AIA San Francisco's Housing Symposium Explores Innovations in Policy and Design
San Francisco, CA | May 6, 2025 — The American Institute of Architects, San Francisco (AIASF), in collaboration with the AIASF Housing Knowledge Community, is pleased to present Housing+ Innovations in Policy and Design, on Thursday, May 15 from 9:45 AM to 4:30 PM.
Now in its 10th year, AIASF’s housing symposium will spotlight three major issues shaping the future of housing in the Bay Area, beginning with broader policy discussions and moving toward specific building-focused regulations. The full-day, in-person program will begin with a panel discussion about the State Density Bonus Law, focusing on the latest innovations as well as how these and other strategies have been applied, and how effective they have been in addressing housing needs across California.
The second session will examine the process to convert underused office spaces into residential units — a trend fueled by the rise of remote work and the surplus of vacant commercial buildings. Panelists will discuss both the major challenges slowing this transition and the incentives that are helping to move projects forward.
The final panel will explore a design concept widely used in Europe and increasingly discussed in the United States: single-stair access in multistory residential buildings. The discussion will focus on California-specific barriers to adopting this model, as well as the technical, regulatory, and design advantages and limitations that single-stair systems present.
This year’s keynote speaker is Ned Segal, Chief of Housing and Economic Development in San Francisco. Eric S. Robinson, Principal, Paulett Taggart Architects, and Ben Chuaqui, Partner, Van Meter Williams Pollack, will give the closing remarks prior to the networking happy hour.
Moderators:
- Chloe Angelis, Partner, Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP
- Corey Smith, Executive Director, Housing Action Coalition
Speakers:
- Carly Grob, Principal Planner, Housing Implementation Team at SF Planning Department
- Muhammed Alameldin, Senior Policy Advisor, California YIMBY
- William Duncanson, Principal, BAR Architecture & Interiors
- Marc Babsin, JD, CPA, MCP, President, Emerald Fund
- Holly E. Arnold, AIA, LEED AP, Studio Director, Residential Practice Area Leader, Gensler
- Charles Bloszies, FAIA, Principal, Office of Chaarles F. Bloszies
- Steven R. Winkel, FAIA, PE, CASp, Sole Practioner, Building Code and Accessibility Consultant
- Mark Hogan, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, Principal, OpenScope Studio Architects
- Mary Wilkinson-Church, Acting Deputy Director III, DBI Permit Services
"As a builder deeply invested in delivering multifamily housing in the Bay Area, I’m looking forward to engaging with policymakers, designers, and fellow AEC colleagues at the Housing Symposium," says Randall Thompson, Preconstruction Executive at Nibbi Prefab, and AIASF Housing Knowledge Community Co-Chair. "These conversations — from rethinking density to unlocking office-to-residential conversions and modernizing design standards — are exactly the kinds of discussions we need to drive real, achievable solutions in our housing market."
For more information and to register, visit https://www.aiasf.org/events/housing-symposium-25
Program Sponsors
About AIA San Francisco
Since 1882, the American Institute of Architects, San Francisco (AIASF) has represented architects and building industry professionals in San Francisco and Marin County. In 2023, AIASF opened The Center for Architecture + Design in the historic Hallidie Building, becoming the Bay Area’s hub for architecture and design.
As one of the largest AIA (American Institute of Architects) chapters in the US, AIASF is a vital resource for architects, allied members, and the public. Our mission is to connect, elevate, and advocate for our members who create resilient, inclusive, and thriving built environments.