SmithGroupJJR’s Alek Zarifian Elevated to Fellow of the AIA

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Alek Zarifian, FAIA, health studio design leader at SmithGroupJJR’s Los Angeles, California office, has been elevated to the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows. He was one of 149 new fellows recognized at an investiture ceremony at the 2016 National AIA Convention and Design Exposition.

Zarifian is serving as senior designer for several of southern California’s largest healthcare projects commissioned to SmithGroupJJR, including the $228-million Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, under construction in Downy, located in southeast Los Angeles County, as well as Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center’s new $240-million, seven-story medical tower, slated to break ground in late 2016 in Chula Vista, south of San Diego.

In addition to healthcare design, Zarifian has served as lead designer for higher education, as well as science and technology projects. He has 30 years of experience and joined SmithGroupJJR in 2013 after serving in senior design roles at Cannon Design, HDR Architecture and Tammy Edmonds Design, Inc.

Zarifian has been a long-time supporter of the AIA at the chapter level. He served two, 2-year terms on the AIA California Council spanning 2009-14, and was president of the AIA Pasadena & Foothill chapter in 2013. Over the past 15 years, he has served as a visiting critic at numerous architecture schools in southern California, including California State Polytechnic University, the University of Southern California and Woodbury University.

After earning an Associate of Arts degree from Pasadena City College, he proceeded onto the University of Southern California, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s in Architecture and a Master of Architecture degree. He is a licensed architect in the state of California and a LEED accredited professional by the U.S. Green Building Council.