As L.A.'s massive downtown stadium and convention center project hurtles towards final approval, the questions regarding its design and feasibility grow to a roar.
Today, L.A.'s City Council is set to consider final approval for a plan to build an NFL stadium, and undertake renovations to the city's neighboring convention center, being pushed by developer AEG. Although approval is seemingly a fait accompli, news that a "Vision Team" of architects handpicked by Mayor Villaraigosa to evaluate the project's design delivered a stinging report that has been ignored by the city is adding to the growing uncertainties surrounding the project.
Just last week it was revealed, quite stunningly, that the company spearheading the project has put itself up for sale.
According to Dakota Smith, "[w]hile the stadium design faced some criticism from the Vision Team, the most radical suggestion was reserved for the hall," which the report concluded has major flaws.
"'This is not good city design,'
Norman Millar, president of the Burbank-based Woodbury University School
of Architecture, and one of the Vision Team members, said in an
interview this week. 'Plain and simple. It's a no-no.'"
"Seen as unrealistic because of budget constraints and the
project's fast timeline, city planning officials never presented the
recommendations to move or redesign the hall to the full Planning
Commission, which signed off on the project at its meeting two weeks
ago."
"'Villaraigosa knows this is
his legacy,' said [Vision Team member Joseph] Coriaty, expressing concern that the convention center
and the stadium 'just slam up next to each other' in the design."
"But the city is going to live with this, and it's a missed opportunity."
FULL STORY: Architects call for redesign of L.A. Convention Center hall, part of AEG NFL project
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research