Turning Recovery into Resilience

In the aftermath of the January 2025 wildfires, Los Angeles faced the immense challenge of rebuilding quickly, safely, and with lasting resilience. Nelson Algaze, CEO of SAA, helped lead that effort as a co-author of ULI’s Project Recovery blueprint, redefining how permitting and reconstruction can adapt under emergency conditions.

Algaze championed a professional self-certification model that empowers licensed architects and engineers to accelerate approvals while maintaining strict accountability-an approach designed to save months, even years, in the rebuilding process. As he emphasized, “Every day of inaction multiplies opportunity costs.”

Algaze has spent the past two decades working to bridge the gap between architectural innovation and systemic inefficiency.
He recently participated in a cross-city conversation with architects from New York and Los Angeles to examine the implications of professional certification, a model with real potential to streamline low-risk projects without compromising safety or oversight.

Algaze states, “We are facing an urgent need for reform in the way Los Angeles designs, permits, and builds. Our current systems were not built for the complexity or speed required today. We cannot afford to sit on the sidelines.

”Read more about Nelson’s mission on self-certification program featured on ULI HERE.

This initiative embodies SAA’s mission in action: transforming complexity into clarity, removing barriers, and guiding communities toward recovery. More than rebuilding structures, it was about restoring resilience, momentum, and hope in the face of loss.

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