Paul Danna

A designer's touch
Architect Paul Danna applies a high-design approach to projects—such as the recently completed Los Angeles Police Department Headquarters—based not on a visual style but on principles. Danna and fellow architect and design principal Jose Palacios have often worked in partnership since the mid-1980s, collaborating on the design of signature projects and providing team leadership for AECOM's Los Angeles architecture studio.

"The best buildings are a balance," says Paul. "They must be contemporary yet enduring, rational yet provocative. Our design process is also about balance: ideas come from anywhere, and the best idea wins. We are performance driven, by which I mean that our buildings must perform—environmentally, technically, socially and financially."

Paul, an accomplished athlete (he is a Black Belt in Tang Soo Do Karate and cyclist), comes from a family of architects. His father and sister are architects, and his mother, a fellow of the American Institute of Architecture (FAIA), has been elevated for her contributions in community outreach, education, historic preservation advocacy and policy. Educated at the University of Michigan, Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies, and the Harvard Graduate School of Design, Paul's early career included years at Machado and Silvetti in Boston, Krueck & Sexton in Chicago, and Pei, Cobb, Freed in New York.

His collaboration with Jose Palacios began at SOM, Houston, where he met the individuals who would become his partners in Keating Mann Jernigan Rottet (KMJR), an architectural firm that was acquired by one of AECOM's founding firms, DMJM, in 2004. Projects they designed together during the SOM and KMJR years include the Wilshire at LaPeer and Wilshire at Elm buildings, Fubon Bank in Taipei, the Department of Ecology Headquarters in Washington State, Hewlett-Packard regional headquarters in Atlanta, and British Petroleum headquarters in Houston.

The AECOM design approach
Paul defines the AECOM design approach as one that is driven by questions rather than statements: What's required of a courthouse today as opposed to twenty years ago? What does it mean to design a building in Shanghai versus a building in Houston? What does a headquarters for the LAPD need to embody?

These questions address the idea of creating enduring architecture that is reflective of the social, cultural, economic and technological realities of its time; place and context become the motivating basis for creating places that are mindful of and additive to their contexts.

"We explore and seek to capture the culture and aspirations of each patron of our buildings," explains Paul. "For the LAPD, how could we help the organization in its mission to acknowledge, address and change a struggling relationship with the community and tarnished public perception? We were able to do this by embracing our client's goals and making them part of the process."

The team worked with the community to hear and address their concerns, creating a building that balances transparency and security while actively participating in the urban dialogue of the civic center. "The new building reflects the new LAPD approach to the community philosophically," says Paul, "as well as providing tangible benefits through public spaces, including landscaped park, street-level dining and a public auditorium."

Viewed as a whole, AECOM's architectural portfolio reveals buildings with similar qualities but nuances that make each unique. The similarities are a clear response to function, building systems, care for craft of construction and detail and appropriateness to client and place. Other projects Paul has worked on with AECOM include the Korea Development Bank, BMC Software Headquarters, RAND Headquarters and General Electric Asia Headquarters.

"Our studio, like other architecture studios at AECOM, is based on teamwork," says Paul. "In Los Angeles, Jose and I rely a great deal on Carlos Madrid and Cory Ticktin for their leadership, input and authenticity in the creative process."

President, AIA Los Angeles
Paul enters a new phase this year as he assumes the role of president of the Los Angeles chapter of the AIA. The AIA/LA is one of the largest chapters in the US and has a renowned constituency. "The chapter members have gone through very challenging times," notes Danna. "We are focused on doing everything we can to support our members, especially those unemployed, firm owners whose success will keep others employed, and our younger generation of architects—they are our future."

Paul emphasizes the importance of educational and networking opportunities. "Education is key to staying competitive and relevant, and for those unemployed, to re-engaging and gaining greater opportunities than before." Paul is working with government officials and agencies on vision and process to prepare for when present conditions change and new opportunities present themselves.

Diversity of people and ideas is another important issue to Danna. "The profession has come a long way, and we have a long way to go," he says. "My goal is to reach out to different groups of architects, design professionals and other disciplines, from builders and real estate professionals to our civic leaders to explore where we come together. Opportunities exist to improve the quality of our environment and new business. Becoming more diverse, in our membership, in our associations, and in our understanding of the world outside the traditional practice of architecture is not only the right thing to do, but the smart thing to do."

Looking forward
As for the future of Architecture at AECOM, the potential is incredible, believes Paul. The multidisciplinary platform is powerful and unique. "Imagine the impact as we bring together the best of our resources on large scale projects," says Danna. "A designer's touch to infrastructure and transportation projects, engineering and environmental expertise infused into our architecture. The impact to our built environment will be greater than any single building and of greater benefit to our communities than has ever occurred in the past."

To Paul, the key comes back to qualities that have been central to his career: partnership and collaboration. "We need to continue to bring down walls between disciplines," he says. "People and relationships are key to our success."

Danette Riddle