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Profiles
Ryan Spruston, AIA, LEED AP
 As ULI Los Angeles' Young Leaders Group (YLG) continues to grow we want to recognize some of its blossoming members through the amount of time they dedicate to their professional growth by aiding the community and the help they offer YLG. In this Newsletter we feature Ryan Spruston of Gensler who is a strong backbone of YLG which numbers over 900 members and continues to grow. With ULI LA YLG Ryan has devoted time to coordinating case study programs and offering mentorship to young students through the UrbanPlan program. Although Ryan is involved in other organizations, it is through his active participation in YLG that he has showcased his leadership capabilities and has further affirmed that it's only his age that qualifies him as a 'young' leader. In the sentences to follow Ryan provides a brief history on what led him to YLG and why he remains loyal to this particular organization.
Ryan:
 I became involved with the ULI Los Angeles District Council late last summer when I moved down to Southern California to take a position at the Santa Monica office of Gensler, a leading global architecture, design, planning and consulting firm. I am currently working within the buildings and campuses studio focusing on a broad array of projects ranging from educational facilities to corporate commercial development projects. Originally from Southern California, I moved to the Bay Area to pursue my architecture degree at Cal Berkeley. After graduating, I worked for several years in San Francisco at MBT Architecture (recently acquired by Perkins + Will) and ED2 International before taking a position at ELS Architecture and Urban Design in Berkeley. I became involved in the American Institute of Architects during this time, serving on and chairing several committees as well as serving on the board of directors of the local chapter. I was encouraged by a mentor to look into opportunities within the ULI. I joined and became active in the ULI San Francisco Young Leaders Group where I found great opportunities to learn about land use and real estate development issues. I particularly enjoyed meeting people from various professions and disciplines, touring projects, sharing ideas, and gaining access to different perspectives of the development process. The multidisciplinary makeup of the ULI makes it a truly unique and valuable organization. I'm currently involved and active in the activities of the ULI LA Young Leaders Group Steering Committee and am very hopeful about the opportunities ahead.
"The Emerging Office Market: Playa Vista"
"The Emerging Office Market: Playa Vista" Case Study, held in January was arguably one of the best attended and successful events organized by ULI YLG. Over 300 attendees crowded into a historic 300,000 square foot building once owned by the late Howard Hughes where a portion of the Spruce Goose was built.
 The panel was moderated by John Tipton, Partner, Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP, and consisted of David Binswanger, Executive Vice President Southern California of Lincoln Property Company Commercial Inc., Paul De Martini, Director of Tishman Speyer, Robert Jernigan, Managing Principle of Gensler, Carl Muhlstein, Executive Vice President of Cushman & Wakefield, and Steve Soboroff, Chairman and CEO of Playa Vista. All accomplished in their respective careers, the panelists delivered an intelligent and informative conversation combined with great humor.
The discussion was based on Playa Vista which contains some of the last remaining undeveloped lots of land in Los Angeles. Approximately 1,100 acres were once owned by Howard Hughes for his own personal airport dubbed the Hughes Aircraft headquarters. Eventually it was endowed to the State of California. Now part of a master-planned community, when completed it will provide some 21 community parks, 750 acres of preserved open space and 2,600 residential units all connected by bike paths and pedestrian walkways. The central focus of the discussion was on two mixed-use projects by Tishman Speyer and Lincoln Property Company which sit on this historic site and combined will result in over 3 million square feet of office, soundstage, retail space and a 9-acre park.
Tishman Speyer's project will be situated on 64 acres. Their project is entitled for 2.2 million square feet. Eleven of the remaining buildings totaling 600,000 square feet were officially declared to be ‘historic' and will be incorporated into their project. Lincoln Property Company's project will ultimately result in 950,000 square feet of office space on 15 acres. The project is under construction and is estimated to have a year-end completion date.
 It became evident that Playa Vista and the developers shared the belief that maintaining open space in this new master-planned community remained a top priority. In addition to community parks, preserved open space, bike paths and pedestrian paseos, the developers have decided to attempt to incorporate some of the outdoor experience where most people are deprived from it the most, at work. Rob Jernigan of Gensler spoke of the importance they took in designing a space which would bring the inside out, as in conference rooms and lobbies.
