La Plaza de Cultura y Artes

The County of Los Angeles has long sought to realize development of the blocks west of El Pueblo de Los Angeles, the historic center where this City was founded in 1781. JKA was asked to quickly develop and visualize master plan parameters that took into account both the historic context and real estate pragmatics.

Working in concert with James Suhr and Associates - development advisors, Estolana LeSar Perez Advisors - outreach and political consultants, and The Maxima Group - real estate economists, JKA sketched out numerous site development options utilizing a variety of market mixes. As each mix was tested from a program, constructability, and financial feasibility standpoint, JKA simultaneously developed a set of draft design guidelines that future development teams would need to follow to ensure urban design and environmental quality.

One of the key pressures of the master plan process was satisfying Los Angeles County officials, including Supervisor Gloria Molina, that the outcome would yield an enduring design. Towards this end, JKA developed renderings based upon the master plan diagrams that “proved” the efficacy of the design and real estate concept to decision-makers by demonstrating the presence of the desired community linkages and potential to relate new buildings to historic structures.

This rendering ”test,” designed by JKA, was approved by the Supervisor, allowing the plan to move forward towards issuance of a RFP and subsequent development of the site by Trammell Crow Company.