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Built by practitoners, revised to fit LA's lots.
Empowering people with the education they need to build middle housing in their own neighborhoods is at the core of our work. Los Angeles has a long history of duplexes, bungalow courts, and courtyard apartments, but it's been decades since we last built them. Now California has changed the rules, opening the door to middle housing in communities across the state. But new rules don’t build homes. People do. When you understand what’s possible on your own lot and how to get it built, everything changes.
Built with cityLAB UCLA and UCLA’s MRED program, mddl U Los Angeles is excited to launch its foundational course, MH 101: Introduction to Middle Housing. Grounded in Los Angeles and open to learners across California, this six-week course is online and asynchronous, so you can learn on your own schedule, with live, in-person opportunities to connect with your cohorts. The course is taught by practitioners who have delivered hundreds of middle housing units, joined by Los Angeles city staff, lenders, designers, and developers. Together, they cover every stage of a project, from design and permitting to financing and construction. Drawing on firsthand experience, these experts keep the curriculum current and grounded in how middle housing actually gets built, offering practical insights rarely found in textbooks. You’ll learn how to assess a middle housing opportunity with confidence and work effectively with the team it takes to bring a project to life
The founding cohort kicks off on Feb. 2, 2027.
Space is limited. Enroll now!
Only $399
for the first 50 participants
What our past students and experts have to say
“I thought I understood what development applications entailed but this course enlightened me to all the aspects of coordinating a development. As a planner, it is important to understand the inner workings and how my role impacts the processes.”
“An excellent foundation in middle housing development. The course moves logically from policy context through design, feasibility, finance, and construction, with lots of relevant case studies. Well-structured and genuinely useful whether you're building, planning, or funding.”
“This class gave me a clear, practical understanding of real estate development and demystified a field I had long been interested in but hesitant to pursue. It made the process feel accessible and showed me that development is something I could realistically do. As a result, it has motivated me to think more intentionally about building high-quality, affordable housing in Los Angeles.”
What is middle housing?
What you’ll learn in
Introduction to Middle Housing
Who is this course for?
For the people who will build the next
generation of California homes.
- Homeowners interested in developing their own lot.
- Small builders, architects, and designers looking to enter the middle housing space.
- Real estate professionals working on, advising on or financing these projects.
- Planners and city staff who want a practical understanding of how projects are delivered.
- Graduate students in real estate, architecture, planning, business, law, and related fields.
Meet your instructors
Alkarim Devani
A nationally recognized developer, educator and community builder, Alkarim is co-founder of RNDSQR and mddl, leading the way in innovative infill housing. He's delivered hundreds of middle housing units, served on the board of the Calgary Housing Company and has taught at the University of Calgary's School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape. He has recently earned his Doctorate of Design.
Darlene Jehn
A seasoned development strategist with over 10 years of experience in land use planning, municipal approvals and project delivery across Western Canada. She's led over $500MM of complex projects and helped cities, developers and community groups overcome barriers to middle housing.
Emmanuel Proussaloglou
An experienced urban planner, housing researcher and architectural practitioner, Emmanuel is Co-Director of cityLAB-UCLA. He leads cityLAB’s Reimagining Housing research area where he has written and passed statewide legislation, taught civic leaders how to build housing, produced numerous innovative reports and journal articles, lectured widely and managed multi-faceted housing initiatives like Small Lots, Big Impacts and Education Workforce Housing.
Gain access to tools, resources, and a network of Los Angeles builders.
Checklists & Templates
to confidently tackle your middle
housing project.
other students in the founding
Network Opportunity
Parcel & Feasibility Tools
The founding cohort kicks off on Feb. 2, 2027.
Space is limited. Enroll now!
Only $399
for the first 50 participants