Now that most of us spend more time at work, the concept of bringing a meeting outside might add to our daily experience and improve our work efficiency. This concept appears to be a trend most employers are seeking when locating new office space and it is Playa Vista's Steve Soboroff's goal to bring this to life. Just a walk or short bike ride away there will be plenty of housing, shopping and dining available. With Caruso Affiliated in negotiations to design and build the Village Retail Center of approximately 195,000 square feet it is certain that Playa Vista will soon be a vibrant city to live, play and work.
View pictures from ULI LA Case Study »
YLG Happy Hour - Seven Grand and Tranquility Base Restaurant & Lounge
YLG Happy Hours are the most looked-forward-to events by many. Usually held in the newest and trendiest bars throughout Los Angeles, YLG serves as a trendsetter helping pave a successful future for the establishments hosting our events. They are well attended by ULI Young Leaders, Members, Students and even non-members, who are curious as to what YLG has to offer, thus ensuring good networking opportunities and a festive time.
Our last two events were held at Seven Grand and Tranquility Base, which are both located in emerging areas of downtown Los Angeles. A Maker's Mark collection at the entrance of Seven Grand hints at the venue's passion for rare whiskeys and bourbons. The whiskey bar is located on 7th Street, which is under going a revitalization which will include new retail, entertainment and residential units. The venue has a rugged home-type feel where you can have a drink, play some pool and forget about the deadlines and traffic awaiting you just outside the door. Tranquility Base Restaurant & Lounge, on the other hand, is a bit more high-end in comparison to Seven Grand but equally laid back. Located on the ground floor of Sky Lofts at 801 S. Grand, the crowd you would essentially get at this new venue are young professionals and local diners.
The cuisine they offer in their kitchen as well as the relaxing decor is very well thought out which reflects their strategy to be "the only restaurant brand in the Western United States to change its cuisine and décor quarterly."
View pictures from YLG Happy Hour - Seven Grand and Tranquility Base Restaurant »
"Surviving and Growing in a Down Market"
On May 1st ULI LA YLG presented a case study panel discussion labeled "Surviving and Growing in a Down Market." The panel discussion was held at the Santa Monica headquarters of the RAND Corporation which is LEED Gold certified and the recipient of the ULI Award for Excellence in 2007. 
The discussion was moderated by the always personable Stan Ross, Chairman of the Board and Senior Fellow of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate and a ULI Life Trustee. The panelists consisted of Wayne Ratkovich, President & CEO of The Ratkovich Company and ULI LA Chair, Jonathan Epstein, President of Hackman Capital Partners, and William Kamer, CFO of Douglas Emmett.
 The panel quickly started by addressing the current state of the economy and the financial crisis affecting everyone. It was to no one's surprise when Stan Ross forecasted a gloomy future ahead. His detailed presentation, which compared today's economy to that of a few months ago, was very informative and gave us an indication of how quickly things have changed in a matter of a few weeks. In addition, we received an in-depth analysis on the real estate market.
The panel identified which sectors are the most affected by the state of the economy and which are expected to continue growing and/or remain stable. Most excitedly, the panelist each addressed their previous down-market experiences and what hurdles they had to overcome to once again reach the top. Most importantly, they identified which indicators they will be paying particular attention to in the coming months.
Overall the panel discussion was very informative. It was very exciting to listen to such an all-star panel with such respected reputations in the industry. This panel discussion covered any forecast or news article you can get in a matter of a few hours. At the conclusion of the discussion the panelists were each asked to offer advice on surviving and ultimately succeeding through a down market. The key item they all advised us on doing was to "prepare," and that is something they all began doing since the previous cycle.
Want to get further involved with YLG?
The ULI Los Angeles Communications and TAP (Technical Assistance Panel) Committees are looking for new members. If you are interested please contact Brenda Rodriguez for Communications Committee or Jason Ballou for TAP.
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