SPECIAL REPORT: Mia Lehrer

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What brought you to this project?

We have been involved with the project since the beginning, initially helping with the community outreach process, subsequently with the specific plan, and finally as a part of the design team for the overall master plan incorporating a (National Football League) stadium. It was a rare opportunity to work on an urban infill project that has the potential to make a significant impact not only in Inglewood but throughout Los Angeles.

Title: President

Company: Mia Lehrer & Associates, downtown

Project: Hollywood Park’s landscape design, including more than 25 acres of parks with lakes.

What projects prepared you to take on the Hollywood Park development?

We are drawn to complex, layered project types, with clients that include cities, government organizations, nonprofits, and developers. We have had the privilege of working on a series of projects that bring to life untapped existing resources such as the L.A. River Master Plan, Natural History Museum gardens, Vista Hermosa Park, Barnsdall Park, and Dodger Stadium. Our favorite projects are environmentally focused, connect people to nature, and improve our quality of life. We find that any project, when approached with that lens, can have positive impacts. We are also excited to work on projects such as the Union Station Master Plan, Piggyback Yard, port of L.A., and miles of new Metro lines that will help usher in a new era of how people commute in Los Angeles.

What design features are most noteworthy? 

We understood that the people in the community enjoyed walking, socializing, and spending time outside, and yet, Inglewood is one of the most park-poor regions in Los Angeles. Creating a network of parks and open space became the driving factor. Also, making sure the streets were comfortable, shaded, and designed for pedestrians and bicyclists was vital. These parks and streets then provided a framework to treat storm water on site and increase tree canopy to improve air quality. The stadium itself sets a new design paradigm with interwoven plazas and promenades that the community will have access to throughout the year.

What are your biggest challenges?

It was important that the overall vision was maintained throughout this multiphased project. It was vital to set a tone and provide a strong vision framework at the beginning, which we could then build upon and strengthen as the project keeps moving forward.

What impact will the stadium have on Inglewood?

The project will provide Inglewood residents with access to great, sprawling, natural spaces, the latest in new retail and entertainment (for which the community currently has to travel long distances), employment opportunities at new hotels and offices, and new places to live. The project should be a huge benefit to Inglewood and Los Angeles as a whole.

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