Architecture of its time and place: the work of Line and Space.

Opening Reception at 4:30 pm, ILC
Keynote Address at 5 pm, ILC 120

The keynote speaker is Les Wallach, FAIA.

This talk and slide show will focus on the work of Line and Space Architects, a Tucson firm known internationally for its contemporary, site responsive, architecture. Founded in 1978 by Les Wallach, FAIA, and the recipient of 50 design awards, Les Wallach as the primary designer for Line and Space, has created ecologically sensitive projects for such clients as the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, the Boyce Thompson Arboretum and the National Historic Trail Center.
 

About
Les Wallach

Professional Societies
In 1993 Les was elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects in recognition of his impact on architectural design.

Work Summary
Prior to commencing architectural studies, Les spent  2-1/2 years as a field planning, scheduling and cost control engineer for RMK- BRJ on the world's largest construction project; building of military related facilities and country wide infrastructure for the Republic of South Vietnam.

While attending the University of Arizona College of Architecture and after graduation Les worked for various Tucson Architects. This experience was culminated with three years as Project Architect and Designer for the firm of Joel Stout, AIA.

In 1978 Les founded Line and Space, specializing in environmentally responsive, creative, design work. He often acts as the general contractor to build his own designs.  Les' work consists of private and institutional projects including several award winning residences, the Visitor center at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, the National Historic Trail Center In Casper, Wyoming and the Slusser Memorial Library. He designed and constructed the Restaurant and Special events Complex including several innovative pioneering sustainability aspects for the world-renowned Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. His design for a new Gateway to Tucson won first place in a national competition and a $25,000 prize from the National Endowment of The Arts in 2002.

In 2002 Les was a guest of the Vietnamese government and spent a week evaluating the Master Plan for An Giang University.

Since 1982 Les has taught periodically as a Visiting Critic as well as participated in review of student work at the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture at the University of Arizona.
 

Awards
Les has received nearly fifty design awards for individual projects as well as the prestigious Western Mountain Region AIA (WMR) Silver Medal (1996) for his body of work. His firm, Line and Space was the 1999 WMR firm of the year.  The WMR encompasses six states and includes over 1000 American Institute of Architect member firms.

In 1999, Les was selected as one of the University of Arizona’s top 100 graduates of the Century.

Publications and Lectures
Les' work has been published numerous times in periodicals such as Sunset Magazine, Fine Homebuilding, Design Build, Wallpaper, Architecture, Friends of Kebyar, Hinge (the Hong Kong Design Magazine) and Architectural Record.  Progressive Architecture Magazine profiled his work in December of 1995 and the Italian architecture journal, Spazio e Societa presented a major bi-lingual article, including interview, in Jan-Mar 1998.

Projects are featured in a half dozen books including: The Naturally Elegant Home, Janet Marinelli, Little, Brown and Company 1992; and Green Architecture, Mike Crosbie, Rockport Publishing 1994. Les has been included in Who's Who in America for many years.

Les has lectured at conferences of the American Institute of Architects in Tucson, Reno, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Casper, Nashville and Washington DC., as well as at the University of Arizona College of Architecture, the International Design for Desert Living Symposium, the Desert Horticulture Conference, the National Design Communication Conference and the University of the Andes in Merida, Venezuela.  He was keynote speaker at the 1997 Desert Design Conference in Phoenix and both the 1998 and 2000 New Mexico State AIA conventions.

Awards jury participation include among others the Sunset Magazine sponsored AIA Western Homes Awards, AIA Los Angeles, AIA Michigan, and AIA Western Colorado.

Public Service
Past President Southern Arizona Chapter AIA; Past Member of Tucson Tomorrow; Past President Hillel Foundation Board of Directors; Alumni Member Bobcats; Member University of Arizona Letterman's Club; Sponsorship of a Vietnamese family; Member Steering Committee for Formation of Kitt Peak National Board of Advisors; Founding member and President of Civitas Sonoran, the Environmental Design Council of the University of Arizona College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture.