Debra Gerod, FAIA, LEED AP, joined Gruen Associates in 1988 and was made a partner in 2002. Debra’s specialty is the collaborative design and delivery of complex, public-use projects. Projects have included event centers, performing arts venues, offices, museums, libraries, courthouses, embassies, transportation projects, parks and streetscapes. Amongst Debra’s recent projects are the recently opened LAX/Metro Transit Center, a new multi-modal station providing transit to the airport, the Audrey Irmas Pavilion at Wilshire Boulevard Temple and the renovation of the historic Tower Theater in downtown Los Angeles. Current projects include the renovation of the historic Pasadena Central Library and the Reimagination of the La Brea Tar Pits and Page Museum. Throughout her career, Debra has been an advocate for sustainable design and a promoter of decarbonization, building re-use, electrification, and renewable energy. During her tenure as the 2020 AIA|California President, Debra helped elevate the profession’s advocacy on climate action which led to scores of electrification ordinances and reach codes throughout the state. Additional impacts included legislation requiring increased professional education for architects in Zero Net Carbon Design along with a free ZNCD webinar series provided to all AIA members. Debra is a Regent for the California Architectural Foundation (CAF) and served as the 2020 President for AIA|California and 2016 President of AIA|Los Angeles. Debra volunteers for Habitat for Humanity and Heal the Bay and was a long-time board member for the ACE Mentor Program of Los Angeles. Debra was elevated to a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 2013 and is the recipient of AIA|Los Angeles’ 2024 Gold Medal, the highest individual honor bestowed by the Chapter.