California Architects

Pamela Brief is honored to have been appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the Landscape Architects Technical Committee (LATC) on October 22, 2020.

Brief holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Landscape Architecture with a Minor in Business from Ohio State University. Her brother, Terry Saylor, a registered architect in Ohio, introduced Brief to landscape architecture and set her on her professional journey. Upon graduation in 1985, Brief moved from Ohio to Southern California to take a job with POD located in Santa Ana. She worked for POD and Emmet L. Wemple & Associates, in Costa Mesa, prior to moving to Paris, France to work on the Disneyland Paris Park from 1989-1992. Her experience as an expatriate opened her eyes to design and cultural values and shaped her 15-year career at Walt Disney Imagineering and beyond.

In 2004, Brief started her own practice, Schirmer Design. She also contributed to projects with The Jerde Partnership, Brightview, and NUVIS. Brief now owns Pamela Studios and focuses her work within the Southern California region. An accomplished designer, manager and collaborator, she enjoys mentoring students and emerging professionals.

A truly dedicated and thoughtful leader, Brief ended her two-year term as President of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Southern California Chapter at the conclusion of the reVISION ASLA Virtual Conference in November 2020. While President of ASLA Southern California Chapter, she visited Washington D.C. and met with Senators Kamala Harris and Diane Feinstein, and Congressman Adam Schiff to advocate for landscape architects. Inspired by these conversations, she sought opportunities to serve the public and found great interest in the LATC. Brief also volunteers her time on pro bono initiatives and serves on the Guidance Committee for the UCLA Landscape Architecture Extension Program.

A member of the ASLA since 1996, Brief is also a member of the American Institute of Architects – Los Angeles, Association of Women in Architecture, Commercial Real Estate Women Los Angeles, and Friends of the Los Angeles River. Her term on the LATC expires on June 1, 2024.