecture Practice to work. Architects love designing. Seeing their imagined project upon completion is exciting. But there’s that in-between part that some feel they might be missing out on. So…Tracy A. Stone Architect has decided to jump in…and develop our own project. We are about to join our favorite readers, clients and...Read More

Last month we had the opportunity to participate in FixNation’s Architects for Animals “Giving Shelter” event. Every year, architects and designers from Los Angeles use their talents to design, construct, and donate feline-focused shelters. Our team rallied together to build an efficient, collapsible structure. As we initially sat down to brainstorm, our imaginations were running...Read More

In our endeavor to be lifelong learners, we’ve started a new tradition at Tracy A. Stone Architect called… wait for it… “read the magazines that get mailed to the office.” Originally, we had decided to purge all the unwanted subscriptions (and if you know the design and construction industry, there are TONS that mysteriously show...Read More

It’s Official: Tracy A. Stone Architect has a newly-licensed architect in our office! As of February 1, MacKenzie Leifeste is a licensed architect. Many friends and colleagues weren’t familiar with the process, so we thought we’d share MacKenzie’s take on the architectural licensing process and tips for any future architects-in-the-making. What It Takes We’ll let...Read More

  Top 5 Questions When Purchasing a Lot in LA The fact that development in Los Angeles is at a recent high gives rise to many questions relevant to the construction location. From structure type to zoning to whether you’re contemplating building a new house, a small residential addition or a brand new commercial structure,...Read More