Ida Clair

Commissioner Ida Clair is the State Architect at the Division of the State Architect (DSA), where she leads the Division in its jurisdiction for plan review and construction oversight of all state-owned or state-leased essential services buildings, and California’s public K-12 schools and community colleges in administration of the Field Act.  As Commissioner Clair manages DSA’s Headquarters office and directs four regional offices in Sacramento, Oakland, Los Angeles, and San Diego.

As Principal Architect, Commissioner Clair manages the accessibility, sustainability, and fire & life safety programs for public K-12 schools and community colleges. Also, she develops CALGreen sustainability regulations for public school design and construction. Commissioner Clair leads DSA’s regulatory development for the accessibility provisions of the California Building Code for the state’s public accommodations, public buildings, commercial buildings, and public housing, and develops and maintains vital reference resources to assist clients in meeting accessibility standards; administers the Certified Access Specialist Program (CASp); and is an accessibility educator through the DSA Academy, a continuing education program for design and construction professionals.

Commissioner Clair has twenty-six years’ experience in private architectural practice and five years in state service at DSA.  Commissioner Clair holds certifications as a LEED Accredited Professional with specialty in Building Design and Construction (BD+C), is a Certified Access Specialist, and a CalOES Safety Assessment Program Evaluator.  Commissioner Clair is a member of the Certified Access Specialist Institute and was instrumental in the creation of the organization in 2010.  In addition, Commissioner Clair is a member of the Association of Women in Water, Energy and Environment, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Central Valley American Institute of Architects.