Bringing the Green to Downtown L.A.

As the population of Downtown Los Angeles has grown dramatically over the last decade, the need for park space to serve that population has grown along with it. A new pocket park being built along Spring Street helps meet that need.

February 27, 2012, 9am PST | Jonathan Nettler | @nettsj

As redevelopment investment has flowed into downtown Los Angeles over the past decade, with the population of the area increasing by 15,000 residents as a result, the need for functional green space has become much more acute. James Brasuell reports on the design and construction of the 0.7-acre lot, sandwiched between historic high rise buildings, that will become the Spring Street Park.

According to Deborah Weintraub, chief engineer of LA's Bureau of Engineering (BoE), which is leading the project, "This park will announce the maturity of the re-population of this area."

"At the northern end of the site, a grassy ellipse is oriented askew to Spring Street, while to the south a plaza with permeable pavement anchors the L-shaped parcel. Benches and walls are strategically placed among the park's overlapping, curved surfaces, creating zones that will allow visitors to 'be a part of a large public space while still having a private and intimate experience,' according to Michael Lehrer, founder and principal of Lehrer Architects LA," writes Brasuell.

The park is expected to open in fall of 2013.

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Green Carpet

Published on Friday, February 24, 2012 in The Architect's Newspaper