Assistant Planner Public Sector Architectural Lead

ELLA MADADVAND

Architectural Associate Capital Improvement Projects Public Works and Civic Facilities Los Angeles, CA • 818-***-**** • ***.*********@*****.*** • linkedin.com/in/ellamadadvand PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Architectural professional with a strong track record designing, managing, and delivering Capital Improvement Projects (CIPs) for public agencies and major private-sector clients. Currently serving as a Zoning Plan Checker at the City of Los Angeles

(LADBS) and City of Santa Monica, with daily hands-on experience in LAMC compliance, municipal code interpretation, city incentive programs, and plan approvals using PCIS, Accela, and ProjectDox. Prior design leadership roles at Jacobs Engineering Group and AECOM covered the full project lifecycle across biotech, aviation, transportation, and civic sectors, with project values reaching 50M. Brings a collaborative approach to public service, a deep respect for community needs, and the technical precision that complex CIP work demands. California Architectural License Candidate (ARE Equivalency in progress). CORE COMPETENCIES

• Capital Improvement Project (CIP)

Management

• Public Facilities Design and Renovation

• Zoning Compliance and LAMC

Interpretation

• Municipal Plan Check (LADBS and Santa

Monica)

• City Incentive Programs: TOC, SB 9,

ADU Amnesty

• Multi-Phase Delivery: SD, DD, CD, and

CA

• Cost Estimating and Budget Monitoring

• Feasibility Studies and Preliminary

Project Reports

• ADA / CASp and Title 24 Compliance

• Consultant and Contractor RFP

Coordination

• Bluebeam Revu • PCIS • Accela •

ProjectDox

• Revit (Architecture, MEP, Structure) •

AutoCAD

• ArchiCAD • SketchUp • Rhino • 3D-

Max

• BIM Coordination and Clash Detection

• Microsoft Office Suite • City Planning

Software

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Architectural Associate / Zoning Plan Checker Oct 2023 to Present City of Los Angeles, Dept. of Building and Safety (LADBS) and City of Santa Monica Building and Safety

• Review 15 to 25 permit applications per week covering multifamily residential, mixed-use commercial, affordable housing, accessory dwelling units, and major renovation projects, ensuring full compliance with LAMC, CBC, CRC, CMC, and Title 24 energy requirements.

• Interpret and apply city incentive programs including Transit Oriented Communities (TOC), SB 9, ADU Amnesty, and Density Bonus Law to evaluate zoning compliance, allowable density, setbacks, height limits, and floor area ratios.

• Prepare detailed, Bluebeam-annotated correction comments on construction documents and manage resubmittal tracking through to final approval, maintaining clear communication with applicants throughout the process.

• Issue and stamp approved permits using PCIS at LADBS and Accela and ProjectDox at the City of Santa Monica, achieving a 98% first-review approval rate with zero code-violation appeals.

• Coordinate with Planning, Fire Safety, Bureau of Engineering, and Public Works to resolve multi-jurisdictional conflicts and keep projects moving through the approval pipeline without unnecessary delays.

• Provide technical guidance at the public counter and by phone to architects, engineers, developers, contractors, and property owners on code requirements, permit pathways, and application procedures.

• Review cross-discipline construction documents spanning architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems to verify integrated code compliance across all trades. Senior Architectural Consultant (Contract) Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 Alpha Structural, Inc. Southern California (Multiple Jurisdictions)

• Delivered permit expediting and building code consulting for structural engineering projects across 15+ Southern California municipalities, cutting average approval timelines by 20% through strategic pre-submittal coordination.

• Managed the full permit lifecycle for seismic retrofits, tenant improvements, and new construction projects valued from 50K to M, including application prep, correction responses, and resubmittal management.

• Performed code research for DSA projects, healthcare facilities, and essential services buildings, providing clients with clear regulatory guidance on complex compliance requirements. Design Architecture Professional 2021 to 2024

Jacobs Engineering Group San Francisco, CA (Hybrid)

• Designed and documented multi-phase CIP-scale projects across Science and Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace, Higher Education, Transportation, Aviation, and Federal sectors throughout the western United States.

• Signature projects: Pfizer Biotech Research Laboratory (SD through CD, approx. 80M), Apple Data Center facility expansion (DD through CA), and San Diego International Airport terminal improvements (SD through CD, approx. 20M).

• Led BIM coordination in Revit across multidisciplinary teams of 8 to 15 professionals on projects valued up to 50M, managing model integrity, clash detection, and architectural-structural-MEP integration.

• Integrated sustainability, resiliency, and accessibility principles from early programming through construction documents, reducing downstream correction cycles and supporting agency approval timelines.

• Supported construction administration through RFI responses, submittal reviews, and periodic field observations, preserving design intent while addressing real-world constructability needs. Senior Architecture Designer 2017 to 2021

Walker Consultants Engineering Los Angeles, CA

• Managed the full project lifecycle from programming through construction administration for parking structures and mixed-use developments totaling over 8,500 spaces across 12+ projects.

• Prepared construction documents, cost estimates, project schedules, and RFP packages for consultant and contractor services, reducing change orders by 15% through thorough documentation and proactive coordination.

• Delivered a 15% improvement in project delivery timelines by streamlining documentation workflows while maintaining code compliance and quality standards throughout.

Project Architect / Job Captain 2016 to 2017

AECOM San Diego, CA

• Coordinated construction documentation for federal, aviation, higher education, and science and technology projects including the Locksmith Control Room Center and Havay Train Station, ensuring compliance with federal and state building standards.

• Assisted project superintendents with on-site quality assurance, safety compliance, and RFI documentation during active construction phases.

Project Manager III 2015 to 2016

Tucker Sadler Architects San Diego, CA

• Supervised project staff across multiple concurrent assignments, managed procurement RFP processes, and prepared complete construction document packages for client review and municipal approval. EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS

Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch)

Architecture, Planning and Urban Design

Sooreh University (US Equivalency Verification

Available)

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

University of Tehran

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

University of Tehran

Construction Project Management Certificate

Columbia University Engineering Executive Education California Architectural License Candidate

ARE Equivalency in Progress

AACA Accreditation Australia

IAE Registration International

Autodesk Certified Professional: Revit Architecture, MEP and Structure

Autodesk Certified Instructor: AutoCAD

Graphisoft Certified: ArchiCAD Advanced BIM Manager Title 24 Energy Efficiency Compliance Training

Project Management Certificate, Technical and

Vocational Training Institute

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