The Piggyback Yard was in good company last weekend at the reception for the AIA California Council 2011 Design Awards.  Our Merit Award for Urban Design was announced with the rest of this year’s winners at the bi-annual Monterey Design Conference, held October 7-9. 

Founded in 1979, the Monterey Design conference has become the “Renaissance Weekend” for architects. Held in Pacific Grove at the historic Asilomar Conference Grounds founded in 1913, this year’s conference was full of inspiration and practical advice for architects and designers.  As always, the conference curated speakers ranging from “Emerging Talent” Andrew Kudless of Matsys to “Tribal Elder” Peter Walker.  Featured speakers included PBy’s own Michael Maltzan as well as imports Jeanne Gang from Studio Gang of Chicago and  Tom Kundig from Olson Kundig Architects of Seattle.

Much discussion revolved around appropriating disregarded spaces,  viewing even the most urban of areas as landscape, and searching for ways to harness the power of “gizmos” and technology for a higher purpose.  Sound familiar?

The Westside Urban Forum, a networking organization dedicated to the land-use dialogue impacting Los Angeles, held its annual Westside Prize award luncheon on June 10.  FoLAR was onhand to receive the prestigious John Leighton Chase Legacy Award.  Additionally, among the distinguished projects recognized, the Piggyback Yard was honored with an Honor Award in the Plans category.  Jury comments included the following:

“This is the right place for Los Angeles to invest in the future; it’s an extraordinarily large resource.”

“It improves quality of life across a spectrum of vibrant neighborhoods that are typically ignored, and invigorates the east side of Downtown Los Angeles.”

“At the scale of infrastructure, this complex study weaves together numerous natural and synthetic forces to produce an image of an inclusive urban park that is so deperately needed in Los Angeles.”

Thanks to WUF and congratulations to everyone involved!