Clay Holden, AIA, IIDA, NCARB, LEED AP

As evidenced through his extensive work with the AIA|LA, founder Clay Holden’s devotion and generosity to the profession has been a major theme throughout his career. Clay frequently volunteers on various boards, committees, and juries that support professional outreach and education, including AIA|LA, ACLA, LAUSD, 2×8 Exhibit & Scholarship, the 2×8 Endowment, and local schools. Clay has been a tireless leader and steward of the 2×8 program since its inception in 2002, helping to create 18 exhibitions, give away nearly $200,000 in student scholarships, mentor several young architect committee members, and co-found the 2×8 Endowment. In 2007, he was the recipient of the AIA|LA Associate of the Year Award, which was created specifically by President Michael Enomoto, FAIA to honor Clay. Clay Holden is a registered architect in California and Minnesota. Prior to starting Clay Holden Architects, Clay honed his skills working for preeminent LA firms, including two AIA National Firm Award winners, Moore

Ruble Yudell and Pugh + Scarpa, the renowned Chu + Gooding Architects, Pamela Burton, and March Studio. Clay’s previous design contributions have received more than 20 national and international awards for excellence in design, including the winning entry in an international design competition, and has been featured in distinguished media such as The New York Times, Dwell, Architectural Record, Architect Magazine, Architect’s Newspaper, and Form/LA Architect Magazine. Clay holds a Master of Architecture degree from SCI-Arc and a Bachelor of Science in Design from Clemson University. Awarded a traveling fellowship in 2002 by Hsinming Fung, FAIA, Clay helped to revive and administer SCI-Arc’s dormant Swiss study abroad program while supporting undergrad/graduate students and an international array of prominent professors. Clay is a frequent guest juror at local architectural schools, and has assisted in shaping the architecture and engineering curriculum at LAUSD’s career pathway high schools.

volunteer work

Architecture for Communities Los Angeles (ACLA)
AIA/Los Angeles
2×8 Endowment for Student Scholarships
2×8 Annual Student Exhibition & Scholarship Program
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)
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