Lance O'Donnell (MArch II '94) among AIA's 2026 Class of Fellows
Apr 3, 2026
UCLA Architecture and Urban Design alumnus Lance O'Donnell (MArch II '94) is among the 78 architects elevated to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2026 College of Fellows. AIA Fellows are "recognized for their exceptional work and contributions to architecture and society," the AIA writes. Less than three percent of AIA members nationwide hold the title, signified by the initials FAIA.
O'Donnell will be honored with the rest of the Class of 2026 Fellows at the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design (AIA26) in San Diego in June 2026.
AIA's fellowship program was developed to elevate architects who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession and made a significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level. Prospective candidates must have at least 10 years of AIA architect membership and demonstrated influence in the field.
Lance O’Donnell received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with Honors, and his Master of Architecture degree from UCLA AUD. As a fourth generation Coachella Valley native, O'Donnell enjoys a lifelong connection to desert living, and was pulled back to the desert after graduating from AUD in 1994 to practice his evolving craft. His Palm Springs office, o2 Architecture, is dedicated to discovering the essence of place. Check out o2's website for a complete gallery of projects and news.
With over a dozen AIA Honor and Merit Awards, O'Donnell’s work engages the senses and intellect with a poetic connection to site and ecologically crafted modernism. Sustainable design is a process explored as continuous thread woven throughout the design and construction process. Embedded in this thread are immersive explorations into the aspirations of people and ecology of place. Embracing the dynamic daily and seasonal patterns of place, affords o2 Architecture an opportunity to value the past while allowing discovery and resiliency to inform environmental change. O'Donnell is also Lecturer in Architecture at Cal Poly Pomona's College of Environmental Design.